Ridgewood NJ, The Council Majority starting to cater to the Chamber of Commerce by changing the hour from 9 p.m. to 8 p.m.and free parking on Saturday night. That is an estimated loss in revenue $ 50,000. $50,000 a year for 25 years is 1.25 Million.The council majority used the excused it was for the church goers on Saturday. The Village Manager called lowering the meter times and free Saturday night parking . ” A mere bag of shells”.
So our main question is if the garage is in fact a boost for local merchants in the Central Business District , how does raising meter rates from .75 to $1.00 and adding free parking at night when most are closed help any merchants in Ridgewood ???
RIDGEWOOD — The Village Council voted unanimously Wednesday night to introduce an ordinance allowing Ridgewood to bond for a new municipal parking garage on its own, despite recent assurances from Bergen County that it would provide the financing.
The ordinance, up for a second hearing and vote of adoption on March 23, would authorize the issuing of $11.5 million in municipal bonds to fund construction of a four-story parking deck on the corner of Hudson and South Broad streets.
Councilwoman Susan Knudsen, who’d voted against a similar $12.3-million ordinance in early January, said she was voting in favor of local bonding with the understanding the council was “going to look at some redesign options” for the proposed 325-vehicle garage, which some residents have called too large for the proposed site.
Ridgewood NJ, All was calm last night no major out breaks , no assaults reported . Lorraine, Gail and others opened up the meeting with comments regarding design of the garage which would be one level lower and allow retention of street parking on Broad Street which is extremely important to the businesses in that area such as the Bamboo house( take out orders pick up),a design shop and others whose clients need to park close to the store for business purposes.
The council majority kept talking about all the compromises they have already made . It is uncertain if changes were made because the original ideas were not feasible such as the structure entering into the street by 12 feet. Clearly not compromise, it is common sense solutions that needed to be brought to their attention.
The Council Majority caved to the Chamber of Commerce demands by changing parking hours from 9 p.m. to 8 p.m. and adding free parking on Saturday night. The estimated loss in revenue $ 50,000. The Council Majority used the excuse it was for the church goers on Saturday.
The most interesting discussion was about Schedler. Mike had real issues about the whole process which he felt was not done with full transparency with regard go the grant, budget and was full of inconsistencies. Roberta said that she was holding a 100,OOO dollar check from the RBSA issued in January that had ” Strings Attached “. It was to be used with the guarantee that a 90 foot baseball diamond would be placed at the property. She also said that the village had in their coffers an additional 100,000 dollars of Open Space funds. Every one seemed quite surprised as it had not been mentioned before. Could this money be used for other projects such as Kings Pond, Schedler House, etc. ? The answer is yes. Where was this money when Friends of Schedler was applying for a matching grant to save the house and the town said they had zero money?
The “sink hole” in Midland Park which released gallons of sludge that was in the streets coming out of sewers and man hole covers. A concrete pipe had disintegrated due to hydrogen sulfide gases collecting in the pipe. The sludge was directed into the brook, wells were closed and are being monitored. A village employee said that this is a serious problem and is a prediction of things to come.
Anne Loving made a brief comment about Albert’s use of electronic devices at the dais since he mentioned he was in constant touch with his family during meetings!
Rurik Halaby praised Roberta for everything under the sun and was so glad that she had no previous municipal experience. Mr Halaby took yet another swipe at The Ridgewood Blog during Wednesday night’s Village Council meeting when, during a public comment period, he publicly announced that he’d been named “Villan of the Year” by The Ridgewood Blog.
Much about The BCIA funding and it appears that they are going forward with both funding options .
Paul Vagiones concluded the meeting with comments regarding kitchen table meetings . One was held at his kitchen table with our garage friends including Lorraine, Dana and Gail and even though they didn’t agree, it was all very pleasant.
Next meeting is to be held at Ridgewood High School March 9th at 8PM. The Housing Density Ordinances are coming up and COAH litigation and deadlines all in March. Hope this gives you a few ideas. Snow tomorrow I hear! Sincerely, Linda
Ridgewood NJ, Every March, we are all faced with the arrival of Daylight Saving Time and its impact on our circadian rhythms,our sleep-wake pattern. The 1-hour shift in time can even temporarily disrupt our ability to fall asleep at night and to wake up in the morning. We not only lose an hour of sleep, but the time change disrupts the body’s biological clock and circadian rhythm. The effect is the same as jetlag in plane travel, in which our bodies remain on the prior schedule for a period of time.
