village of ridgewood - Page 667 of 885

Posted on March 25, 2017March 25, 2017 by James — Leave a comment

The Tobacco Shop Of Ridgewood Mourns the Loss of Cigar Aficionado and Musician Avo Uvezian

March 25,2017

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, “We are so sorry to hear of the passing of Avo Uvezian. The cigar industry has lost a legend. We were privileged to have known him and to have spent time with him. RIP our friend Avo, you will be missed.”

Avo Uvezian was born on Mach 22, 1926 in Beirut, French Lebanon . He was an Armenian-American jazz pianist and cigar manufacturer. Uvezian was multi-lingual and would often speak , count, curse and think in in different tongues.

Avo Uvezian was born to a family of musicians. His mother a singer, while his father a composer and conductor for a symphony orchestra. , Avo preformed for Shah Reza Pahlavi of Iran to perform at his palace ,after several invites became the Shah’s pianist.

After a year of performing in Iran, the Shah arranged for Avo to travel to the United States of America in 1947. While living in New York, Avo played for multiple bands while studying classical piano and composition at the Juilliard School.

Avo met his wife, Marie Sahakian, while performing at a New York resort in the Catskill Mountains in 1951. They had three children: Jeffrey, Robert, and Ronny.

Drafted during the Korean War and sent to Fort Dix in New Jersey where he was put through infantry training. After impressing his officers with his musical talents, Uvezian was taken out of the Infantry and put into band training. When he arrived in Korea, the band would play at an Officers Club. He was honorably discharged in 1952.

In 1983, when Avo’s daughter Karyn was born, he went to Switzerland for her christening. Avo had a Cuban cigar after the meal and was not happy with the price. His friend mentioned that they should make their own. Uvezian traveled to the Dominican Republic, where he searched for two years for a satisfactory production facility. Avo finally met Hendrik Kelner, and after smoking samples, Avo offered Kelner twenty-five percent more than he had originally offered. His presumption was that paying Kelner more would ensure that Avo cigars would receive the best tobacco. Michael Roux advised Avo to use attractive packaging. In the first year, 120,000 Avo cigars were sold. By the third year, Avo sold over 750,000 cigars. In 1995, Davidoff paid Avo Uvezian an estimated $10 million for the rights to distribute his cigars. In 1996, more than two million Avo cigars were sold.

The Tobacco Shop Of Ridgewood has had a long and special relationship with AVO and Davidoff.

The Tobacco Shop Of Ridgewood
10 Chestnut St
Ridgewood, New Jersey
@TheTobaccoShopOfRidgewood
Call (201) 447-2204

Posted on March 25, 2017February 13, 2020 by James — 16 Comments

Ridgewood Parking :The fact is everyone is going to have to give something

March 25,2017

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, During Wednesday evening’s Village Council Work Session, Village Engineer Christopher Rutishauser was asked to ascertain the feasibility of adding approximately 40 additional parking spaces at the Ridgewood train station. Mayor Susan Knudsen suggested that additional parking spaces might be added by removing the large, grass & tree covered center island in the current parking lot.

The fact is Ridgewood commuters need the parking, and this is a small price to pay along with perhaps a smaller far less ambitious parking facility on Hudson street.

The reality is that on weekends and during large events ,such as the Ridgewood Chamber of Commerce car show there is not enough parking.

After extensive observations the Ridgewood blog concludes it is going to take a multi-pronged effort to create viable solutions for the Village . The fact is everyone is going to have to give something.

1) First we need to get as many commuters off the Street of the central business district as possible . Parking for Commuters needs to be a minimum of 12 hours . This can be done by creating more parking at the train station and the bus station but also by using more carpooling , uber etc..and dare we say a massive increase in bicycle parking to get people to their point of departure.

2) Employees in the central business district MUST park in the allocated employee parking spaces . Lack of use of the designated spaces is egregious . We suggest a carefully coordinated ticket blitz to encourage compliance .

3) Instead of increasing fees for parking meter rates , increase meter hours so that restaurant patrons can relieve some of the burden from merchants .

