Category: village of ridgewood

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Pfunds Folly : Will everyone tear down their house and build high density housing in Ridgewood ?

Projects_theridgewoodblog

Reader says, “Too big. Just like everything else being proposed. I don’t mind if Mr. Saraceno improves his property – just do it within the rules set forth in the existing Mater Plan. Same rules for everyone right? I could make a ton of money by tearing my house down and putting up high density housing too. Thanks to Mr. Pfund’s ordinance I could petition the town to change the Master Plan because it would be good for me financially. I could conduct a study that would conclude that there would be no adverse impact on traffic or infrastructure. I could conduct another study that would conclude that there would be no additional children in the school system because I’ll only rent to “empty nesters”.

Why is Mr. Saraceno any different from the rest of us? Why should he be entitled to change the laws to suit his own financial interests? Not a single person has made any credible argument that Mr. Saraceno’s apartments will be good for anyone other than Mr. Saraceno.”

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Council Candidate Jeff Voigt Voices Concerns over the High Density Housing Proposals in Ridgewood

Jeff Voigt Ridgewood
March 15,2016
the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, the Ridgewood asked for some feed back from the candidates on the March 9th “informational ” meeting with the Village Council on the high density housing projects for the central business district .

Council Candidate Jeff Voigt said ,  “I am concerned there is a tremendous amount of uncertainty around the school children projections.  The analysis done by BFJ planning makes the assumption that the mix of units in the new buildings will be the same as existing apartment inventory and then uses this assumption on what the number of students will be moving forward.   Since the builders can build whatever they want, this assumption should not be made.  As I had suggested at the meeting a sensitivity analysis should be done on the best and worst cases.  it is a relatively straight forward process and would provide us with the risk and costs of various scenarios and the likelihoods of these happening. ”

Jeff brought to mind another issue , “Another concern is that once these ordinances are approved, my guess is that the developers will start ASAP on building, considering their concern about the potential make-up of a new council.   This will make downtown a mess – with 4 potential large developments going up at once – the parking garage plus 3 multifamily developments.  In particular, the S. Broad St area is going to be impassible.   It would be nice to see the developers understand this and do their best to ensure the downtown is not disrupted. ”

Jeff went on to say that , the real estate agent (who stood up) expressing his concern about 55 students coming out of 70+ apartments.  This type of relationship also holds in the Ridge Apt’s where 37 children come out of 40 (2 bedroom) apartments. Since Ridgewood is a magnet town for education I can see many families moving into these apt just for the education – even in the one bedrooms.  If either of these scenarios plays out with the new developments – we could have 100+ children in our school system.   Not good.

He also added that , “The planning board needs to scrutinize the site plans for each of these developments very carefully considering each site plan should have a plan for how daily life/traffic is going to function while they put up their rather large edifices.   Stipulations made by the planning in their approval is going to be extremely important.”

Jeff also echoed the sentiment of many residents when he said the meeting ,”Overall, very disappointing”

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Overturned Truck leads to Massive Delays on Route 17 South in Paramus on Monday

17 south paramus nj
photo courtesy of Boyd Loving
Overturned Truck leads to Massive Delays on Route 17 South in Paramus on Monday
March 15,2016
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Paramus NJ, A truck tractor rolled over on Route 17 southbound in Paramus shortly after 12 noon on Monday, 03/14 causing massive delays northbound and southbound near A&S Drive.
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Bergen County Executive James Tedesco, a member of Paramus OEM and a former Paramus Fire Chief, was one of the first emergency services personnel on the scene. The tractor’s driver sustained minor injuries. Paramus OEM, FD, EMS, PD, Bergen County HAZMAT, and NJDOT all responded to the incident.
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Ridgewood YWCA to Host FREE Taekwondo Demonstration Class

Ridgewood_YMCA_theridgewoodblog
March 14,2016
the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, Observe and try out YWCA Bergen County’s new youth taekwondo program at their free demonstration classes on Tuesday, March 15, 2016. Demo classes will be held at 112 Oak Street, Ridgewood from 5:15 pm to 6:00 pm for children age 6 to 9 years and 6:00 pm to 6:45 pm for ages 10 to 14 years. Participants will learn patterns, sparring, and self-defense in addition to improving physical fitness and mental discipline. Open to all families. Parent waiver and onsite supervision required for participation in this demonstration class.