“People who sleep well can usually adjust to the time shift with little difficulty,” says Jeffrey P. Barasch, M.D., Medical Director of The Valley Hospital Center for Sleep Medicine in Ridgewood, NJ. However, if someone has been coping with chronic difficulty sleeping, daylight saving time can worsen or uncover an undiagnosed and untreated sleep disorder, such as insomnia or sleep apnea.
It is important to keep in mind that the required amount of sleep per day changes with age, and studies indicate the following recommended sleep durations:
• Newborns — 16 to 18 hours a day
• Preschool-aged children —11 to 12 hours a day
• School-aged children — at least 10 hours a day
• Teens — 9 to 10 hours a day
• Adults (age 20-64) — 7 to 9 hours a day
• Elderly (age 65 and over) —7 to 8 hours a day
“Unfortunately, as you well know, sometimes life can prevent us from going to bed when we want to and many of us have experienced the frustration of not being able to fall asleep or stay asleep once we are in bed,” Dr. Barasch says. “Luckily, our bodies can adjust to occasional instances when we do not get enough sleep.”
But what happens when we are consistently not getting enough sleep? According to Dr. Barasch, sleep deprivation can impact the brain and every organ in the body. During sleep, a newly discovered network of water channels in the brain, called the glymphatic system, becomes active and functions as a waste disposal system, carrying toxins away which would otherwise accumulate and damage brain cells. The accumulation of one of those toxins, amyloid-beta, is associated with Alzheimer’s disease.
Dr. Barasch warns that those who suffer from chronic sleep deprivation, regardless of the reason, can experience adverse effects in many aspects of their lives. The lack of crucial restorative sleep can lead to daytime sleepiness, irritability, difficulty focusing, deterioration in work or school productivity, and impaired creativity and decision making. Sleep deprivation also affects performance and reaction time. Losing two hours of sleep is similar to the effect of alcohol intoxication. Sleep deprivation is also involved in many automobile, truck and airplane crashes. Lack of sleep also promotes weight gain and may lead to long term health consequences, such as depression, diabetes, hypertension, gastrointestinal disorders and colon cancer.
So what do you do if your struggle with sleep isn’t limited to a change in the clocks?
If you are having difficulty sleeping, the National Institute of Health suggests incorporating some of the following strategies into your nighttime routine:
• Go to bed and wake up at the same time every day.
• Try to keep the same sleep schedule on weeknights and weekends.
• Use the hour before bed for quiet time.
• Avoid heavy and/or large meals within a couple hours of bedtime.
• Avoid alcoholic drinks, nicotine and caffeine before bed.
• Spend time outside every day (when possible) and be physically active.
• Keep your bedroom quiet, cool, and dark (a dim night light is fine, if needed).
• Take a hot bath or use relaxation techniques before bed.
If you regularly experience daytime drowsiness, fatigue or disturbed sleep, consider consulting with a sleep medicine specialist to evaluate and treat the problem.
Ridgewood NJ, Star of Orange Is the New Black and That 70’s Show, LAURA PREPON, and Nutritionist, ELIZABETH TROY will take pictures and sign their new book: The Stash Plan ($26.00).
*This Event is Limited to 300 People
*Each person attending MUST purchase a copy of the book.
*Books must be purchased from Bookends Bookstore
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
By Ted S. McGregor Jr.
Analysis by Ted S. McGregor, Jr.
“I think the council really has exercised honest and forthright due diligence. ” That’s how, in January, 1997, then-Mayor Jack Geraghty described the events that led up to the city’s decision to participate as a partner in the River Park Square project. Now, three years after that controversial decision and just seven months after the new mall opened, the degree and quality of that due diligence is being reexamined as a way to understand why the parking garage – the city’s portion of the deal – is failing to meet expectations.
As the specter of having to tap the city’s parking meter fund to help the garage stay afloat has emerged as a real possibility, the scramble for solutions has begun. A few want to refinance the entire deal; others flirt with the idea of somehow reneging on the pledge of the parking meter money; and some want to stay the course, waiting for the second phase of the mall to open and the additional parkers it could bring. But even after just seven months, the garage’s performance is so far below expectations that some are saying holding course isn’t really an option.
