Category: village of ridgewood

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Ridgewood : “Turning Over A New Leaf”

fallleaves artchick.biz 2

file photo by ArtChick

Dear Friends at the Ridgewood blog,
As autumn leaves fall and residents begin the process of clearing their properties, the Village begins their new season entitled “Turning Over A New Leaf” which signifies the start of the leaf collection program.  Leaf removal will begin the week of October 24th.  A flyer is currently in the process of being mailed to your homes, outlining the new schedule for 2016.

A notable change in the schedule is that the dates which are indicated in the flyer reflect the time period in which leaves are to be placed in the street.  Village crews will be collecting leaves after the dates posted.

Just to highlight some of the rules and regulations for pick up:

  • All leaves are to be placed in the curb line fronting your property during the dates indicated in the schedule.
  • Leaves may NOT be placed in plastic bags or cans for collection.
  • No branches or brush will be collected during leaf season.You may bring leaves as well as brush to the Recycling Center.The hours of operation are Monday through Saturday, 8:00 AM – 3:00 PM.
  • If you employ the services of a landscaper, please communicate your schedule with them.
  • As weather is a key component to leaf collection, if changes become necessary it will be posted on the Village website –www.ridgewoodnj.net
  • Use caution when our leaf removal crews are on your block.When possible, please take an alternate route to ensure the safety of all.

Should you have any questions, please call the Street Division at (201) 670-5585.

Thank you for your continued cooperation.

Have a happy and healthy Fall season!

Heather A. Mailander
Acting Village Manager

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Readers say ,Lighting in Van Neste Square has Finger prints of previous Administration

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First we have Roberta and the boys applying for a grant to rip up the brick and remove the walkway in the center of the park. Then we have installation of a tree illumination system, installation of conduit in trenches, installation of pathway lighting, installation of concealed electrical outlet boxes, installation of an audio system and other ancillary items buy the Conservatory all within the same month. I don’t believe in coincidences . Pay special attention to ( audio system and other ancillary items). I believe that one of the members of the Conservatory is a former Council person who tried to spearhead a campaign to put a gazebo in the center of the park.

Previous mayor was dead set on having horrible “concerts” and other noise wreck the peace of downtown. Is this supposed to attract apartment renters/buyers? It’s a park, not Madison Square Garden. Installation of audio systems in parks should not be happening. Thank goodness the current council refused to sign the grant application (worked on, as usual, by manager’s assistant Janet Fricke, whose tenure should end before the next manager arrives) for ugly concrete (replacing the donor-named bricks, which were going to be moved to some area in a corner or something) and a stage or fountain in the center–it’s nice having NOTHING in the center–that was thrust under their noses by the previous village manager with an urgent plea to sign because the deadline was (of course) nigh–an old village manager trick, and not only by her. Collusion by the Village Engineer, who must be replaced, was major. Get those people out of there. Cronin is no better in plotting and planning ways to wreck the place and doing lots of work before the council even knows about it. Council must remain highly vigilant about these unnecessary projects intended (even now) to make Aronsohn’s construction-union supporters happy, and quash them at the earliest opportunity.

Town must stop accepting gifts of things that we don’t want or need. “Conservancy” is a joke. People cynically join groups with a name that sounds good but represents the opposite of what they have in mind. It’s depressing. REAC’s first report was to say that synthetic turf was great, etc. “Parks, Recreation, and Conservation Board”–as long as it’s sports. I give up on all of them.

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Reader contradicts , No Councilman Hache did not say “free parking for Employees”

Parking_meters_theridgewoodblog

WHAT??? I was at that meeting and that is not what Councilman Hache said. He was supporting a reduction in the parking fee at Cottage Pl for 60 spots to be set aside for employee parking. It was just for those spots only. He suggested reducing the rate to 25 cents. It was a suggestion in order to get employees to use that lot instead of parking on the street, which will open up spots for customers. And yes, it could also help some of the employees who are minimum wage earners. The free parking was suggested by somebody else.

Editors Note: From what we have heard ,there are over 700(?) employees in the Central Business District so employee parking represents a major issue .Frankly we think employees should be parking at some kind of discounted rate , or free if they park in some distant out of the way spots. We also think meter rates should be lowered but meter times should be extended later into the evening say 9pm ,to give dinners a chance to participate and take some of burden off CBD shoppers .

