Jersey Cash 5 Ticket Wins $184,570 Jackpot in Bergen County
By staff
Monday, Mar 07, 2016
One Bergen County ticket matched all five numbers for the Jersey Cash 5 game drawn on Friday, March 4 winning the $184,570 jackpot. The ticket was purchased at Flo’s Market at Ridgewood Train Station, 6 Garber Square, Ridgewood in Bergen County.
Executive Director Carole Hedinger said the top prizewinning ticket was the only one sold for Friday’s drawing that matched all five numbers drawn. The winning numbers were: 25, 27, 30, 40 and 42.
RIDGEWOOD — The results of studies on how zoning to allow high-density, multifamily housing downtown would affect the village will be presented to the public Wednesday night at Ridgewood High School.
The four studies, commissioned by the Village Council in mid-January, will explore the possible impacts of five introduced zoning ordinances on local schools, traffic, community services, infrastructure and finances.
Village Manager Roberta Sonenfeld said Saturday three firms were contracted to do the work: Ross Haber & Associates to look at the schools, the RBA Group to review traffic, and BFJ Planning, in partnership with Urbanomics, to study local infrastructure and financial impacts.
Experts from those companies will present their findings to the public Wednesday night at the Ridgewood High School Campus Center. The public will be able to comment on the reports afterwards, and a final public hearing and possible votes of adoption are slated for March 23.
The ordinances, approved by the Planning Board by majority votes last June and introduced by the council a month later, would increase the allowable number of housing units per acre from 12 to 30 or 35 in three zones in the central business district. Proponents of the master plan amendments say the resulting housing complexes would provide homes for young professionals and empty-nesters; opponents claim they would strain local infrastructure and forever change the character of the village’s quaint downtown.
Jeff Voigt Secures Ballot Position For Upcoming May Ridgewood Council Election
March 7,2016
By staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood, NJ – Longtime Village of Ridgewood resident Jeff Voigt todayannounced he is a candidate for the Ridgewood Village Council. Voigt received more than 300 signed petitions to appear on the May 10th ballot.
“This is a pivotal year for Ridgewood. There are many forces at play with the potential to completely change the character of our Village,” said Voigt. “I bring decision-making, critical-thinking, and consensus building to the Council table, along with 23 years of living
in Ridgewood and contributing to its economic, social, and religious fabric. It is time to improve the interaction and trust between residents and the council, in order to enhance our local way of life. This outcome lies at the heart of my candidacy.”
Voigt has been a member of the Ridgewood Board of Adjustment since 2011. He holds an undergraduate degree from the University of Vermont, a Master of Public Health from Columbia, and a Master of Business Administration from Wharton School, University of
Pennsylvania.
A consummate civic leader, Voigt is running for one of the three open Council seats. His platform focuses on three main issues he views as most critical to Ridgewood’s future:
Development that holds a line on appropriate density and reflects the character of the Village and the concerns of its neighborhoods including
parking;
Fiscal responsibility which includes taxes;
Environmental issues including the need for open and recreational space in
the community; and health issues including water quality and the presence of the chemical PFOA
“I am in favor of pragmatic, sensible development that does not threaten our existing quality of life or increase our tax burden,” Voigt said. “I believe we should pursue solutions to our problems within the village, work together, embrace diversity of opinion,
compromise, and not look to other entities for answers, funding, or other supports. I am also extremely concerned about the need to clean up the water quality and toxic waste in the middle of downtown.”
Voigt is married, with three adult children. He is a Commentator and Lector at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church in Ridgewood, a member of the Ridgewood Knights of Columbus, and an Eagle Scout. He recently served as President of the Wharton Healthcare Management Alumni Association (WHCMAA) and was a member of the WHCMAA Board from 2010-2015. Jeff’s other board memberships include: Leonard Davis Institute Executive Advisory Board, University of Pennsylvania (a leading US health policy think tank) and Columbia University School of Public Health Alumni Board.
A regular Tuesday host of the national Wharton Business School radio program The Business of Healthcare on SIRIUSXM 111, Voigt also publishes frequently in peer reviewed journals on U.S. healthcare policy and practice. His work has been referenced hundreds of times. Prior to launching Medical Device Consultants of Ridgewood in 2003, he helped build several companies from startups into very profitable entities.
“I want a Council which is resolved to think through issues from the vantage point of the neighborhoods most affected,” said Voigt. “”What needs to change is the character of the current council. Private agendas are getting in the way. I have no hidden agendas; want to give back to a place that has given so much to my family and me, and to preserve the character of our village, in the truest sense of the word.”