One of only two martial arts represented as an Olympic Sport, Taekwondo was founded in Korea and has gained huge popularity in recent years in the US. Translated, Taekwondo means “the art of kicking and punching” or “the art of unarmed combat”.
Instructor Dave Howell is a lifetime student of Taekwondo, attaining the Taekwondo 4th Dan rank in accordance with the Kukkiwon rules and regulations. He has been instructing children for over 14 years and has administered the promotion of more than 100 students to the level of Black Belt. In 2012, Howell coached a student to Gold place finish in their first International forms competition in Seoul, Korea.
YWCA Taekwondo classes run in 8-week sessions and are held at the YWCA’s 112 Oak Street, Ridgewood facility. Classes for children and youth ages 6 to 14 years are held Tuesdays and Thursdays from 5:15 to 6:00 pm for ages 6 to 9 and 6:00 to 6:45 pm for ages 10 to 14. Register online (www.ywcabergencounty.org) or call Membership Department at 201-444-5600 ext. 400 for details
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Bookends in Ridgewood Book Signings in March; Harlan Coben, Bill Walton, Lauren Conrad

Harlan Coben Ridgewood

Harlan Coben
Monday, March 21st @ 7:00pm
New York Times Bestselling author, Harlan Coben, will sign his new book:
Fool Me Once

Bill Walton
Wednesday, March 23rd@ 7:00pm
NBA Legend Bill Walton, will and sign his new book:
Back from the Dead

Lauren Conrad
Tuesday, March 29th @ 7:000pm
#1 New York Times Bestselling Author, Lifestyle & Fashion Icon,
Lauren Conrad
will sign her new book:
Celebrate

*Each person attending MUST purchase a copy of the book.
*Books MUST be purchased from 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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March 23rd Ridgewood Council Meeting ,Village of Ridgewood to become City of Ridgewood ?

3 amigos in action Ridgewood NJ
file photo by Boyd Loving
March 14,2016
the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, Ridgewood high density housing issue is upon us again. The Village Council will be meeting at the Campus Center of the Ridgewood High School.

The Village Council Meetings of 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.

The meetings will be filmed and available both on YouTube and the Village Public Access Channel (Cablevision 77; Fios 37) the following day. According to a March 10th update “streaming on YouTube from this location on March 9th proved successful and will be again be done for the March 23rd meeting.

According to the previous meeting the high density housing will have “No impact” on traffic, schools, water ,sewers in the Village .
The current council majority know on this blog as the three amigos , have all declined to run for reelection for various reasons , so the fate of the Village of Ridgewood will be settled by parties who are no longer vested in the Village.
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Ridgewood Taxpayers Still fighting for basic Information on Hudson Street Garage Design

Hudson_Street garage ridgewood
photo courtesy of Saurabh Dani
March 14,2016
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood Nj  Many Ridgewood residents went to the council meetings and asked exactly “How Much” does the garage encroach into the street. We had tried to look at some smaller images of the plan in the traffic report’s appendices and tried to figure it out, as the information was not available anywhere on the village web site and we were not getting an answer in the council meetings.

The village manager recently responded to a post on Facebook saying the previous design was 18 feet more than plan D. So plan A was encroaching 23 FEET, not 12 feet which we had assumed. 23 feet encroachment in plan A?? Was that a sincere starting point where we claim a ‘compromise’.

23 feet is 23 feet , however you measure it . The point is the only way anyone found out this dimension was when another option became more attractive then a previous one. Why do the taxpayers, who are going to guarantee this bond, have to go through hoops to find out this basic information?

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Ridgewood holding public info sessions on proposed multifamily housing zones downtown

CBD high density housing

BY STEVE JANOSKI
STAFF WRITER |
THE RECORD

RIDGEWOOD — It’s a proposal that’s raised hackles in this prominent community for several years: the possible rezoning of portions of the village’s quaint downtown to accommodate high-density, multifamily housing developments.

Proponents, including village Mayor Paul Aronsohn, say five introduced zoning ordinances that would increase allowed housing units per acre from 12 to 30 or 35 in three zones in the central business district would help create housing for young professionals and empty-nesters looking to stay in town minus the sizable house and accompanying tax bill.

 

https://www.northjersey.com/community-news/town-government/ridgewood-to-discuss-multifamily-rezone-plan-1.1527370

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Ridgewood Police Respond to physical altercation outside of the Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church

Ridgewood Police Mt Carmel

photos courtesy of Boyd Loving’s Facebook
Ridgewood Police Respond to physical altercation outside of the Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church 
March 14,2016
the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, A physical altercation outside of the Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church in Ridgewood, following a Sunday, 03/13 late morning church service, left one (1) individual seriously injured, but resulted in no arrests.