How could so many people be so surprised by the garage’s performance? Weren’t the best consultants in the country hired to test the feasibility of the entire project, specifically the garage? That Walker Parking Study, most agree, is where the garage’s problems begin. How a document that appears to be so deeply flawed came to be relied on so heavily for this project raises new questions about that study and the city’s self-described due diligence.
Ridgewood NJ, Hillary Clinton has managed to avoid similar treatment despite her glowing praise for former Senator Robert Byrd, who joined the KKK when he was 24-years-old because he didn’t want to fight alongside “race mongrels, a throwback to the blackest specimen from the wilds,” during World War II.
As a young man, Sen. Byrd was an ‘exalted cyclops’ ( the BOSS) of the Ku Klux Klan. Although he apologized numerous times for what he considered a youthful indiscretion, his early votes in Congress–notably a filibuster against the 1964 Civil Rights Act–reflected racially separatist views.
“I shall never fight in the armed forces with a negro by my side,” vowed Byrd in a 1944 letter to Sen. Theodore Bilbo (D-MS).
Byrd subsequently wrote another letter in 1946 in which he asserted that, “The Klan is needed today as never before, and I am anxious to see its rebirth here in West Virginia and in every state in the nation.” Its funny how the Democrats always skate on their racist past .
The Democrats a History :
Democrats fought to expand slavery while Republicans fought to end it.
Democrats passed those discriminatory Black Codes and Jim Crow laws.
Democrats supported and passed the Missouri Compromise to protect slavery.
Democrats supported and passed the Kansas Nebraska Act to expand slavery.
Democrats supported and backed the Dred Scott Decision.
Democrats opposed educating blacks and murdered our teachers.
Democrats fought against anti-lynching laws.
Democrat Senator Robert Byrd of West Virginia, is well known for having been a “Kleagle” in the Ku Klux Klan.
Democrat Senator Robert Byrd of West Virginia, personally filibustered the Civil Rights Act of 1964 for 14 straight hours to keep it from passage.
Democrats passed the Repeal Act of 1894 that overturned civil right laws enacted by Republicans.
Democrats declared that they would rather vote for a “yellow dog” than vote for a Republican, because the Republican Party was known as the party for blacks.
Democrat President Woodrow Wilson, reintroduced segregation throughout the federal government immediately upon taking office in 1913.
Democrat President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s first appointment to the Supreme Court was a life member of the Ku Klux Klan, Sen. Hugo Black, Democrat of Alabama.
Democrat President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s choice for vice president in 1944 was Harry Truman, who had joined the Ku Klux Klan in Kansas City in 1922.
Democrat President Franklin D. Roosevelt resisted Republican efforts to pass a federal law against lynching.
Democrat President Franklin D. Roosevelt opposed integration of the armed forces.
Democrat Senators Sam Ervin, Albert Gore, Sr. and Robert Byrd were the chief opponents of the 1964 Civil Rights Act.
Democrats supported and backed Judge John Ferguson in the case of Plessy v Ferguson.
Democrats supported the School Board of Topeka Kansas in the case of Brown v The Board of Education of Topeka Kansas.
Democrat public safety commissioner Eugene “Bull” Connor, in Birmingham, Ala., unleashed vicious dogs and turned fire hoses on black civil rights demonstrators.
Democrats were who Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and the other protesters were fighting.
Democrat Georgia Governor Lester Maddox “brandished an ax hammer to prevent blacks from patronizing his restaurant.
Democrat Governor George Wallace stood in front of the Alabama schoolhouse in 1963, declaring there would be segregation forever.
Democrat Arkansas Governor Faubus tried to prevent desegregation of Little Rock public schools.
Democrat Senator John F. Kennedy voted against the 1957 Civil rights Act.
Democrat President John F. Kennedy opposed the 1963 March on Washington by Dr. King.
Democrat President John F. Kennedy, had Dr. King wiretapped and investigated by the FBI.
Democrat President Bill Clinton’s mentor was U.S. Senator J. William Fulbright, an Arkansas Democrat and a supporter of racial segregation.
Democrat President Bill Clinton interned for J. William Fulbright in 1966-67.
Democrat Senator J. William Fulbright signed the Southern Manifesto opposing the Supreme Court’s 1954 Brown vs. Board of Education decision.