“My campaign team and I are launching the ‘Voigt for Our Village’ campaign.” said Voigt. “We have a great team of involved and concerned Village residents who understand the issues. I look forward to talking with individuals from every part of this community in the weeks ahead to learn more about their concerns and the solutions they favor. I am confident that Ridgewood’s best days lie ahead.”For more information about the Jeff Voigt campaign, contact: Campaign Manager: Sergio Alege, [email protected].
I am writing to inform you of a Municipal Information Forum that we will be hosting for Ridgewood residents regarding Ridgewood Water.
The intent of this forum is to educate the public on how water is delivered to your faucet. We will deal with current issues in the news as well as discussing the quality of our water, sustaining water for the future, budget and capital investments and our short-term and long-term strategies.
Our decision to hold this forum emanated from several sources. One clearly is the amount of interest that residents have expressed in learning more about Ridgewood Water; this has definitely been heightened by stories in the news. Secondly, we have held two sessions such as these at both our 2016 budget reviews as well as at a Glen Rock Council meeting. These were two-way dialogues that were well received and I believe went a long way in a better mutual understanding of how the water we consume is delivered to our homes.
We are planning on conducting this forum on two separate dates. The first isThursday April 21st from 9-11 AM. The other is Monday April 25th from 7:30-9:30PM.
Please let us know if you intend on joining us by responding to this e-notice.
Look forward to seeing you.
Best,
Roberta Sonenfeld
Village Manager
201-670-5500, ext. 203
RIDGEWOOD DOWNTOWN ZONING ANALYSIS STUDIES
The Final Downtown Zoning Impacts Analysis that address the four multifamily housing study areas is now available. For the complete document Click Here
They will begin issuing summonses for violations of the new Recycling policy just like they did with the leaves. A new way to make money for the parking garage. Hold onto your wallets!
“The level of fees is under siege and has actually decreased 18% over the last 3 years from $332,552 to $266,232; a further decline is anticipated in 2016.”
The residents are the ones under siege here in Ridgewood; not fees. But I get your logic since you intend to raise my parking fees by 400% this summer to support the county garage.
If you happen to watch the recycle refuse being collected it is not uncommon to watch it be all be loaded into the same exact collection gate on the truck. We spend time separating the papers into different bins only to watch them get dumped into the same place.
I did ask the driver one time about this and he said they had reached the limit and it did not matter too much on paper differences.
At the end of the day seems like a simple jobs program with unmeasured results
It’s another simple edict: do as we say or the fines will continue. Years back when the Village was going to stop hauling the BoE garbage, they offered to do it for a price. (Around $125k/yr, I think) The BoE put out a bid for quotes and it resulted in a hauler taking it for about half the price. I am not attacking our hard-working village employees but for Roberta to say ‘give us only pristine garbage’ is absurd.
Let’s start by removing the Garbage from Village Hall…
Conveniently it meets there every other Wednesday night and sometimes by appointment if you are a special interest or campaign contributor.
Or you can just remember to vote in this coming election so you don’t have to get the stink of these skunks on you.
Our mayor has brought this village to this state of division and havoc. He is a man who only gets along with those that agree with him, look at his track record of former and current council members. This village never needed a civil committee before his arrival! When you don’t agree with him, he attacks and becomes aggressive and vindictive. Pitting clergy against clergy; neighbor against neighbor; lying to voters; calling hours at the podium where residents plead for a voice in the process a discussion; using committees to prop up your projects all the while lying to them; hiding information from other council members; hiring a VM to do your bidding; calling residents liars; and the ongoing scheming and plotting how subjects and issues will be brought up on the dais have brought us to this ugly chapter. These examples are just from the last 6 months….And people like this guy? I guess the ones who will make a buck off his “leadership” do! I don’t understand how anyone can defend or support someone like him. Scary! July 1st can’t come fast enough!
CHANGE IN LOCATION FOR MARCH 9TH AND MARCH 23RD VILLAGE COUNCIL MEETINGS
The Village Council Meetings of March 9th and March 23rd will be held at the Campus Center of the Ridgewood High School, located at 627 East Ridgewood Avenue. The March 9th Regular Public Meeting will begin at 8:00 p.m., and will be immediately followed by a Work Session, where the results of the impact studies for
multi-family housing will be discussed. The March 23rd Work Session meeting will begin at 7:30 p.m. During the Work Session there will be a Special Public Meeting for the Public Hearings and vote on the multi-family housing ordinances as well as a public hearing and vote on the bond ordinance to appropriate money for the Hudson Street parking deck.
This location is not equiped to broadcast the meetings. The meetings will be filmed and available both on UTube and the Village Public Access Channel (Cablevision 77; Fios 37).
