Does anybody actually believe the kid had anything to do with that letter? A show of hands, please. Letter ends, “Let’s get it done”–has a teenage boy ever said or written that sentence, especially about a parking garage? Comical idea. But mostly, I feel sick about the endless pathetic attempts to manipulate and deceive us. Are Aronsohn’s minions being treated to the marketing programs of White Horse Strategies? They’re working so hard to fleece us. More important, could all these selfish, destructive, impossibly contemptuous people please shut up and go away or become honest? Either will do. Tired of identifying their ploys and rejecting them.
Well I went to Raymonds for lunch yesterday and had a choice of four, yes four parking spaces within direct line of sight of the restaurant. The restaurant was packed, people waiting for seats. Now I know all you garage supporters will say that this was mid August so of course there was plenty of parking. But town was jumping, people were in Van Neste, Raymonds was crazy busy, and yet there was tons of parking. Like 8:11 said, some kids will do anything to get their parents to buy them a car, including write letters about how there has been a parking problem for 20 years and the author is only 18. So ridiculous.
Ridgewood NJ, In April Ridgewood joined over two dozen other municipalities, including Teaneck, Englewood, Wayne, Paterson, Pequannock and North Bergen challenging the tax exempt status of their local hospital
Like Ridgewood many of these municipalities are looking for new sources of cash to lower their high property taxes, local officials have now filed tax appeals challenging the tax-exempt status of 35 nonprofit hospitals according to NJ Advance Media for NJ.com .
The litigation continues to gain momentum in response to last year’s precedent-setting tax court ruling and settlement which required Morristown Medical Center to pay Morristown $15.5 million in lieu of property taxes. The judge in that case found the hospital operated like a for-profit entity and should share the cost of public safety and other municipal services.
While the Morristown case took 5 years to see it through ,so far two of the 35 cases have been settled already, resulting in additional revenue for the city of Elizabeth and Edison Township.
The settlements have already paid off for local taxpayers.The property tax rate has declined in Morristown by 2 cents this year, as a direct result of the “historic” agreement reached with Morristown Medical Center’s parent company, Atlantic Health Systems.
Ridgewood has quietly pursued Valley Hospital on the same grounds .It has been often repeated that Valley’s current 15 1/2-acre main campus would owe about $4.5 million in taxes if it were fully assessed. That is before the major increase in size by the proposed renovation double its size .
The N.J. Hospital Association says the tax-exempt status of these hospitals have been challenged:
Clara Maass Medical Center (Belleville)
Jersey City Medical Center (Jersey City)
Monmouth Medical Center (Long Branch)
Monmouth Medical Center Southern Campus (Lakewood)
Saint Barnabas Medical Center (Livingston)
Newark Beth Israel Medical Center (Newark)
Holy Name Medical Center (Teaneck)
Englewood Hospital and Medical Center (Englewood)
Hunterdon Medical Center (Raritan Township)
Bayshore Community Hospital (Holmdel)
Hackensack UMC Palisades (North Bergen)
Jersey Shore University Medical Center (Neptune)
Raritan Bay Medical Center (Old Bridge)
Raritan Bay Medical Center (Perth Amboy)
Riverview Medical Center (Red Bank)
Chilton Medical Center (Pequannock)
Overlook Medical Center (Summit)
Newton Memorial Hospital (Newton)
Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital (Rahway)
Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital (New Brunswick)
Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Somerset (Somerville)
Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Hamilton (Hamilton)
Trinitas Regional Medical Center (Elizabeth)
CentraState Medical Center (Freehold)
Virtua Memorial Hospital (Moorestown)
St. Joseph’s Regional Medical Center (Paterson)
St. Joseph’s Hospital Wayne (Wayne)
JFK Health (Edison)
Shore Memorial Hospital (Somers Point) The Valley Hospital (Ridgewood)
Capital Health (Hopewell)
Kennedy University Hospital (Stratford)
AtlantiCare Regional Medical Center City Campus (Atlantic City)
AtlantiCare Regional Medical Center Mainland Campus (Galloway)
Princeton Healthcare System (Plainsboro & Princeton)
Ridgewood NJ, On 8/8/16 the Ridgewood Police report that a Terhune Road resident arrived home and observed his home had been burglarized by forced entry. Det. Henky arrived on scene and investigated. The Bergen County Sheriff’s Department B.C.I. unit was notified and responded to the scene and processed the scene. The detective bureau is investigating the incident.