 

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Pedestrian struck on East Ridgewood Ave near Somerville

Pedestrian struck on East Ridgewood Ave

photos courtesy of Boyd Loving

October 8,2016

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, Ridgewood PD, FD, and EMS personnel responded to a “pedestrian struck” report on Friday, 10/07 at approximately 1900 hours. The incident occurred on East Ridgewood Avenue near Somerville Road. With the assistance of a paramedic team from The Valley Hospital, the victim was evaluated on location before being transported by ambulance to Hackensack University Medical Center’s Trauma Unit. The extent of the victim’s injuries were not made public at the scene. The driver of the vehicle involved remained at the scene and was cooperating with police.

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Dozens arrested at India call center linked to IRS scam calls

IRS Scam

file photo by Boyd Loving

By Associated Press and Griff BennerPublished: October 6, 2016, 1:00 pm

NEW DELHI (AP) – Indian police have arrested 70 people and are questioning hundreds more after uncovering a massive scam to cheat thousands of Americans out of millions of dollars by posing as U.S. tax authorities and demanding unpaid taxes, a police officer said Thursday.

According to police in Mumbai, the yearlong scam involved running fake call centers which sent voice mail messages telling U.S. nationals to call back because they owed back taxes.

Those who called back and believed the threats would fork out thousands of dollars to “settle” their case, Mumbai police officer Parag Marere said Thursday.

The scam brought in more than $150,000 a day, Marere said without giving a total sum. If the scam netted that amount daily, it would have made almost $55 million in one year.

https://abc27.com/2016/10/06/dozens-arrested-at-india-call-center-linked-to-irs-scam-calls/

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Doherty Votes ‘NO’ on Gas Tax

Senator Mike Doherty

Calls for Passage of His Legislation to Study & Control Excessive Road Costs
October 8,2016
the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, Senator Mike Doherty (R-23) voted ‘NO’ on increasing the state gas tax by 23 cents per gallon, saying the state hasn’t done enough to control excessive costs related to road construction:

Sen. Mike Doherty at a roadside rally in Bridgewater on June 22, 2016 opposing a gas tax increase with Assemblyman John DiMaio, Assemblyman Erik Peterson, Americans for Prosperity-New Jersey, and concerned residents. (SenateNJ.com)

“My office has fielded thousands of calls from constituents who oppose this gas tax increase, and my vote ‘NO’ today was for them.

“Many callers have said that the state doesn’t use the gas taxes it already collects wisely, and it doesn’t deserve a penny more, let alone 23 cents per gallon more. I agree completely.

“If they’re going to force this tax increase upon unwilling drivers, the Governor, Senate President and Assembly Speaker should agree to advance and enact my legislation to get excessive transportation costs under control. That this cost-control bill continues to be blocked is unconscionable.”

Doherty is the sponsor of S-1888, which would create the “State Transportation Cost Analysis Task Force,” to examine state transportation spending and offer recommendations for reducing New Jersey’s highest-in-the-nation road construction costs.

More than 25,000 people signed an online petition run by Doherty and Senator Jennifer Beck (R-Monmouth) in opposition to the gas tax increase.

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SUV Hits Tree at the intersection of Godwin Avenue and South Monroe Street in Ridgewood

SUV Hits Tree in Ridgewood

photo courtesy of Boyd Loving’s Facebook page

October 7,2016

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, The adult male driver of a Jeep SUV was taken into custody, handcuffed, and transported to Ridgewood Police headquarters following a single vehicle crash (into a tree) at the intersection of Godwin Avenue and South Monroe Street, Ridgewood, late night on Thursday, 10/06. A small, crash related engine compartment fire in the Jeep was extinguished by Ridgewood FD members. Ridgewood EMS responded to evaluate the driver; he refused medical aid. The crashed Jeep was removed from the scene by a flatbed tow truck.

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New era of illumination in the park at the heart of Ridgewood, readers say no thanks

Village of Ridgewood : Van Neste Memorial Park "Revival" project

file photo by Boyd Loving

Damn, turning a charming town into Times Square. There is a time and place for everything.A time for light and a time for darkness, a time for activity and a time for rest. What about saving electricity. Even LED.You know what, I am never going to spend my money in the CBD again. Even to buying gifts at Bookends, unless those lights are ripped out.

So much of this sounds line new-agey nonsense. Can the new council just pull the plug on everything the last council majority approved that hasn’t yet come to fruition?