Democrat Senator J. William Fulbright joined with the Dixiecrats in filibustering the Civil Rights Acts of 1957 and 1964.
Democrat Senator J. William Fulbright voted against the 1965 Voting Rights Act.
Southern Democrats opposed desegregation and integration.
Ridgewood NJ, Get up to speed on the latest details released from the Village on the proposed parking garage on Hudson Street.
DESMAN HUDSON STREET DECK DRAWINGS – 1/29/2016
These drawings represent the site plan, floor plan & building sections for the revised design of the Deck at Hudson Street. This Deck design was first considered in October 2015. There will be 325 parking spots. The height to the roof is approx. 43′ and 46′ 8″ to the parapet. Click Here for Drawings
This document produced by BCIA Professionals contrasts BCIA County Guaranteed Financing with Village of Ridgewood Stand Alone Financing for debt associated with the Parking Deck Project. Please note that the estimated differential between the two scenarios has changed since last week, due to changes in BCIA issuance costs amended by the BCIA on Friday, January 29, 2016. Now, there is an estimated differential of $22,248 which averages less than $900 per year. Click Here for the document.
Ridgewood Firefighters Free Elderly Driver Trapped after Accident
March 2,2016
the staff of the Ridgewood
Ridgewood NJ, The elderly female driver of a Chevrolet Impala involved in a two (2) vehicle crash at the intersection of Lincoln Avenue and Bellair Road in Ridgewood on Tuesday, 03/01, at approximately 4:15 PM, was trapped in her vehicle until freed by Ridgewood firefighters using forcible entry tools.
The victim requires the services of a walker and was unable to be removed from the vehicle via the passenger side door. She was transported to The Valley Hospital by a Ridgewood EMS ambulance with what appeared to have been non life threatening injuries. The other driver also sustained a minor injury in the crash, but did not appear to have been transported by ambulance for treatment. Both vehicles were removed from the scene by a flatbed tow truck. Ridgewood PD is investigating the incident.
Ridgewood Nj, it has been pointed out that an ad recently placed in The Ridgewood News from a group called “Progress Ridgewood” is asking the Council to vote unanimously on March 2nd to reintroduce the Village bond ordinance. The ad states that a small group is objecting again to the garage and that its based on incorrect information. They feel that the Council will agree to the Village bonding the garage if they all agree to the current garage revision.
According to sources , “Progress Ridgewood” was based on an email that was sent around, it was paid for by Mr. and Mrs. Halaby. They solicited names of people who wanted to be included in their ad. The ad’s characterization of “a small ground of vocal residents” is quite inaccurate, as it is now well known that over 1300 signatures were put on the petition to stop the BCIA funding, with more coming in this weekend. It must be emphasized that this grass-roots effort is totally within the laws of the United States’ democracy, and has been conducted with proper respect for the law. These citizens should be applauded for exercising their rights. The petition does not seek to stop the garage, but to stop the funding by the County. The ad’s characterization that “a small group…..stalled the project” is an unfortunate choice of words, as it is more accurate to state that a large group is seeking to keep the project funded in town. Something else to note is that least two of the signers are not Ridgewood residents and thus do not even vote in Ridgewood.
The Halaby name gives it all away .They are clearly not the best arbiters of what’s good for Ridgewood, as we have seen over the years as they seem to agree with every single major change that is called for and use rabid name calling as you have seen on this blog.
While many debate whether Ridgewood is or is not on a downhill slide; Mr. Halaby’s gloomy assessment is dead wrong as is his support for an over sized hospital, high density housing , and Godzilla garages in the central business district. Mr Halaby seems to have unwavering support for the council majority and is always on the wrong side for Ridgewood. Once again With all the distrust and misinformation flying around town its best to put off all major decisions for the New Council in June .
Ridgewood NJ, Ridgewood Water detected lead in the water at homes and businesses having lead components in their plumbing. The utility is implementing a corrosion control treatment process that mitigates the problem. Ridgewood Water’s new hydraulic modelling software was used to test various combinations of treatment sites to provide effective protection for the entire system with the least amount of equipment and expense. The results indicated that all 30 points of entry into the system will require treatment.
