Category: village of ridgewood

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Questions the Ridgewood Village Council Candidates Need to Answer

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April 12,2016

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, The League of Women Voters will sponsor a  Candidates’ Night for those running for Village Council . The Candidates’ Night will take place in the Village Hall Court Room, Wednesday, April 20th from 7:30PM to 9:30PM.  All are invited to attend to learn positions on local issues.

Reader says the election is less than a month away and I don’t know where any of the candidates stand on important issues.

Do they have websites? Is there any campaign material? If the Ridgewood News were truely an unbiased local paper they would send questions to the candidates for answers and publish all responses.

I know that the League of Women Voters will have a forum but I expected more. What if the forum does not adress my questions?

What do you think the village should do about parking in the CBD? Do you think that we even have a parking problem?

Do you think that the housing density should be 25 units per acre? Do you think that it should be higher or lower?

How many high density projects can the congested downtown absorb?

Will you challenge the latest Valley Hospital Plan and ask for more concessions?

What can be done to end the cycle of empty-nesters fleeing the town because of high taxes? Do you think that there is a benefit to offer a tax break to stabilize the demographics and prevent an overflow of students in our schools?

Will you ask that all council and committee members disclose all conflicts of interest – perhaps without being asked by an angry and skeptical public?

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Village of Ridgewood Change Order

Village_Manager_Roberta_Sonenfeld_theridgewoodblog

file photo by Boyd Loving

April 12,2016

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, Village Manager Roberta Sonenfeld explaining what the Village spent $295,000.00 on for designs that were not approved yet…followed quick by a change order for $120,000.00 to switch to Design D. Enjoy. Thank Charlie Nowinski for bringing this up at the Village Council meeting.

https://www.tubechop.com/watch/7840960

 

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SayleStock 2016 at Van Neste Square in Ridgewood

SayleStock 2016
Sun, April 24, 2016
Time: 12:00 PM – 4:00 PM

Location: Memorial Park at Van Neste Square, E Ridgewood Ave and Oak St

Every year we have an awareness and fundraiser event for Salivary Gland Cancer. We take over a local park in Ridgewood New Jersey and we have averaged a little over 600 people each year in the past years.

All proceeds benefit the Matthew Sayles Foundation for Salivary Gland Cancer.

The foundation is a New Jersey Not for Profit Organization. We are an IRS 501c3 not for profit IRS # 30-0717213

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West Bergen Mental Healthcare presents Fashions from W by Worth

West Bergen Mental Healthcare
Wed, April 27, 2016
Time: 11:00 AM – 6:00 PM

Location: Ridgewood Public Library, 125 N. Maple Ave., Ridgewood, NJ 07450

Ridgewood NJ, Summer is just around the corner! Come and see the new Fashion Trends and colors that would be most beautiful on you.

Please note that on any purchase, you are giving back 10 percent to WEST BERGEN MENTAL HEALTHCARE.
For more than 50 years, West Bergen has provided counselling and psychiatric services to youngsters, families and individuals in need.

In support of Autism Awareness Month, We invite you to…
Come and see the new Fashion Trends and colors that would be most beautiful on you.
Fashions by: W by Worth will be presented by Christina DeCarlo

For a preview, visit wbyworth.com/christina-decarlo
West Bergen Mental Healthcare will receive 10% of any items purchased that day.

West Bergen is a leading provider of mental health services and programs for youngsters and adults on the Autism Spectrum.

Free Admission
RSVP to Carol 201-444-3550 [email protected]

Light refreshments will be served.

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Village of Ridgewood Coucil Candidate Jeff Voigt On Finding Common Ground

Jeff Voigt Ridgewood

April 11,2016

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, Village of Ridgewood Coucil Candidate Jeff Voigt On Finding Common Ground.

Jeff told the Ridgewood blog , ““we need to get various camps together to solve some important issues.  If we do not, we may never see any progress – e.g. with density that is consistent with our existing inventory  of multifamily dwellings; a smaller garage(s) that fits in the Hudson St lot vs a 4 story/5 level proposed garage that doesn’t;  less square footage in the hospital expansion and; a smaller (e.g. 60 ft diamond) vs. a 90 ft ball field at Schedler.  We have a problem with those who want to SUPERSIZE our town to the detriment of the character and feel of it.  We need buy-in and compromise from various camps to move forward. ” ”

Video by Dana H. Glazer  https://youtu.be/dznXxgc0gj8

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Police Tactical Training at Benjamin Franklin Middle School

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April 11,2016

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, During spring break the Ridgewood Police will be conducting scenario based tactical training at Benjamin Franklin Middle School from Monday April 11th through Thursday April 14th between the hours of 8:00am and 4:00pm. Residents can expect to see officers from various agencies in the area of the school during the week.