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Ridgewood PD units responded in mass to the Passaic Street side of the church after receiving numerous 911 calls reporting a heated dispute in progress. Responding units encountered an adult male victim, bleeding from a wound on his forehead, who claimed that he’d been assaulted by another adult male.

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As a Ridgewood EMS ambulance was being summoned to treat and/or transport the victim, uniformed patrol officers immediately began interviewing witnesses and the alleged perpetrator. At least one (1) bystander shouted out to arriving police officers that a priest from the church had been threatened by the injured man. No arrests were made at the scene and the victim refused ambulance transportation of a hospital. He was last seen leaving the area of the church on foot, accompanied by a female friend.

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Westside Presbyterian Church in Ridgewood, PREMIERE CONCERT PRESENTATION OF TYLER’S SUITE featuring the CHOIRS OF RAMAPO COLLEGE AND RIDGEWOOD HIGH SCHOOL

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A CELEBRATION TO HONOR THE LIFE OF TYLE R CLEMENTI
March 13,2016
the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, on April 24, 2016, 2:30 pm at the Westside Presbyterian Church in Ridgewood, the New Jersey PREMIERE CONCERT PRESENTATION OF TYLER’S SUITE featuring the CHOIRS OF RAMAPO COLLEGE AND RIDGEWOOD HIGH SCHOOL all to benefit the work of the TYLER CLEMENTI FOUNDATION .

The Tyler Clementi Foundation’s main focus is to end all online and offline bullying in schools, workplaces and faith communities. Using educational partnerships, awareness programs, public dialogues and research to create the safe, respectful and supportive social environment that all students and vulnerable youth deserve.

ABOUT TYLER’S SUITE Tyler’s Suite is a nine piece choral work dedicated to the memory of Tyler Clementi, a talented young musician who died by suicide after becoming the victim of cyber bullying. The choral suite explores the voices and experiences of Tyler and his family and ultimately shines a light of hope and endless possibility thanks to the words and music of some of today’s top composers and lyricists: John Adamo, John Bucchinno, Ann Hampton Callaway, Craig Carmelia, John Corigliano, Stephen Flaherty, Nolan Gasser, Jake Heggie, Lance Home, Stephen Schwartz and Pamela Stewart. Tyler’s Suite is moving and incredibly powerful. It carries the message that hearts and minds can be moved toward love, acceptance and respect for all people. Through this musical experience we are united in the conviction that no person should ever be targeted for bullying or harassment.

The Tyler Clementi Foundation is proud to be part of this special celebration of Tyler’s life and pleased that this new work will be premiered in Ridgewood, his hometown, and performed by the students of his former high school and Ramapo College. Tyler was a talented violinist, winning many awards and scholarships. He performed and actively participated in many high school and community musical events. His beloved violin lies silent now in its case but his music goes on. Composers and playwrights all over the country are inspired to keep his story alive and give hope to countless people everywhere. Special guests will be invited to this special concert, which premieres the new arrangement of Tyler’s Suite for choirs of mixed voices.

Among those joining the Clementi family will be the Ridgewood mayor, Paul Aronsohn, Dr. Daniel Fishbein, Superintendant of Ridgewood Schools, representatives from Ramapo College of New Jersey and faith leaders from the community. Sponsors for this celebration and concert are welcome and will be listed in the program. All proceeds will be given to The Tyler Clementi Foundation. Admission to the concert is free for high school students, $5 for college students, $20 suggested donation for adults. The Village of Ridgewood and its leaders, together with the Tyler Clementi Foundation, are actively working together to make our community a welcoming and supportive place for all to live and a safe place to raise our children.

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Daylight Saving Time: Why Does It Exist? (It’s Not for Farming)

Ben Franklin(Barry Stevens)

Ben Franklin(Barry Stevens)

By DANIEL VICTORMARCH 11, 2016

Spring forward, fall back.

But why?

The reason the United States and many other countries, mostly in the West, shift to daylight saving time is contentious and confusing, and some of the more popular explanations are not grounded in reality. (It isn’t for farmers, as you may have learned in school.)

The general concept is to move an hour of sunlight from the early morning, when many would sleep through it, to the evening, when you could most likely do more with the light.

“For most people, an extra hour of daylight in the evening after work or after school is much more usable than the hour of daylight in the morning,” said David Prerau, the author of “Seize the Daylight.”

