photos courtesy of Boyd Loving’s Facebook
May 16,2016
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, A Volkswagen Jetta was just one casualty of a fast moving rain/wind storm that swept through Northwest Bergen County at approximately 7 PM on Sunday, 05/15. Electric service to a home at 428 George Street in Ridgewood was severed when this large tree limb fell. Fallen tree limbs were also reported in neighboring Glen Rock and Hawthorne.
Ridgewood NJ, readers continue to takes issue with Gwenn “drunken tiriad” at village hall after the humiliating defeat of the Aronsohn slate .Many residents can’t get over the fact that Gwenn lost it the night everyone met at the Community Center to hear the election results. She certainly had been drinking but that really is a non issue( Many drunks are nice!) .
Gwenn literally went into the face of a resident screaming and cursing and saying, ” Are you fucking gloating” and other curses. Her extremely rude husband who,is known for his rudeness, grabbed her to take her away all the while smiling and saying, ” we have freedom of speech, she can say anything she wants!” A classy act .
All three of the outgoing council members have demonstrated serious narcissistic rage issues. So many have witnessed these rants or have been the victim of them.
They have held these anti free speech civility meetings for two years basically attacking everything and everyone but themselves.
If the new council is only better in this department, we are most definitely in a better place. The behavior has affected so many areas of village government including not allowing for real conversation about problems in the departments.
Add that to the fact that the village manager acted as a 6th council member and was encouraged to do so made it impossible for Susan and Mike to have the impact they tried so hard for.
Fortunately, for residents a perfect storm developed: so many citizen groups with a variety of issues speaking out at once. There was no way they were going to beat that and that it is why they tried to push everything through in such an aggressive manner so quickly.
May 15, 8:07 AM EDT
JERUSALEM (AP) — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu lashed out at Iran Sunday for staging a Holocaust-themed cartoon contest that mocked the Nazi genocide of 6 million Jews during World War II and said the Islamic Republic was busy planning for another one.
Iran has long backed armed groups committed to Israel’s destruction and its leaders have called for it to be wiped off the map. Israel fears that Iran’s nuclear program is designed to threaten its very existence. But Netanyahu said it was more than Iran’s belligerent policies that Israel opposed, but its values.
“It denies the Holocaust, it mocks the Holocaust and it is also preparing another Holocaust,” Netanyahu said at his weekly Cabinet meeting. “I think that every country in the world must stand up and fully condemn this.”
State Department spokesman Mark Toner, traveling with Secretary of State John Kerry in Saudi Arabia, said the United States was concerned the contest could “be used as a platform for Holocaust denial and revisionism and egregiously anti-Semitic speech, as it has in the past.”
May 10, 2016
The list of award winners, including The Valley Hospital, represents hospitals that create an extraordinary patient experience for women and their families by providing exceptional care.“We are proud to once again be recognized as one of the nation’s Best Hospitals for Patient Experience,” said Audrey Meyers, President and CEO of The Valley Hospital and Valley Health System. “It’s a testament to the priority Valley nurses, physicians and staff place on delivering high-quality, compassionate care to our patients and their families.”
The America’s 100 Best Hospitals scoring process is unique in that it is the only national list that focuses on what matters most to women when choosing a hospital. For 2016, the most important considerations were patient’s willingness to recommend, doctor and nurse communications, staff help, pain management, cleanliness and explanation of medications, in that order. The qualification process begins with scores derived by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services for each hospital in the Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (HCAHPS) database. Our national survey of women determines which questions in the HCAHPS survey, completed by patients after discharge, are most important to them in determining their satisfaction with their hospital stay. The responses to those questions, weighted accordingly, results in a numeric score for each hospital reporting valid HCAHPS data to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.
“Women are the Chief Medical Officer for the household, making upwards of 90 percent of all healthcare decisions. Considering she bears the responsibility of making these incredibly important decisions, the Women’s Choice Award offers a trusted solution by identifying the hospitals that have proven superior patient experience. Finally, a source that shares her values and priorities is available,” said Delia Passi, CEO and Founder of the Women’s Choice Award.