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Healthbarn Controversy Raises Eyebrows with Sport Groups and Residents

Healthbarn USA ridgewood
photo courtesy of Take Back Ridgewood Facebook page
April 11,2016
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood Nj, Healthbarn USA Inc. business continues to raise concerns in the neighborhood . First the amount of people using the parking lot during the day as well as the new lights which seem completely unnecessary as well as detrimental to the natural habitat.

This is land Habernickel Family Park was set aside for conservation purposes but sprinklers are now being installed for a garden by Ridgewood Water?  This seems antithetical to the purpose of conservation.

Once again the soccer and baseball games have begun and the parking situation has become dangerous.  Simple issues like No Parking signs and a crosswalk have still not been addressed by the Village even though they proceeded Healthbarn and have been problems for years .

Soccer and baseball are already seeing the effect of Healthbarn being given 12 parking spots. Loss of the lot have pushed Ridgewood tax payers and the teams they are hosting for sports into the street for parking.  There are no designated spots for Healthbarn, therefore their private clients are and will continue to utilize the entire lot to the exclusion of Ridgewood residents.

Neighbors are very concerned about the effect all this commotion 25 plus kids in a small home and 25 plus cars an hour will do to the natural green acres habitat the park is suppose to protect.

What Village has addressed immediately however are sprinklers and lights for a business in a residential zone ?  Once again the needs of a private business are outweighing the benefit to the public good.

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THE FUTURE OF RIDGEWOOD LOOKS BLEAK

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I try to keep my local political opinion out of Tips From Town. It hasn’t been easy. I am not a journalist, but I appreciate ethics and it is my understanding media outlets have an obligation to equal and fair reporting. Of late, there have been complaints The Ridgewood News is presenting one side more than the other, and has been making it difficult for residents to place informational ads, quoting arbitrary rules and guidelines. These same rules and guidelines do not seem to apply to developers. Hopefully, this is simply poor management and/or an oversight at the newspaper, but either way, the two sides of this discussion are not getting equal exposure. So, I post this opinion piece. Happy to post one from the other side if you care to pass this along .
https://www.tipsfromtown.com/the-future-of-ridgewood-looks-bleak/
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Careful what you say Ridgewood Customers NJT is listening to your every breath

Security_Ridgewood train_station_NJT_theridgewoodblog
April 10,2016
the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, NJ.COM is reporting that casual commuter conversations on light rail trains are being recorded by NJ Transit.
NJT has long held the belief that video and audio surveillance systems are designed to make riders more secure and that
the on-board cameras and audio surveillance systems are needed to fight crime and maintain security.

In recent years NJT has installed video surveillance on transit buses and video and audio devices have already been installed on River Line light rail vehicles and are currently being installed on the Hudson-Bergen and Newark Light Rail.

According to the Port Authority ,PATH trains also have on-board cameras to monitor riders, which was a built in feature of the new PA-5 cars that replaced older trains.

While NJT claims commuter rail trains are not equipped with surveillance devices.We could not get a confirmation to the extent of which bus riders were under surveillance.
According to Transit all light rail vehicles that are equipped with surveillance have signs informing customers of their presence.So the question arises does on-board surveillance go too far when the agency records everything passengers are saying, without telling customers how long they keep or who has access to the recordings?

We are not sure , what do you think?
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The Ridgewood Guild’s 6th Annual Film Festival

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Join us for the The Ridgewood Guild’s 6th Annual Film Festival: April 19, 20, and 21!

Purchase your tickets today: https://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/2536081

Preliminary Schedule (subject to change)

Monday, April 18 – Film Festival Launch Party at Fish
Tuesday, April 19 – Festival Kickoff at the Ridgewood Public Library
Wednesday, April 20 – Festival Night 2 at Bow Tie Cinemas
Thursday, April 21 – Final Festival Night at Bow Tie Cinemas

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Congratulations to our youngest filmmaker for being accepted into our festival!!!! The Waiting Room will screen on Wed. April 20 at approximately 7:30.