4) The Valet parking seems to cause more trouble than its worth unless the cars are parked clearly offsite ,like Graydon pool lot in the evenings.

5) For their part the Ridgewood blog would suggest merchants pick some night during the week to stay open late so someone who actually has a competitive job could consider shopping in the central business district . We are convinced that the only stores that can thrive and survive in the current climate are those that make them selves destination retailers.

6) Finally access to the central business district which no one is talking about is a far bigger issue than parking . The traffic easing project under the train trestle has vitally cut off the West side of town from the East side. Not to mention the danger imposed by slowing response time for emergency vehicles .

The garage on Hudson will create major traffic congestion , while Linwood Ave and Ridgewood Ave remain the only viable way to get in and out of town. Approaches from the west side ,Godwin and West Ridgewood Ave are now all most impassable , however the approach from Prospect Street seems very under utilized.

For Westsiders if you add the current issues on Glenwood road , it far faster and easier to go to Midland Park, Wyckoff , Allendale and other towns north to shop than head to down town Ridgewood.

The Ridgewood blogs observations have concluded that not only is their not enough parking during peak hours ,but changes in vehicular traffic are literal choking off commerce to the Central Business District .

Posted on March 25, 2017March 25, 2017 by James — Leave a comment

5 things about cyberbullying laws in N.J. that might surprise you

Editors Note : the cry of “cyberbullying ” can not be used to suppress speech you disagree with . In fact according to the very definition ,claiming cyberbulling with the intent to stifle speech on a forum could infact be considered “cyberbullying”.

By Justin Zaremba | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
on January 08, 2017 at 8:00 AM, updated January 08, 2017 at 8:53 AM

Two recent cyber harassment cases in the Garden State have had many readers wondering what falls under the umbrella of cyberbullying.

In Sussex County, three middle school students were recently charged with cyber harassment after they allegedly posted a picture of Andover schools “along with alarming comments toward students.”

https://www.nj.com/sussex-county/index.ssf/2017/01/5_things_about_cyberbullying_laws_in_nj_that_might.html

Posted on March 25, 2017March 25, 2017 by James — 3 Comments

Medevac helicopter Transports Patient From Valley Hospital in Ridgewood

photos courtesy of Boyd Loving’s Facebook

March 24,2017

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, Ridgewood Police , Fire Department, and Emergency Services personnel responded to a medevac helicopter landing at Vets Field, 131 North Maple Avenue, Ridgewood, on Friday evening, 03/24. An outbound patient from The Valley Hospital was transported by the chopper to an undisclosed medical facility.

Posted on March 24, 2017March 24, 2017 by James — Leave a comment

Ridgewood Public Library Launches Bookmatch service

file photo by ArtChick

March 24,2017

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, You could write to the New York Times, I suppose, or you could ask the experts right in your own backyard at the Ridgewood Public Library. Check out our Bookmatch service https://buff.ly/2niypNH. Simply email us a few books you loved and a few books you hated and we will give you a personalized list of suggestions.

125 N Maple Ave
Ridgewood, NJ 07450
(201) 670-5600
www.ridgewoodlibrary.org/localhistory/
Library · Government Organization
Opens at 9:00am 9:00AM – 6:00PM

Posted on March 24, 2017March 24, 2017 by James — 9 Comments

Reader Says The encounter between Mrs. Taddei and Mrs. McWilliams contained no yelling or obscenities as erroneously stated

file photo by Boyd Loving

Pasquale Taddei , “It is with regret that I am forced to reply to this slanderous tale of a supposed event that occurred last evening after the open discussion forum of the Village Council Meeting. While this article may be presented as “news” it is nothing more than an attempt at intimidation to silence those most strongly opposed to the recently enacted parking ordinance on Bogert and Cambridge.
The encounter between Mrs. Taddei and Mrs. McWilliams contained no yelling or obscenities as erroneously stated in the comments above. It is also factually incorrect to state that I in anyway restrained or physically dragged my wife down the hallway. Any suggestion that I would act in such a brutish way towards the person most important to me is further evidence of this slanted commentary.
Finally for those readers who were not present at the Council Meeting and are reading this please note that I, Pasquale Taddei take full and public ownership of the contents of this response and juxtapose that with the owner of the previous comments who was unwilling to provide a full name. What are you hiding “James”?”