For more information on the 2016 America’s 100 Best Hospitals for Patient Experience visit https://www.womenschoiceaward.com/awarded/best-hospitals/100s-best/.
when : Monday, May 16th @ 7:00pm
who : Member of the Punk Rock Band X, John Doe will sign his new book: Under the Big Black Sun
where : Bookends, 211 E. Ridgewood Avenue, Ridgewood, NJ 07450 201-445-0726
Ridgewood NJ, X is an American punk rock band, formed in Los Angeles in 1977. Established among the first wave of American punk, the original members are vocalist Exene Cervenka, vocalist/bassist John Doe, guitarist Billy Zoom and drummer D. J. Bonebrake. The band released seven studio albums from 1980 to 1993. After a period of inactivity during the mid to late 1990s, X reunited in the early 2000s, and currently tours.
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
New Jersey courts have established a three-part test that, in essence, provides that for an organization to be entitled to property tax exemption, it must show that:
1. it is organized exclusively for a charitable purpose (or other qualifying purpose enumerated in the statute);
2. its property is actually used for such a charitable purpose (or the specific qualifying purpose applicable to that organization); and
3. its use and operation of the property is not for profit.
Morristown Hospital failed the third test, so will Valley.
SEEKING RESIDENTS TO VOLUNTEER TO SERVE ON VARIOUS BOARDS AND COMMITTEES
May 15,2016
the staff of the Ridgewood
Ridgewood NJ, The Village Council is looking for residents who are interested in volunteering to serve on the following Boards and Committees: Planning Board, Zoning Board of Adjustment, The Ridgewood Community Center Advisory Board, The Financial Advisory Committee, The Ridgewood Arts Council, and the Shade Tree Commission.
The Planning Board reviews site plans and subdivision applications; prepares, adopts, and amends the Master Plan; makes recommendations to the Village Council regarding amendments to developmental regulations and the official map.
The Zoning Board of Adjustment hears variance applications and appeals from rulings and determinations arising from the enforcement of Village zoning ordinances.
The Community Center Advisory Board develops policies and procedures for the operation of the Community Center facility and assists in the fulfillment of the County Municipal Alliance Grant requirements. Membership includes: Senior Citizen residents; adult residents with children in the school system; and adult residents with no children in the school system.
The Financial Advisory Committee assists in the review and understanding of the financial considerations necessary to the operation of the Village and the Village’s preparation of the Annual and Capital Budgets; provides review, advice and recommendations to the Village Council on Village financial and budgetary matters; and prepares an annual report for the Village Council to assist the Councilmembers in their budget preparation. Members will preferably have strong finance, accounting, government and/or business backgrounds.
The Ridgewood Arts Council will assist in the promotion of and encourage artistic and cultural programs and will provide for educational opportunities in the areas of art and culture. The Ridgewood Arts Council will also provide advice, guidance, and recommendations to the Village Council, as needed.
The Shade Tree Commission works closely with the Parks and Recreation Department, the Ridgewood Environmental Advisory Committee, and the Green Team to promote awareness and education of the residents as well as advise and provide recommendations to the Village Council in promoting and sustaining a safe and productive shade tree resource.
All interested residents should fill out a Citizen Volunteer Leadership form (found on the Village website under “Forms”), and send it along with a cover letter indicating on which board(s) or committee(s) the resident wishes to serve, and a biography or resume to:
Heather Mailander
Village Clerk
Village of Ridgewood
131 North Maple Ave.
Ridgewood, NJ 07451
Deadline for submissions is May 26, 2016.
file photo by Boyd Loving
May 15,2016
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, administrative assistant to Ridgewood doctor charged with theft and forgery. Sussan Lopez a 29-year-old Cliffside Park woman was arrested this week on theft and forgery charges stemming from a complaint that she was stealing from her employer, a Ridgewood doctor, the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office said Saturday.