Camp Open House Activities Include Bouncy House, Cotton Candy, Crafts & Games
Ridgewood NJ, YWCA Bergen County invites families to their first Summer Camp Open House to find out more about YWCA’s great camp options! This event will be held from 12:00 pm – 3:00 pm on Saturday, March 12th at YWCA’s Camp Ma-Kee-Ya, located in Darlington County Park at 600 Darlington Avenue, Mahwah, NJ. Parents and kids enjoy free outdoor activities including a bounce house, cotton candy, arts & crafts, carnival games, sports, goodie bags and more! Meet camp staff, ask questions, and take a tour of Camp Ma-Kee-Ya’s beautiful lakeside location. Professionally trained TGA Golf and TGA Tennis instructors will also be on site to provide demonstrations.
The YWCA runs fun and affordable day camps for children ages 5 to 12: Camp Orinda in Dumont and Camp Ma-Kee-Ya in Mahwah. YW camps offer American Red Cross Swim lessons, sports, arts and crafts, nature activities, and more. CIT programs for boys and girls ages 13 to 16 are also available. For more information call 201-444-5600, ext. 352 or visitwww.ywcabergencounty.org.
2015 Ridgewood Guild Film Festival After Party at Park West Tavern with Lynne Clemments, Tony Damiano, Danny Aielo, Dotti Fucito and RJ Konner.— with Anthony Damiano and Dorothy Purwin Fucito.
The 2016 Film Festival
Join us for the The Ridgewood Guild’s 6th Annual Film Festival: April 19, 20, and 21!
Preliminary Schedule (subject to change)
Monday, April 18 – “Cabaret Style” evening at Fish
Ridgwood NJ, March 4th Edition of Ridgewood News features a letter to editor from Bob Hutton who is potentially running for the council in May.
Bob writes “The latest rendition seems to accomplish consensus on many levels – even one level less of a deck”.
This is absolutely WRONG. The plan D, which is currently being pushed by Council Majority is NOT one level less. It’s same as Plan A, with only few inches removed from each level – and is STILL 5 LEVELS. So, overall height is decreased by 3 feet, but a level is NOT reduced.
This type of misinformation is part of the campaign by current council majority and Bob Hutton will be one of them, and he has already proved this from this letter to editor.
LET’S STAY ACQUAINTED WITH COUNCILWOMAN GWENN HAUCK “Have the Talk of a Lifetime” Discussion and journal writing with guidance from David B. Feeney, CFSP, CPC, as you share memories of your life while making a keepsake for your loved ones. Thursday April 7, 2016 12pm Anne Zusy Youth Center – Village Hall, 131 N. Maple Ave. No fee—Pre-registration required.
Editor’s Note – The fourth event of Parlance Chamber Concerts’ ninth season will take place this coming Sunday afternoon, March 6, at 3 p.m. at West Side Presbyterian Church. Michael Parloff, the event’s founder and former flutist with the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra, gives us some background insight into what we can expect on Sunday.
Ridgewood NJ, The Ridgewood Police Department is pleased to announce the 2016 Chief Michael Feeney Jr.Police Academy will be held June 23rd to July 1st at the Benjamin Franklin Middle School. Applications will be available April 1st at the Ridgewood Police desk. The seven day academy sponsored by Ridgewood PBA Local 20 is open to Ridgewood residents entering 6th 7th and 8th grades in the fall of 2016. Visit the Ridgewood Police Website for more information.
Ridgewood NJ, Towns like Summit NJ, have invested money in a downtown improvement plans that are costly and visionary and included ample input from residents. While Ridgewood’s lack of vision seems to be focused on fulfilling the ad hoc wishes of special interests.
The fact is we have no development plan and there is no vision. We are reactionary in everything we do. Our council rejects public input and views the public as obstacles to be overcome. Residents are never treated as if our voices matter by the council majority, they are attacked, threatened and berated .
The group Citizens for a better Ridgewood (CBR ), worked to create a vision.The CBR Facebook page says “We support a lower number of Housing per acre, still higher than the 12 that is currently allowed, but not as high as the 35 proposed. 20-24 would be generous, profitable and would compliment the character of our downtown. 20 -24 units an acre” . The CBR statement on this –https://theridgewoodblog.net/citizens-for-a-better-ridgewood-cbr-calls-for-residents-to-attend-village-councils-public-hearing-on-september-16th-730pm/ , CBR supported 20-24 units per acre because that’s density that could be built over and over (instead of spot zoning for some units).
The CBR group searched for a visionary compromise and but were labeled as racist, a clever tactic by developers to garner support from those who are uninformed. Watching council meetings, everyone who goes to speak in support of the big garage or in support of very high density housing has no specific current facts ,just an over reliance on almost absurd assumptions put forth by developers and their supporters,that amount to nothing more than fantasies from the land of make believe . Their tune is always the same: “anyone asking any question here is nay-sayer”, “now is the time or no one else will do it”, “they don’t want any garage”, “they don’t want any development”.. “loud mouth vocal minority”…NIMBY…yada yada yada.