First of all where did the hell did they get $250,000 ? Second I guess the Chamber and the Guild need all for their events? Next is the Gazebo donation

16-83 Accept Gift from the Ridgewood Conservancy for Public Lands – Lighting at Memorial Park at Van Neste Square – Accepts the gift from the Ridgewood Conservancy for Public Lands of the purchase and installation of a tree illumination system, installation of conduit in trenches, installation of pathway lighting, installation of concealed electrical outlet boxes, installation of an audio system and other ancillary items at Memorial Park at Van Neste Square. This gift is valued at $250,000. This resolution is adopted pursuant to Title 59.

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Hobbyists Photo Exhibition – October 2016 at the Ridgewood Public Library

Bike_Ridgewood_Public_Library_theridgewoodblog

October 7,2016

the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, To celebrate the 50th Anniversary of Hobbyists Unlimited, the Hobbyists Camera Club will have a Photo Exhibition at the Ridgewood Library for the entire month of October 2016. Twenty-three Camera Club Members will show their photos at the exhibition. The Ridgewood Library, 125 North Maple Avenue, Ridgewood NJ
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Readers ask did Councilman Ramon Hache suggest that because most employees in the CBD make minimum wage the Village of Ridgewood should give those employees free parking?

Ridegwood parking Town garage 12:10 5 24 2016

Did you hear Councilman Ramon Hache suggest that because most employees in the CBD make minimum wage the Village of Ridgewood should give those employees free parking. So let me understand this Councilman because the employers only pay their employees minimum wage it now becomes the Village taxpayers responsible to supplement there income by giving them free parking. How are you going to know if they are indeed being paid minimum wage Councilman ask for their w 2 before you give them free parking ?

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Readers say Leaf My Trees Alone

streetscape_theridgwoodblog

To Mike Sedon: You are a nice guy BUT leave me and my trees alone! I don’t need more government telling me what trees I can and cannot take down on MY property. AND, if the village needs to plant more of their own trees then they should start planting the trees that were never planted and died at the recycling center!

“village to examine trees on private property and if a tree had a diameter larger than 6 inches, it could not be taken down unless it was deemed diseased, dead or a hazard.” Hey Deputy Mayor Mike Sedon your going to tell taxpayer that they cannot take down a tree on their own property “village to examine trees on private property” are you kidding me? We pay taxes on or land and if we the taxpayers want to take down tree on our property because we want more sunlight or plant a garden who the hell do you and the village think you are to tell us what to do. You are really get out there on this one .

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Mr. Rutishauser, the name of that tree is the Sunburst Honey Locust. Not the Paterson Palm. Not a ghetto palm tree

Paterson Falls

October 7,2016

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, Village Engineer Christopher Rutishauser seemed to contract “foot in mouth disease”,on Wednesday night when talking about the Village tree stock he used the term Ghetto Palms to describe a tree that grows in Patterson ,saying “The Paterson Palm.  A tree that grows best in ghettos.” he would like to eradicate in Ridgewood.  It was said in a somewhat derogatory manner and both Anne and Boyd spoke about this during public comment.  They were highly offended. Other felt it was a dumb and insensitive comment.

If you missed the comments from Mr. Rutishauser, here’s a link to the OFFICIAL Village of Ridgewood video of the meeting: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IixAGgdClMA&feature=youtu.be&t=2h31s

The word is that Ms. Johnson ( bike lanes to nowhere guru) is planning on leaving Ridgewood as her children have graduated. Regarding Chris Rutishauser’s reference to the lovely and sturdy honey locust tree as a “ghetto palm” found all over Paterson, I would like to quote The National Arbor Day website: the honey locust tree “has captured the hearts of community foresters and homeowners throughout America and is tough enough to withstand just about any urban setting.” Sounds like a great tree for Ridgewood that is becoming more urbanized as we speak.

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Maybe we should ask Jeanne to demonstrate using the Garber Square Bike Lane ?

Bike Lane Traffic Easing Ridgewood
October 7,2016

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, Wednesday nights presentation by the village engineer and resident Jeanne Johnson on the availability of a grant for the purpose of pedestrian safety and alternate transit opportunities ( bikes) for municipalities.  Better stop lights, bike lanes, refuge islands etc.  Mayor Knudsen felt that she would need more information as there had been many  complaints regarding the Garber Square do to the so called improvements ie “traffic easing” and  “suicide bike lane”. The council will read the plans and come to a decision.  The grant application is due November 10th.

Jeanne Johnson actually had the audacity to say that she regularly sees bikers using the “bike lane to and from nowhere,” and to blame all of the complaints about it on the fact that “there was a new Village Council and new Village Manager at the same time?” Hello Jeanne: What have you been smoking lately. The Garber Square bike lane is useless.