Posted on March 24, 2017March 23, 2017 by James — 4 Comments

Ridgewood FAC Garage Report Misses the Mark

March 24,2017
the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, at the Village Council meeting the Financial Advisory Committee seemed to be caught with”alternative facts” .

The FAC presented a report still talking about a 350-space garage, which is no longer on the table. This sunk their entire report and made it’s over zealous estimates flawed from the git-go.

The next problem was the allocation tables that would have to change since more personnel resources would be expended toward managing the garage, so any surplus from the parking authority would most likely be less.

And finally, the $500,000 surplus that they seemed to think would be an annual surplus was a one-time amount, in large part because of insurance payment for the pilfered quarters; there was no evidence given that this surplus would ever reach this level again.

The FAC did not have the FACTS so their report was a complete waste of time.

Posted on March 24, 2017March 23, 2017 by James — 31 Comments

More parking planned at Ridgewood train station and at Wilsey Square

March 24,2017
Boyd A. Loving

Rutishauser was also tasked with determining the possibility of creating more parking spaces along the east side of Wilsey Square, just south of the train station’s parking lot. Grass & trees currently occupy this area as well.

No date was given as to when the results of the Village Engineer’s study would be available for Village Council review.

Posted on March 23, 2017March 23, 2017 by James — Leave a comment

More tax data to go online in N.J.

Dustin Racioppi , State House Bureau, @dracioppiPublished 1:41 p.m. ET March 22, 2017 | Updated 14 hours ago

Gov. Chris Christie signed a measure into law Wednesday that expands property tax data online, giving taxpayers a broader and more detailed view of their bills and how they compare with others’. But Christie signed the bill on the condition that the new law not include tax relief data that his administration removed three years ago.

The bill, A-312, requires the Department of Community Affairs to post property tax and local government tax data for the past 10 years, as well as information on county, school and fire district tax levies, among other data.

https://www.northjersey.com/story/news/new-jersey/2017/03/22/more-tax-data-go-online-nj/99494890/?utm_campaign=new-jersey-politics&utm_content=2017-23-03-9215348&utm_source=Sailthru&utm_medium=email&utm_term=New%20Jersey%20Politics

Posted on March 23, 2017March 23, 2017 by James — Leave a comment

The MOMS Club of Ridgewood announces its first ever Preschool Preparedness Series

March 23,2017

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, the MOMS Club of Ridgewood is delighted to announce its first ever Preschool Preparedness Series. This series is designed to provide a guiding hand to the parents of preschoolers and expected preschoolers as their children explore the world around them and embark on their first school experiences.

The first event, Preschoolers and Lead: What You Need to Know, will take place on Thursday, March 30th from 9:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. at the Ridgewood Village Hall Youth Center followed by a Preschool Information Fair on Saturday, April 1st from 11: 00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. in the auditorium of the Ridgewood Public Library. The Preschool Information Fair will have information about starting preschool as well as kindergarten and summer camp options.
Both events are free and open to members of the public.

We hope you can join us for both events.

Posted on March 23, 2017March 23, 2017 by James — 7 Comments

Reader implies Borgart and Cambridge Parking Issue is More About Personalities

Go visit the street. It’s a known safety issue. This issue has been created by one lady who doesn’t like the person who asked for the ordinance. It’s just kind of funny because everyone in the neighborhood knows that is the deal.
Hey. As long as the one lady gets vengeance who cares if kids are in danger right??
Some of the rest of us in this neighborhood are able to see the actual danger and would like the nonsense to stop.
Not every street in town is the same. Parking can’t be uniform throughout the village.
When something dangerous rears its head it needs to have a venue to be addressed. Won’t Betty rubble coming out of the woodwork to create a dramatic situation.

