file photo by Boyd Loving
Apparently they are quietly going to pull up the bricks with donors’ names on them from when the park was fixed up as a resident project and move them somewhere so they can put more concrete down so they can put more lighting up. Do people even know this is happening? Does the entire town have to look like a German bunker? I like the bricks and for all these years have enjoyed showing friends my name on one of them. I don’t want them moved
photos courtesy of Boyd Loving
August 16,2016
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, A two (2) vehicle crash at the intersection of North Maple Avenue and Linwood Avenue in Ridgewood resulted in one (1) driver being transported by ambulance to The Valley Hospital on Monday evening, 08/15. The victim was reportedly suffering from chest pains due to the deployment of her vehicle’s steering wheel mounted air bag. Ridgewood PD, FD and EMS responded to the incident. Both vehicles were removed from the scene by a tow truck(s). A crash related fluid spill was attended to by Ridgewood FD personnel.
file photo by Boyd Loving
It was Village Manager Roberta Sonenfeld’s excitement in describing this horrific and unnecessary new construction that gave me pause. She sounded just the same when talking about creating the H.R. job (which quickly and quietly segued from part time to full time) for her friend and essentially giving Habernickel Park to her other friend who runs the now-hated Health Barn. The Village Manager should not be so happy about these projects and in each case she had a personal stake in them (not financially, presumably). More and more and more expensive and disruptive construction, partly subsidized by grants to take the sting off (but not nearly enough, if you study the final numbers), was the theme under the Aronsohn years. She remains under his thumb and must be removed, as must Health Barn and the H.R. position, if we are to return to any level of benign stasis.
They lost the election ..we voted for change..time to take control over these boondoggle projects..leave that park surface alone..clean up the benches and spend some money on fall minor tree trimming and some
light cleaning of the monument areas and any grass refurbishment,leave the bricks alone,
Roberta will be telling us it is a CRISIS, Van Neste is falling apart I tell you it is a CRISIS.Follow the money. Someone stands to make big money. Who is doing the ugly concrete sidewalks? Who is doing the $40,000 cheesy fence? Who will build the Vagiannos Pavilion aka the gazebo?Roberta is all wound up about the is project because promises were made. Follow the money!
Thank you for being part of the August 21, 2016 Ridgewood Drive By Food Drive – The World’s Simplest Food Drive!
August 15,2016
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, In order to donate, please complete the form below and place a bag of non-perishable food on your doorstep starting at 8:00 AM on Sunday, August 21st. Our team of volunteers will do the rest. We will never distribute or use your information for any non-food drive purposes.
All collected items will be donated to the CUMAC Food Pantry (https://www.cumacecho.org/) of Paterson. All other questions can be directed to Brian Gatens, a Ridgewood resident, at [email protected].
Please feel free to spread the word about the Food Drive. You can post this form link on your Facebook/Social Media Pages or email it to friends. Ridgewood has always supported the food drive and your support is appreciated.
Additional Ridgewood Art Institute Summer Sessions start next week! All levels are welcome!
Both Painting and Drawing Sessions are offered.
August 15-19
3:00-5:00pm
Laura Paray
[email protected]
(201) 281-6940
Oil Painting for Young People – ages 8 to 17 (East Studio)
Your child will learn the basic techniques of oil painting and will create still life and landscape paintings to completion. They will learn concepts such as massing in, color and value. Fee: $185 supplies: $25
August 22-26
3:00-5:00pm
Joel Popadics
[email protected]
(973) 851-0366
Ridgewood Art Institute
12 East Glen Avenue
Ridgewood, New Jersey 07450
More like lighting up the place so there can be “events” every night as Vagianos has repeatedly requested. Shouldn’t we ask ourselves if this is quite the moment in environmental history to be lighting every possible corner and square of the town? Besides the absurd expense for installation and maintenance, and reducing our ability to see the stars and feel calm at night, increased electrical usage raises rates and can lead to brownouts and blackouts and even potential rationing. We’re just screwing ourselves left and right.
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file photo by Boyd Loving
Fixing things that need fixing is a great idea. This park however looks beautiful. Paver bricks might have a limited life span, but based on the appearance of these bricks they still have plenty of life. Why change them out for ugly concrete “decorative” paver blocks? How ridiculous.