In a statement acting Bergen County Prosecutor Gurbir S. Grewal Sussan Lopez was arrested on computer related theft, theft by deception and forgery related charges, and authorities allege that she stole more than $50,000 in value from her employer.
An investigation by the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office White Collar Crimes Unit and the Ridgewood Police Department, authorities allege that Lopez also fraudulently created an American Express corporate account using the office’s corporate identity to purchase goods and pay for personal services.
The Ridgewood Police Department received the initial complaint from the doctor, who was not identified at this time by Grewal, in late March. On May 11, a warrant was issued for Lopez’s arrest, and on May 12 she was arrested at her home in Cliffside Park.
Lopez was remanded to the Bergen County jail in lieu of bail set at $35,000, authorities said. She is scheduled to appear in Bergen County Municipal court on May 27 at 9:30 a.m.
May 14,2016
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ,The Ridgewood Run is the premier road race in northern New Jersey and one of the longest running races in the tri-state area. Choose either the 10K, 5K, Road Mile, Fun Run – all or one of them.
Registration information https://www.ridgewoodrun.com/
Veteran’s Field
Ridgewood, NJ
Race Day Registration for
all events, up to field limit of
4000 runners.
Ridgewood NJ, the Ridgewood Mayor Paul Aronsohn will be joined by Brian M. Stolar, President and CEO, of The Pinnacle Companies and John Arenas, CEO, of Serendipity Labs on Tuesday, May 17, 5:00-6:00 p.m. to host a ribbon cutting ceremony to showcase newly renovated Lincoln Building’s premium workspace, vibrant lounges and event space in Ridgewood.
This will be a ribbon cutting ceremony for New Jersey’s first Serendipity Labs coworking location in Ridgewood. The three-story, 8,500-square-foot premium workspace with vibrant, upscale lounges, ideation studios, work bars, event venue space and a café are all located in the iconic, newly renovated Lincoln building right across the street from the Ridgewood train station at 45 North Broad Street.
“Independent professionals, entrepreneurs, remote and mobile workers working in and around Ridgewood will now have a premium workplace and meeting venue offering a level of hospitality that rivals boutique hotels,” says Brian M. Stolar, CEO of The Pinnacle Companies, the exclusive Serendipity Labs area franchisee for Northern New Jersey.
May 14,2016
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ ,In 1973, President Gerald Ford authorized EMS Week to celebrate EMS practitioners and the important work that they do in our nation’s communities. Henceforth ,The Village Council of the Village of Ridgewood proclaimed the week of May 15 through May 21 as Emergency Medical Services Weekand encourages the community to support Ridgewood Emergency Services and all of their programs, ceremonies and activities. The members of Ridgewood Emergency Services are 24/7 ready to provide lifesaving care to those in need. These members engage in thousands of hours of specialized training and continuing education to enhance their lifesaving skills. The Village Council recognized the value and accomplishments of the Ridgewood Emergency Services with the 2016 theme “EMS STRONG-CALLED TO CARE”. The proclamation was presented to Chief/Director Tony Lillo with members of Ridgewood Emergency Service present at the May 10th Village Council meeting.
On any given day, Ridgewood Emergency Service EMT’s help save lives by responding to medical emergencies, including heart attack, difficulty breathing, a fall or accident, drowning, cardiac arrest, stroke, drug overdose or acute illness. The Ridgewood responders care for their patients’ medical needs and show caring and compassion to their patients in their most difficult moments. For the first 4 months of 2016, Ridgewood Emergency Services responded to over 530 requests for assistance while spending over 6500 hours being on duty and training away from their own families. Please find out more about Ridgewood Emergency Services at https://ridgewood911.
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, a reader said the ,Financial Advisory Committee was created by the mayor solely as a breeding ground for future council members willing to live in his shadow and image. It didn’t work. Disband it!
The leadership of Financial Advisory Committee is there just to stamp the Village Manager’s decisions. So she can say ‘an expert panel has looked at it and they agree with my approach”. She comes from the corporate word and knows how to put everything on outside ‘consultants’.