On the same day a commercial building located on South Maple Avenue reported a burglary in the past. The actors forced entry into the building and removed items from within. Det. Henky responded to investigate and contact the Bergen County Sheriff’s B.C.I. unit to respond and process the scene. Evidence was collected at the scene by B.C.I. for processing. The detective bureau is investigating the incident.
Ridgewood NJ, Families and children of all ages are invited to a Blessing of the Animals and celebration of the life and ministry of St. Frances of Assisi on Saturday October 1, 2016 at 11:00 a.m. at Christ Episcopal Church in Ridgewood.
Everyone is invited to bring their favorite pets: dogs, cats, goldfish, rabbits and even stuffed animals….any beloved creature, great or small. A short service celebrating all animals will be followed by individual blessings of each animal. The service will be held inside of the church and refreshments will be provided.
There will also be some orphaned animals from the Ramapo-Bergen Animal Refuge who are eligible for adoption joining us. Please consider bringing a donation from the RBARI wish list found on their website:
www.rbari.org to this event.
Contact the church office at 201.652.2350 with any questions or visit www.christchurchridgewood.org. The church is located at 105 Cottage Place, at the corner of Franklin Avenue, in Ridgewood, NJ.
Ridgewood NJ, Every August since 1968, Graydon Pool has hosted summer day campers from Paterson for 3 afternoons a week for 3 consecutive weeks. These 9 days at Graydon provide a cool respite for these city kids with little, if any, opportunity to swim in their own community. Plus, thanks to the Ridgewood YMCA, the children receive swim instruction every day, providing them with water safety skills that will help keep them safe for a lifetime.
This year corporate donors were scarce and there is a short fall of about $3000 so Citizens for Swimming needs your help.
Citizens for Swimming needs $110 per child to host the child for the full program. They need donations of money, new swimsuits, towels, and volunteers to make this work. Checks should be made payable to Citizens for Swimming.
The address to mail checks to is:
Citizens for Swimming
c/o Jorgensen & Company
42 West Allendale Avenue
Allendale, NJ 07401
Ridgewood NJ, the ex mayor Paul Aronsohn and his cronies have flooded the membership of the Ridgewood League of Women Voters. According to their website the League of Women Voters is a non-partisan political organization encourages the active and informed participation of citizens in government and influences public policy through education and advocacy.
The League does not support or oppose any candidate or party. Operating on a non-profit, voluntary basis, its work is financed by dues and contributions from members and the general public. Membership is open to all citizens of voting age.
Readers claim, “This could be the LWV’s best-ever new member drive…or the worst, since nobody wants to be with those people. Newbies include Wyne, Winograd, Sonenfeld. All at once.” While other say ,”Aronsohn has now joined the league, and Rurik and Gwenn. Must miss.”
Most readers are quite skeptical over a group of clearly proven partisan hacks joining a supposed “non-partisan political organization” .Will attempts be made to manipulate the electorate and misrepresent information like past Aronsohn campaigns ie… “the Vote Yes” for the Hudson Street garage campaign ? Or will Aronsohn be shut down in dead end political never land ?
And of coarse what about credibility ,just when the league had finally began to regain some relevance after years of filtering on the edge of extinction but who will now take them seriously ?
This is the way upcoming meetings are listed on the “improved” village website. The current method is inept because:
Meetings of the Village Council, Planning Board, and Zoning Board of Adjustment are all mixed together. People want to know about one particular kind of meeting (not “I wonder what meetings are happening, any kind is fine”) and should not have to read through the entire list to find it. Categories (each council or board) should be listed separately, under a heading.
Nowhere does it state that those three groups are the only ones whose meetings are listed. In fact, numerous boards, committees, commissions, and councils will hold their meetings during the same period. Doing as suggested above would make it clear that those were the only ones, because the headings would say that.
Village Council meetings are not identified as such. “Public Meeting,” “Special Public Meeting,” and “Public Work Session” provide insufficient information. Everything on the list is a public meeting. Yet it’s probably council meetings that most people are interested in.
Upcoming meetings should be listed in chronological order, not in reverse chronological order just because some software does it that way automatically. It’s counter intuitive and unnecessarily hard for the user.
Ridgewood NJ, Discarded waste associated with the sanding of hardwood floors ignited unexpectedly after being placed at the curb in large plastic trash bags for pickup in front of 347 South Maple Avenue, Ridgewood on the afternoon of Wednesday, 08/17. The crew from Ridgewood Engine Company #35 extinguished the small blaze using the apparatus’ booster line and hosed down all other debris left at the curb to avoid a repeat incident. Ridgewood PD provided traffic control while firefighters worked.