Polyphosphate, a corrosion inhibitor is currently being added to the water at several locations. The permitting process is underway to extend this treatment to the remaining sites. Until the treatment plan receives final approval from NJDEP and is in full effect, residents can take one simple step to eliminate their exposure to lead in drinking water. Let the faucet run for several seconds before drawing water for cooking or drinking. If your service line is made of lead, run the water for a longer period to clear all of the water from the service line. Call 201-670-3372 to request information on your service line material.
Water that has not been in prolonged contact with lead-containing plumbing materials will be lead-free.
Other steps residents can take are to run water to flush out lead , use cold water for cooking and preparing baby formula , use alternative sources for drinking ,and if in doubt get your child tested.
Ridgewood Police Investigate Public Lewdness Complaint
March 2,2016
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ., Ridgewood PD is currently investigating a report provided by an adult female who looked out of her apartment door peephole just prior to 1:00 PM on Tuesday, 03/01 and saw a man’s penis placed near the peephole. Obviously a tall man .
It is unclear as to whether she was responding to a knock on the door, or heard a noise of some sort in the hallway. A description of the actor was provided to responding uniformed patrol officers. No person matching the description was spotted in the neighborhood following a brief canvass.
Ridgewood NJ , correct me if I am wrong is this not a violation of the Faulkner Act, the Village of Ridgewood was established as a non partisan town . Why is the mayor promoting partisan politics?
The Optional Municipal Charter Law or Faulkner Act (N.J.S.A. § 40:69A-1, et seq.) provides New Jersey municipalities with a variety of models of local government. This legislation is called the Faulkner Act in honor of the late Bayard H. Faulkner, former mayor of Montclair, New Jersey and chairman of the Commission on Municipal Government.
The Faulkner Act offers four basic plans (mayor–council, council–manager, small municipality, and mayor–council–administrator) and two procedures by which the voters of a municipality can adopt one of these plans. The Act provides many choices for communities with a preference for a strong executive and professional management of municipal affairs. Twenty-one percent of the municipalities in New Jersey, including the six most populous cities (Newark, Jersey City, Camden, Trenton, Paterson and Elizabeth) all govern under the provisions of the Faulkner Act. More than half of all New Jersey residents reside in municipalities with Faulkner Act charters. ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Faulkner_Act )
Ridgewood is governed within the Faulkner Act (formally known as the Optional Municipal Charter Law) under Council-Manager plan B, as implemented on July 1, 1970, by direct petition.[46] Under this form, the governing body consists of five council members who are responsible to hire and oversee a professional Village Manager who has full executive power for all departments. The government consists of five council members, with all positions elected at-large in nonpartisan elections to serve four-year terms on a staggered basis, with either two or three seats coming up for election in even-numbered years on the second Tuesday in May. At a reorganization meeting held on July 1 after newly elected council members take office, the council chooses a mayor and deputy mayor from among its members, with the mayor presiding over Council meetings, but without any executive authority.[6] The Village Council appoints a Village Manager to oversee the day to day operations of the Village, to handle personnel, citizen inquiries and complaints, and to handle the administrative duties of the Village. The Village Council passes local laws, makes appointments to various Boards and Committees, and awards various contracts for purchases of goods and services used by the Village. They also review, amend, and adopt the annual budget for the Village prepared by the Village Manager and Chief Financial Officer. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ridgewood,_New_Jersey )
COUNTY COMMITTEE PETITIONS AVAILABLE
Petitions for County Committee are available in the Village Clerk’s Office. County Committee members represent their political party in each voting district, and they vote at the convention for the County Officials. There are two County Committee members for the Democratic party and two County Committee members for the Republican party from each voting district, one male and one female. The candidates running for County Committee must run to represent the voting district in which they reside. The petitions must be signed by voters in the same voting district and be of the same political party as the candidates. County Committee members are voted on in the Primary Election. The deadline to submit completed County Committee petitions to the Village Clerk’s Office is April 4, 2016 at 4:00 P.M. (https://www.ridgewoodnj.net/news/672-county-committee-petitions-available )
New math rule: 40+ feet is about 80% of 30 feet. Here is the proof:
Reader say rendering is out of scale
Print the attached image and then measure the two red arrows. The building which is supposed to be 40+ feet high has an arrow which is 80% in length of the street width’s red arrow. Hence Proved (that 40+ is shorter than 30)!!.