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Congratulations Cat London…The Garden State Film Festival’s choice for best Home Grown Music Video, “The Right Way.” See Cat’s live performance of The Right Way at The Ridgewood Guild’s 6th Annual International Film Festival, Thurs. April 21.

Screening at The Ridgewood Guild International Film Festival on Wed. April 20. Two nostalgic entries on the iconic theme park…Palisades

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Daffodil Festival and Earth Day Ridgewood

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file photo by ArtChick
Sun, April 17, 2016
Time: 11:00 AM – 4:00 PM

Location: Memorial Park at Van Neste Square, E Ridgewood Ave and Oak St

Ridgewood NJ, This year we will celebrate Earth Day on Sunday, April 17, 2016. Conservancy for Ridgewood Public Lands will join with REAC for a Daffodil Festival and Earth day celebration.The Ridgewood Environmental Advisory Committee and the Conservancy for Ridgewood Public Lands will be holding combined Earth Day and Daffodil Festival celebrations. Our theme is: “Butterflies, Bees, & Bats – Save Our Pollinators” Our community will hopefully be in full bloom with the 19,000 daffodil bulbs planted by the Conservancy.

We invite Ridgewood businesses to celebrate with us by highlighting their “green” practices. We will provide the public with environmentally focused vendors and organizations. We will also include a “Daffy Dog” parade, plant sale, music and multiple activities for children including nature themed arts and crafts and educational displays.For more information please contact Nancy Bigos at [email protected] or at 201.670.5560.

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Bookends in Ridgewood Today 1pm local Author, PHIL ROSS, will sign his new book: Survival Strong

Phill Ross Ridgewood NJ

 

April 10,2016

the staff off the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood Nj, Today (Sunday, April 10th) at 1:00pm local Author, PHIL ROSS, will sign his new book: Survival Strong ($19.95).

Master Philip G. Ross was the National Amateur Kickboxing Champion, an eight-time NJ State Gold Medalist, a National Greco-Roman Wrestling silver medalist, is a member of three Martial Arts Halls of Fame

Click the link below to pre-order:
https://squareup.com/store/bookends

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

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Ridgewood News Denies One Group the Use of Photos But Allows Another Group?

it takes a village

photo Courtesy of It Takes a Village Facebook Group 

April 10,2016
the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, Apparently the Ridgewood News denied the use of photos to one group but approved them for another ?

Perhaps its time some further investigation . Perhaps the state board of elections and the state attorney generals office. To begin with.
We have a question for the folks who paid for this ad. So the Petition folks ask “WHY WERE YOU PERMITTED TO USE PHOTOS FROM THE VILLAGE WEBSITE, AND WE WERE NOT?”. They are Ridgewood residents also.

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Readers point even more conflicts of interest at Ridgewood Village Hall

Ridgewood_-Village_Hall_theridgewoodblog

Readers point even more conflicts of interest in Village Hall .”Wait , so planning board approved the high density housing they were advised by Gail Price. Then when council conducted the studies – they were conducted through Village Manager’s office. Village Manager’s assistant, who was coordinating all those studies and providing data to the external firms is spouse of a counsel at Gail Price’s office.

NJ Law states that a conflict of interest need not be financial in nature but merely a perception of partiality to the issue in question.

Gail Price is the planning board attorney and has her own law firm. Her husband wants to be Ridgewood Councilman. Well lets see who else is connected. Richard M. Fricke works for Gail Price’s firm and his wife Janet is the assistant to our Village Manager .

Finally, the dots are connected! Janet Fricke is connected to the Library cabal. She is a political appointee, not civil service.”

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Ridgewood High School Grad Now Directing and Producing for the New Players Company

Kelly Van Zile

 

April 8,2016
the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, Kelly Van Zile graduated from Ridgewood High School in 1992. Over the last ten years, she has worked for the New Players Company directing the students in plays and musicals. In addition, she serves as Producer of the company alongside Dr. Meg Schaefer. Kelly holds a double degree in Theater and English and also works as a corporate communications coach for Exec-Comm in NYC.