James McDonnell ,”Slim Jim Phantom” ,Tuesday, August 23rd @ 6:00pm Drummer of the Stray Cats, James McDonnell, will sign his new book: A Stray Cat Struts: My Life as a Rockabilly Rebel
Linda Thompson ,Wednesday, August 24th @ 7:00pm Songwriter, actress married to Olympian, Bruce Jenner “Caitlyn Jenner” and Music Producer, David Foster…and who also dated Elvis, Linda Thompson, will sign her new book: A Little Thing Called Life
Ridgewood NJ, Appearing authors will only autograph books purchased at Bookends and must have valid Bookends Receipt.
Availability & pricing for all autographed books subject to change.
First In Line Certificate use is the the discretion of Bookends. Blackout dates may apply.
Bookends cannot guarantee that the books that are Autographed will always be First Printings.
Autographed books purchased at Bookends are non-returnable.
While we try to ensure that all customers coming to Bookends’ signings will meet authors and get their books signed, we cannot guarantee that all attendees will meet the author or that all books will be signed. We cannot control inclement weather, author travel schedules or authors who leave prematurely.
Bookends, 211 E. Ridgewood Avenue, Ridgewood, NJ 07450 201-445-0726
Public MeetingWednesday, September 14, 2016 8:00PM Special Public MeetingWednesday, September 14, 2016 7:30PM Board of Adjustment Public MeetingTuesday, September 13, 2016 7:30PM Public Work SessionWednesday, September 07, 2016 7:30PM Planning Board Public MeetingTuesday, September 06, 2016 7:30PM Board of Adjustment Public MeetingTuesday, August 30, 2016 7:30PM Board of Adjustment Public MeetingTuesday, August 23, 2016 7:30PM
There was a culture in Ridgewood that embraced intellect , community, and quality of life. This has deteriorated to a society of entitlement and condescension : even in the houses of worship. .Merchants behave as if they are doing ME a favor by being open. I’m not sure the solution- I adore my home town, but don’t care to live there any longer.
or is Social media amplifying the negativity ….
There are many of us here who still love our neighbors, our town, our schools, our teachers and those who work tirelessly to make Ridgewoid a great town to raise a family. Social media has given these naysayers a forum to complain about their miserable lives.
Was walking around VN a couple weeks ago, and by that bench at the SE corner of the park there were no less than three empty fifths of Majorska, empty cigarette packs, and a couple broken beer bottles. Whoever made that mess had plenty of time to do it. No cops to roust them, and nobody to clean up after.
You would think that simply cleaning the park would be a step in the right direction, but instead we have $ to enrich some contractor by pulling all the bricks and pouring concrete.
But by all means, blame the teachers for your high taxes.
Ridgewood NJ, the Annual Luncheon of the Ridgewood League of Women Voters (LWV) will host Lieutenant Governor Kim Guadagno as the key note speaker . Thursday September 22nd ,12-2pm Old Paramus Reformed Church , 660 East Glen Ave. Ridgewood NJ.
On July 20, 2009, Republican gubernatorial nominee Christopher J. “Chris” Christie announced that Guadagno was his choice as running mate, in the first New Jersey election to include voting for a lieutenant governor.
Christie also announced that as lieutenant governor, Guadagno would also serve as New Jersey’s Secretary of State, along with overseeing economic development efforts and the streamlining of government regulations. She was sworn in on January 19, 2010 as the first Lieutenant Governor of New Jersey and the 33rd Secretary of State.heading up
Lt. Gov. Kim Guadagno, also a former Monmouth County sheriff, is heading up the not-for-profit “as honorary chairwoman of Building a Better New Jersey Together Inc., a self-described think tank to find “smart and effective solutions to the challenges still facing New Jersey.” ,in what many feel could be her first steps toward a 2017 run for governor.
When long-hot summers drag on, with feels-like temperatures rocketing over 100 degrees, you may feel the need to seriously chill.
August 16,2016
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, One way to take the edge off: fresh and frosty desserts. And if there are options for healthier versions of those same desserts – well, that’s even cooler.
Chef Blakely Trettenero, who writes about her culinary adventures on her blog, Everyday Gourmet with Blakely (www.gourmetwithblakely.com), is offering up recipes for tasty treats that won’t make you break a sweat or send you into sugar shock.
“I can see myself enjoying any of these delicious goodies on a warm Florida day,” says the chef from Fort Myers.
Trettenero taps into summer with peaches, popsicles and her great-grandmother’s wannabe snow cones called Granita.