Jeanne Johnson claimed she has many photos of people using the bike lane under the railroad tracks??? You take your life in your hands if you use it. I would like to see her MANY photos.

Rutishauser was unwilling to show the plan to the council for the new bike lanes, even when the mayor asked for the plan. Too large to print. Too large to burn onto a disc. Too large to email. What the heck? He wanted them to approve a plan without seeing the plan? For real? And then when the Mayor asked him what happened to the suggestions for the grant that she and other council members had submitted to him he just said that the suggestions were no good and he dismissed them.

But then a reader asked the obvious ,In what capacity was Jeanne Johnsohn sitting with the village engineer? What’s her qualification and has village hired her to be a consultant?

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EXPERIENCE THE MAGIC OF LIGHTING IN MEMORIAL PARK AT VAN NESTE SQUARE IN RIDGEWOOD ON OCTOBER 17TH

Van Neste Ridgewood

October 6,2016

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewod NJ, The community is invited to see and participate in the creation of a new era of illumination in the park at the heart of Ridgewood

The Conservancy for Ridgewood Public Lands is excited to invite the community to the Demonstration of Phase I of our lighting and audio project at MEMORIAL PARK AT VAN NESTE SQUARE on Monday, October 17 at 7:30 pm.

We will be turning on the lighting in the trees, on our pathways, and on our Historic Memorials for just this one evening, to give you a special demonstration of what the park will look like once Phase II is completed in the spring. We look forward to showing you a magnificent transformation of the park that will ultimately allow the community to host events throughout the year. This gift will be a meaningful to both the residents and the Central Business District, drawing our community together and benefiting all.

The Van Neste Lighting Project is a collaboration of the Conservancy for Ridgewood Public Lands with lighting design firm Jan & Brooke, Luminae and the International Landscaping Lighting Institute.

Please join us October 17th, regardless of the weather!

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All BLOW-OUT Sale Days – Ridgewood’s First!

CBD Ridgewood by ArtChick
file photo by ArtChick
Thu, October 06, 2016 – Sat, October 08, 2016
Time: 10:00 AM – 8:00 PM

Location: Downtown Ridgewood, Various Stores and Restaurants-listed below

Event Description

Come on down to Ridgewood’s Fall
BLOW-OUT Sale Days
October 6, 7, 8, 2016
Thr., Fri., Sat.,
outside if weather permitting

featuring
summer-endings
Fall trending’s and
Holiday comings

Alba Boutique – S. Broad St.
Alex and Ani* – E. Ridgewood Ave.
Anik of Ridgewood – E. Ridgewood Ave.
Art of Motion – Chestnut St.
ConnectOne Bank – E. Ridgewood Ave
DPARZ – S. Broad St.
Eat Your Spinach – E. Ridgewood Ave.
Femmbot Clothing – E. Ridgewood Ave.
Fox’s – E. Ridgewood Ave.
Gardner & Company – Van Neste Square
GiGi’s Boutique – E. Ridgewood Ave.
Gypsy Warrior Boutique – E. Ridgewood Ave.
Hot Jewelry Box – E. Ridgewood Ave.
Jekyll & Hide – E. Ridgewood AVe.
Kate Spade – E. Ridgewood Ave.
Learning Express – E. Ridgewood Ave.
Little Skye Children’s – E. Ridgewood Ave.
Loft41 Jewelry Studio & More – E. Ridgewood Ave.
Lucky Brand- E. Ridgewood Ave.
Oasis – E. Ridgewood Ave.
Pangea Coins & Jewelry – E. Ridgewood Ave.
Pink Bungalow – E. Ridgewood Ave.
Racefaster – N. Broad St.
Ridgewood Running Co., – E. Ridgewood Ave.
Ridgewood Bootery – E. Ridgewood Ave.
Running Company – E. Ridgewood Ave.
Savvy Chic Consignment Boutique-Cottage Ave.
Shelly Glam – E. Ridgewood Ave.
Shoe-Inn – E. Ridgewood Ave.
Shopettes – Chestnut St.
Suite 201 – Walnut St.
Super Cellars – S. Broad St.
The Gap – E. Ridgewood AVe.
Victor’s Clothing & Shoes – E. Ridgewood Ave.

for more details call 201-445-2600
[email protected]
*Spend $75 and receive a bangle bracelet free up to $28.

Please ask what the exclusions are when entering the Alex and Ani store.

see you at the sale!