Its beyond funny that the Chairman of FAC, a candidate for the council election, Weitz is not even a finance guy. He is an attorney and we have seen how good attorneys are on the council (Albert). Try asking him some finance questions. May be he will do better than the CFO?
Inorder to save the committee the FAC needs to have bylaws and minutes and a clause that prohibits members from running for public office while serving. THe VM needs direction, goals and an evaluation after a specified time. She needs to be held accountable for the administration and operations of the Village. There can no longer be selective ordinance enforcement. The Village Attorney, PB attorney should be evaluated and if necessary replaced. The assistant VM should be evaluated and if needed replaced. The new Council needs to be prudent but decisive in their actions. Let’s not replicate the mistakes of the past.
The election is over. The new council needs to stabilize the governance of the municipality by vesting the village operational authority in the VM where it belongs by law and holding her accountable for the execution.
I think Ms. Sonenfield mistakenly and foolishly assumed that her Party’s machine was too strong to be challenged, let alone be defeated, by a bunch of mere ordinary residents. When you are so neck deep in machine politics, you sometime do end up making such delusional assumptions.
Whatever her abilities, there should be NO place for a village employee who so openly and blatantly aligns herself with one set of political leaders.
There is NO way her name could have been so openly and repeatedly used in their campaign absent her approval.
She made her bed, now it is time to lay down in it. She has to go.
By Michael W. Chapman | June 2, 2015 | 1:34 PM EDT
(CNSNews.com) — Dr. Paul R. McHugh, the former psychiatrist-in-chief for Johns Hopkins Hospital and its current Distinguished Service Professor of Psychiatry, said that transgenderism is a “mental disorder” that merits treatment, that sex change is “biologically impossible,” and that people who promote sexual reassignment surgery are collaborating with and promoting a mental disorder.
Dr. McHugh, the author of six books and at least 125 peer-reviewed medical articles, made his remarks in a recentcommentary in the Wall Street Journal, where he explained that transgender surgery is not the solution for people who suffer a “disorder of ‘assumption’” – the notion that their maleness or femaleness is different than what nature assigned to them biologically.
He also reported on a new study showing that the suicide rate among transgendered people who had reassignment surgery is 20 times higher than the suicide rate among non-transgender people. Dr. McHugh further noted studies from Vanderbilt University and London’s Portman Clinic of children who had expressed transgender feelings but for whom, over time, 70%-80% “spontaneously lost those feelings.”
Ridgewood NJ , YWCA Bergen County is offering its next American Red Cross Waterfront Lifeguard Training Course June 6th through 16th, Lifeguard Recertification May 31st through June 2nd and Waterfront Lifeguard Training Module June 7th and 9th.
The American Red Cross Waterfront Lifeguard Training course prepares students with the CPR, First Aid and lifeguard techniques necessary for employment as a professional lifeguard. Students must take and pass a swim test, which will be held on Wednesday, June 1st and Thursday, June 2nd at 4:00 p.m. at Darlington County Park, Upper Lake, 600 Darlington Avenue, Mahwah, NJ with a $10 swim test fee due at registration. Course will begin on June 6th and run through June 16, 2016 with classes held Monday through Thursday from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. at Darlington County Park. Participants must be 15 years of age or older. The course fee is $400.
American Red Cross Lifeguard Training Recertification Course, on Tuesday, May 31st through Thursday, June 2nd, will review and test all CPR, First Aid and Lifeguard Skills. Participants must present current LGT Certification on first day of class. Classes will be held from 5:00 to 9:30 p.m. at 112 Oak Street in Ridgewood, and the course fee is $150.
The American Red Cross Waterfront Lifeguard Training Module will be held on Tuesday, June 7th and Thursday, June 9th. Participants must present valid LGT Certification and will be trained and tested in Lifeguard skills specific to murky bottom, non-surf facilities. Classes will be held from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. at 112 Oak Street in Ridgewood, and the course fee is $100.
For more information or to register call the YWCA Membership Department at 201-444-5600, x400, or visit www.ywcabergencounty.org.
