Category: village of ridgewood

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WAITING LIST OPEN – RIDGEWOOD RIDGECREST APARTMENT APPLICATIONS – 2/29/16

seniors

WAITING LIST OPEN – RIDGECREST APARTMENT APPLICATIONS – 2/29/16

 

Please note only 300 applications will be accepted and they are on a first come basis  MONDAY February 29th

Jan Philips

201 280-2328 cell

      IMPORTANT NOTICE

THE HOUSING AUTHORITY OF BERGEN COUNTY

The Ridgewood Senior Citizen Housing Corporation, Inc.

is pleased to announce that applications will be accepted for the waiting list

for Ridgecrest Apartments located at 7-11 Ridge Road Ridgewood, New Jersey.

Beginning Monday, February 29, 2016applications will be available.

Applications may be requested by mail or in person at Ridgecrest Apartments located at:

 

Ridgecrest Apartments

7 – 11 Ridge Road

Ridgewood, NJ 07450

9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

APPLICATIONS MAY ALSO BE DOWNLOADED AT WWW.HABCNJ.ORG/RIDGEWOOD.

PLEASE NOTE: ONCE 300 APPLICATIONS ARE RECEIVED THE WAITING LIST WILL CLOSE!

IN ORDER TO BE ELIGIBLE TO APPLY, APPLICANTS MUST BE 62 YEARS OF AGE OR OLDER, AND/OR DEEMED DISABLED. THE TOTAL HOUSEHOLD ANNUAL GROSS INCOME CANNOT EXCEED THE FOLLOWING INCOME LIMITS:

MAXIMUM INCOME ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

Household Size                                       Maximum Annual Income

1                                                                    $32,450

2                                                                    $37,100

 

 

YOU ARE ENCOURAGED TO RETURN YOUR APPLICATION AS SOON AS POSSIBLE, AS IT WILL BE PLACED ON THE WAITING LIST BY THE DATE AND TIME THAT IT WAS RECEIVED AT THE RIDGECREST OFFICE.ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS WILL BE SELECTED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE FOLLOWING PRIORITIES IN THE ORDER THAT THEY ARE LISTED;

RESIDENCY, OR PREVIOS DOCUMENTED RESIDNECY, IN RIDGEWOOD, OR IN CENSUS TRACT 221 IN GLEN ROCK. APPLICANTS WHO WORK OR HAVE AN OFFER OF EMPLOYMENT IN RIDGEWOOD OR CENSUS TRACT 221 IN GLEN ROCK WILL BE CONSIDERED RESIDENTS;

RESIDENCY IN BERGEN COUNTY MEMBER COMMUNITY. APPLICANTS WHO WORK OR HAVE AN OFFER OF EMPLOYMENT IN RIDGEWOOD OR CENSUS TRACT 221 IN GLEN ROCK WILL BE CONSIDERED RESIDENTS;

 

  • ALL OTHER APPLICANTS

Advertisement  for Ridgecrest Apartmentsis about to begin. It now states we will only be accepting the first 300 applications. Once 300 applications are received the waiting list will close.

Over the last 5 years the average number of Move-Ins per year is 10.4 and the average number of move-outs is 10. The breakdown is as follows

 

Move in               Move out

2015 –    13                           14

2014 –    10                           7

2013 –    14                           16

2012 –    7                              8

2011 –    10                           5             

 

54                           50

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Ridgewood Environmental groups in Ridgewood spread missions, recruit

maple+field1-300x19911

FEBRUARY 5, 2016    LAST UPDATED: FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2016, 12:31 AM
BY MATTHEW SCHNEIDER
STAFF WRITER |
THE RIDGEWOOD NEWS

RIDGEWOOD – Leaders from various village environmental groups held a “meet-and-greet” event recently, hoping to inform the public about their respective missions and to solicit new members.

Angela Leemans, chair of the Ridgewood Environmental Advisory Committee (REAC), welcomed everybody to the event last month and explained what REAC is all about.

“It’s really centered on promoting sustainability and working for a sustainable Ridgewood,” she said. “It’s all about protecting the environment, protecting the ecosystem … and doing what we can to prevent climate change.”