Posted on March 23, 2017March 23, 2017 by James — 4 Comments

Reader says We need to change with the times in Ridgewood , No more door knockers

The door knockers of today aren’t the Fuller brush salesman or Avon lady of friendly days past that everbody knew who they were and trusted. Instead, times of today unleash an array of strangers we don’t know, some are from commercial named companies marketing door to door with seasonal help, to get your business for window replacements, lawn pesticides, house pesticides, home improvements, painters, driveway sealers, and much more. Some may not be known companies, and may just be drive thru’s looking to pick up a buck or scam you. Some ring the bell, then bang away on the door! We all read plenty of those scam artists warnings.

..We get plenty of mail marketing that advertises almost everything a homeowner might need. Easy access to online has made it more convenient to choose companies and request estimates by appointment and its sensible. We need to change with the times. No more door knockers.

Posted on March 23, 2017March 23, 2017 by James — 53 Comments

Fireworks Erupt at Ridgewood Village Council Meeting Over Bogert and Cambridge Parking

March 23,2017

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, as public comment broke up at tonight’s council meeting all but 3 Bogert Cambridge residents actually stayed for the public hearing . One resident who was most strenuously opposed to the parking ordinance on Bogert and Cambridge, approached the woman who has championed the ordinance as she was with her young children in the hallway, and began screaming obscenities in her face.

Mrs. McWilliams simply continued to try to dress her children to leave and the resident who identified herself at comment as Erin Taddei, began yelling that she was going to sue Mrs. McWilliams sprinkled with many many obscenities not often heard at a council meeting and not appropriate for children’s ears.

She needed to be physically restrained from approaching Mrs. McWilliams and she was physically dragged down the hallway by her husband as she continued to scream obscenities and threats of lawsuit at the mother, who simply walked away, and back in to the courtroom.

It has been reported that a police report has been made . This is not what we accept at meetings. If you are angry about a parking situation, have a discussion or lively debate. No one should resort to threats and obscenities. The woman could be bared from council meetings as she does not seem to understand the decorum required.

Posted on March 23, 2017March 22, 2017 by James — 4 Comments

Reader says a Sidewalk would improve safety much better than any parking regulation

file photo by Boyd Loving

Cars frequently fail to slow to a safe speed when heading north from Glen onto Bogert or Cambridge, or when heading south along Cambridge or Bogert toward the common intersection with Glen. Those same drivers also often recklessly careen across to the wrong side of the road rather than reduce their speed and stay in their lane while negotiating the two relatively tight S-curves that connect with the common intersection. This must be the safety issue that led to the current change. Pedestrians do not have the benefit of sidewalks to negotiate those same S-turns so they are forced to share the roadway with the cars. The pedestrians are sometimes forced to jump up on the curb or onto the adjacent lawns to avoid being struck. Draconian parking regulations won’t change the behavior of these reckless drivers. The best answer is probably to install short lengths of sidewalk paving along the s-turns on Bogert and Cambridge and extend the same to the Glen Avenue sidewalks at the common intersection. There is already a short length of sidewalk on the west side of the common intersection extending north from Glen and terminating at the beginning of the the S-turn on the Bogert side. That sidewalk should be extended entirely along that same S-turn and terminate just north of it. That would improve safety much better than any parking regulation could.

Posted on March 22, 2017March 22, 2017 by James — 4 Comments

The Ridgewood Police Department is looking to hire a Part Time parking Enforcement Officer

parking_ticket_Ridgewood_theridgewoodblog

March 22,2017

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, The Ridgewood Police Department is looking to hire a Part Time parking Enforcement Officer. The Part-Time position is up to 20-hours a week with pay starting at $17.19 per hour. Applications are available at the Police Department. Send resume, cover letter and application to Chief Jacqueline Luthcke, Ridgewood Police Department, 131 N. Maple Avenue, Ridgewood, NJ 07450 by April 14. The Village of Ridgewood is an EOE and civil service community. All hiring is provisional and subject to Civil Service and residency requirements.

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