Fix the things that need fixing. Don’t waste taxpayer money on demolishing perfectly nice things to make something else. So ridiculous. This is not like a living room that you feel like redecorating. This is a park with many commemorative markers. The fact that YOU don’t know any of these people commemorated on them does not make them meaningless.
file photo by Boyd Loving
Clearly, this was an attempt on Ms. Winograd’s part to generate a newspaper headline that the current Council was seeking to limit public comment.
Siobhan Winograd is on the anti-Knudsen team.
Let’s list the mouthpieces for the former megalomaniacs so that we’ll know we can ignore everything they say. Sonenfeld, obviously. Willett and Weitz. Winograd. Halaby, Griffith.
Why would the former council members, who were defeated resoundingly, come to the meetings to attempt to advance their failed agendas?Are they just spiteful? Do they need to grow up?
Hot button issues bring a lot of people to public meetings. To limit their input would be wrong and would make them feel that their voices do not count.
There were a lot more residents speaking against the garage and high density housing than in favor of the projects. Maybe this attempt to limit public comment is an attempt to limit dissent.
Those with a financial interest in the projects, and their paid staff, will continue to go to the meetings. It will provide more time for them in front of the mic.
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
A grant for bike lanes under the Complete Streets program led to the Garber Square fiasco and cost us 5 times the amount that the grant was for,. Now we have another grant and we’re using it to fix Van Neste Park which everyone seems to feel is in great shape! What happened to the old adage, ” If it isn’t broke,don’t fix it” ?
The Village Council should not miss a single opportunity to put a firm grip on the comings, the goings, and most importantly, the OPM spending patterns and priorities of the legacy Village Manager. Along these lines, the VC should probably press the pause button, indefinitely, on the contemplated renovation project in Van Neste Square. The next thing we will learn is that a half million dollars has already been spent on landscape architecture plans that will go to waste if the project doesn’t go forward immediately.
August 13,2016
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, the Ridgewood Veterinary Hospital has informed us that we missed “World Cat Day!”
We missed it! It was Monday, Aug. 8, 2016, but cat-owners will tell you that every day is World Cat Day anyway. We all know the world revolves around them, and they probably introduced this day to us. Humans domesticated animals such as dogs, cows, and horses. Cats moved in and domesticated themselves, at first by creating a win-win situation and taking care of the mice that invaded early man’s feed for farm animals. Before long, they realized the comforts of home and moved in, often assuming the position of head of the household. As they say, “Dogs have masters; cats have staff.” So hug your cat today, and enjoy your status as the Egyptians did – after all, they worshipped cats and wrote about them on walls (think Facebook).
file photo by ArtChick
Is everything in this town controversial? People are complaining about every move that the village makes. Moving the podium used for comments at council meetings to the side of the room. – horrors!
And turning in neighbors for sidewalk bumps and lawn watering. Some do not want dogs (cats, rabbits, deer?) urinating on the grass in front of their homes. I think they would prefer doggie diapers!
Why is everyone so mad at everyone else? What has happened to us?
photos by Boyd Loving
August 13,2016
the staff of the Ridgewood bog
Ridgewood NJ, Village Manager Roberta Sonenfeld said the council was given packets about the 2015 Schedler grant, which includes information from the October and November meetings, updated and complete grant application and responses from the county.
The village submitted a request for a $59,200 grant for Memorial Park and Van Neste Square, which would be used to replace brick pavers with decorative concrete sidewalk, remove aerial electric fixtures with underground electric, install new fencing, among other ideas. Sonenfeld said a finalized plan will be made public closer to the Sept. 14 public meeting.
Is there no tradition left in Ridgewood. When will it stop?
Now they want to remove the decorative brick many of which have names of family (Grandparents, parents children and in memorial of deceased family members any yes and maybe beloved pets) Why? Because we can apply for a grant? At last night meeting the VM said we would relocate them. Where? I know that the VM stated that a plan will be made public at the Sept. 14 meeting but will this be another case that it a done deal before the public has a chance to voice the opinion. They want to use concrete. We all know what happens to concrete that is put down around trees. Just look at the CBD sidewalk cracks not to mention that digging around the trees may kill them. Try going to the engineering dept to get a permit for a brick patio. They will tell you that anything over 12 x 12 feet will need a seepage pit. More digging. So will we hear next that the monument need to be moved? Just upgrade the electric put in a new fence and reset the brick and leave them alone.