“It is extremely easy to make,” she says. “You can store it away and do like I do – pop your head into the freezer every other night, OK, EVERY night, and get a big spoonful.”
The Le Cordon Bleu-trained chef also encourages cooks to look beyond white sugar when making these desserts, suggesting substituting honey to satisfy your sweet tooth.
Honey is a natural sweetener that, when used in moderation, offers beneficial antioxidant properties not present in processed sugar.
Trettenero also touts her Breakfast Popsicles as a dessert option that leans heavily on yogurt and fresh fruit, making it healthier than most anything on a stick found in your grocer’s freezer.
“It is so tasty and beautiful,” Trettenero says of the layered dessert. “You’ll feel as if you’re eating something naughty, but actually it’s healthy!”
Beat the heat at the pool or the beach with these refreshing recipes:
GRILLED PEACHES
Keep the grilled fired up after cooking dinner for this tasty dessert that is peachy keen
Ingredients
• 3 large peaches, cut in half and pit removed
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1/4 cup brown sugar*
• 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
• Vanilla ice cream
Instructions
1. Preheat grill or grill pan to medium high heat
2. Cut ripe peaches in half, remove pit and put peach halves in a medium-sized Ziploc bag
3. Add vanilla extract, brown sugar* and cinnamon to the bag and close
4. Gently turn bag to coat peaches with mixture
5. Arrange fruit flesh-side down on the grill or grill pan. Grill for 2 minutes or until a nice grill mark appears on the peach. Flip fruit to the skin side and cook for another minute.
6. Serve warm peaches with a scoop of vanilla ice cream and enjoy the peachy keen sweetness
*To make a lighter version of this dessert, substitute two tablespoons of honey for brown sugar.
BREAKFAST POPSICLES
These layered popsicles can be made the night before for a fun breakfast or a cool treat on a hot summer day
• 1/2 cup each of blueberries and sliced strawberries
• 1/2 cup water
• 2 teaspoons maple syrup
• 1 cup plain Greek yogurt
• 1/2 cup almond milk (or regular milk)
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1/2 cup granola
• 1/4 cup plain or vanilla yogurt
• Popsicle molds with sticks
Instructions
Fruit layers
1. Put blueberries and sliced strawberries in separate saucepans on medium heat each with ¼ cup water and 1 teaspoon maple syrup
2. Bring both to a simmer for 10 minutes, stirring frequently until the mixture thickens. Remove from heat and set aside.
Yogurt layers
1. In a mixing bowl combine Greek yogurt, almond milk and vanilla extract. Stir until smooth.
2. In another bowl mix granola with plain or vanilla yogurt
Assembly
1. In popsicle molds, begin with a Greek yogurt layer, then a layer of strawberry mixture, another Greek yogurt layer, and a blueberry layer leaving room at the end for a layer of the granola-yogurt mixture.
2. Fill molds until you run out of ingredients
3. Add popsicle sticks
4. Put in freezer for a minimum of three hours or overnight
Spring Granita
A popular semi-frozen dessert in Italy, the texture of Granita can be smooth as gelato or coarse like a snow cone
Ingredients
• 3 cups water
• 2 1/4 cups sugar*
• 3 lemons
• 3 oranges
• 3 bananas
• Zest of 2 lemons
• Zest of 2 oranges
Instructions
1. Make a simple syrup in a saucepan over high heat, mixing water and sugar.
2. While stirring, let it come to a boil for 5 minutes, ensuring sugar is dissolved.
3. Remove from heat and set aside.
4. In a blender, combine zest and juice from oranges and lemons with peeled bananas. Blend until mixture is smooth.
5. Pour into a clean bowl.
6. Add simple syrup to bowl and mix.
7. Let sit until it is at room temperature.
8. Move mixture to a ceramic baking dish and put into the freezer.
9. After 4 hours, remove from freezer and with a fork, scrape the mixture making it light and fluffy. (Mixture won’t be frozen completely)
10. Put baking dish back into the freezer for 2 more hours.
11. To serve, scrape again with a fork and place in dessert bowls.
*Substitute 1 and 2/3 cup honey for sugar as a natural sweet alternative.
About Blakely Trettenero
Blakely Trettenero, host of the Everyday Gourmet with Blakely (www.gourmetwithblakely.com) and Hungry for Travels (www.hungryfortravels.com) websites, is a graduate of the Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts in Orlando, Fla. She is a world traveler, having visited more than 30 countries, and is becoming a frequent guest on TV.