But since the idea was put in place, it has faced detractors and debate. Several states, including California and Rhode Island, are considering abolishing the practice. As with many other congressional acts, it’s worth considering who the beneficiaries are.

https://www.nytimes.com/2016/03/12/us/daylight-saving-time-farmers.html?rref=collection%2Ftimestopic%2FDaylight%20Saving%20Time&action=click&contentCollection=timestopics&region=stream&module=stream_unit&version=latest&contentPlacement=2&pgtype=collection&_r=0

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Readers Say Current Ridgewood Historic Preservation Committee is Very Lenient Compared to Past Committees

clock_cbd_theridgewoodblog

The 5-6 parking spaces are being deleted because of the sidewalk? No, They are being removed because the new building deleted the old sidewalk.

Storeowners are behind the parking. The HPC member who is a storeowner and former Chamber of Commerce president should not be voting. It is a conflict of interest. Someone in a different post siggested that another HPC member owned the building next to the garage. Is that true and was he allowed to vote? It How do so many people with conflicts get on the HPC?

I did a renovation more than ten years ago needed a variance, the architect suggested that we get planning HPC approval even though we are not in a designated historic area. The HPC agonized about how the addition would fit in with our neighborhood of old homes.

The current committee is very lenient. They do not seem to care about the historic district and what the impact will be on the neighborhood. the garage overwhelms the neighborhood. I am shocked that the HPC cannot see this.

Mr Damiano, you had to use your real name. It would have been hard to defend your mailed-in decision if you posted anonymously. We would have figured it out. It does not matter that the reason that you gave in your letter was wrong, you were still voting yes.

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Ridgewood News Ad Shows Out of Scale Picture of Hudson Parking Garage

hudson Garage Ridgewood News Ad

photo by Melanie McWilliams‎

Ridgewood News Ad  Shows Out of Scale Picture of Hudson Parking Garage
March 13.2016
the staff of the Ridgewood Blog

Ridgewood Nj, Many readers point out the complete discrepancies discovered regarding the scale and measurements of this photo. The village green roof line is made to look significantly larger than it is. It is approximately 24 feet tall give or take a few feet. The place on the garage that meets that point is significantly distorted to make the garage look smaller than it actually is.

View 3 Looking West on Hudson Street copy revised 4 1
photo by Saurabh Dani
This photo would have you thinking the village green and the garage are similar in size. For a reference point, the lights shown on the garage are 11 feet.
During the recent HPC meeting it was called  “Planes” this… and “Sight line” that.. when Councilwoman Knudsen tried to suggest adding labels or height markers so it would be more clear, she was summarily dismissed.
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photo by Saurabh Dani
The claim is that it is because of the “plane”. Say whatever you want. It’s out of proportion. Giving viewers a sense that if the garage really was going to be this small, perhaps it wouldn’t be so bad. Do NOT be fooled. And please feel free to pass this information along to anyone who might be fooled by the ad in today’s paper.
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Tony Damiano of the Historical Preservation Committee Calls Posters Cowards

hudson parking garage ridgewood

photo by Saurabh Dani

Dear All,
I never comment on this blog, but I feel the need to clarify a couple of comments being made. I did not approve the plan because it fits on the lot. I approved the plan because this plan works from a design standpoint. To err is human. I was asked to write the letter to the HPC since I could not make the meeting. I made the mistake of saying the 4th plan fit the footprint. More importantly, the sidewalk is 10′ from the building to the curb. The 5-6 parking spaces that will be deleted, are being deleted to accommodate the 5′ extension of the sidewalk.
In defense of Mr. Parrillo, he simply stated that a liaison is not authorized to vote. In recollection, when I was president of the Chamber of Commerce, our liaison also was not permitted to vote. They simply were a conduit to the council.
Thank you…

Tony Damiano
P.S. Notice I signed my name, not like the cowards who make comments, mail distorted post cards, etc

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Full-day kindergarten: Need to do what is best for kindergartners

friendshavingfun theridgewoodblog.net

 

TO THE EDITOR,

As we move closer to full-day kindergarten, we need to look at developmentally appropriate practices. Young children thrive in an environment that fosters their way of learning. That means that they need to handle objects; feel textures; talk with one another while they explore an idea; count objects that they hold; play with one another; and express themselves through art, music, and P.E.

 

 

https://www.northjersey.com/opinion/opinion-letters-to-the-editor/ridgewood-news-letter-need-to-do-what-is-best-for-kindergartners-1.1526262