Leemans explained that REAC wants Ridgewood residents to get involved in preserving the environment by accepting “a call to action,” and complying with ordinances regarding the environment. She also noted that REAC is made up of members of different groups around the village, allowing people of various skills and ideas to advance its goals.

She stressed that two of REAC’s most important activities are hosting the annual Earth Day celebration, as well as hosting informative lectures to teach sustainable behavior.

Leemans said that REAC hopes “to enable Ridgewoodians to go green,” and “to actualize sustainability,” making the town a better place to live.

“The main message that I’m trying to say here is … we need more help,” she said. “We would love to have more (REAC members).”

https://www.northjersey.com/community-news/clubs-and-service-organizations/groups-spread-missions-recruit-1.1506631

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Reader says BCIA Funding a Sad day for the Village of Ridgewood – but only a day

BCIA Meeting

photo by Boyd Loving

Sad day for the Village – but only a day.

We should neither despair nor capitulate. We can prevent the council from handing the Village over to failed developers and downtown businesses. The May 10th election really isn’t that far away, and these things can still be derailed and prevented. Thankfully there are people working on doing just that. We need to all join in. Aronsohn knows his plans can be undone – – that is why he acts like he does when you try and nail him down on specifics. What scares him beyond belief is that if he doesn’t deliver, his developer friends will drop him like a hot potato. He’s not loved in either the local or state level democratic organizations or other groups. He knows the developers are his last hope to ever winning a real election. And yes, our current debates about Village life are all about one man’s political future (or lack thereof) – – that is what makes the sell-out so despicable.

Let’s keep the pressure up. And let’s see what happens in the May election. If those of us opposed to the overdevelopment are truly in the majority, as I suspect we are, then the council votes will reveal just that. In the meantime, lets not have this fellow undo over a hundred years of village life just so he can try and advance his own failed political career.

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SUV slammed into an occupied tour bus returning students to Benjamin Franklin Middle School in Ridgewood

BF tour bus

photos courtesy of Boyd Loving’s Facebook

February 5,2016

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, A Honda CR-V SUV slammed into an occupied tour bus that was returning students and their chaperons back to the Benjamin Franklin Middle School in Ridgewood on Friday, 02/05 from a trip to Quebec. The incident occurred at 3:17 PM on Franklin Turnpike in Ridgewood, near the entrance/exit to Route 17 southbound.

Neither of the drivers, nor any of the 44 bus passengers, were injured in the collision, however the SUV was heavily damaged and had to be removed from the scene by a flatbed tow truck. Ridgewood PD investigated the incident and issued a summons to the SUV driver. After a delay of almost one (1) hour, the virtually undamaged bus continued on its way to drop off students and chaperones at the school. The driver of the SUV is reportedly a public safety officer at nearby Bergen Community College.

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The New Jersey Choral Society presents “Crazy for You,” a Gershwin Tribute

March 2016_New_Jersey_Choral_Society_72dpi

 

February 4,2016

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

 

RidgewoodNJ, Kick up your heels and swing as the New Jersey Choral Society presents its Pops Spectacular, “Crazy for You,” a tribute to the glamorous and sophisticated music of George and Ira Gershwin. Performances will be Saturday, March 5 at 8:00 pm and Sunday, March 6 at 3:00 pm at Immaculate Heart Academy, 500 Van Emburgh Ave., Washington Township.

This lively program, under the direction of Eric Dale Knapp, opens with the famous classical-jazz piano composition “Rhapsody in Blue” featuring pianist Linda Sweetman-Waters.  Following this crowd-pleaser will be such popular Gershwin hits as “Strike up the Band,” “Fascinating Rhythm,” “Let’s Call the Whole Thing Off” and “S’Wonderful.” A medley of songs from Gershwin’s opera Porgy and Bess will also be featured, including “It Ain’t Necessarily So,”  “I Got Plenty O’ Nuttin,” “My Man’s Gone Now” and “Summertime.”

 

The second half of the program will feature songs from the Tony award-winning musical Crazy for You, including “Embraceable You,” “I Got Rhythm,” “They Can’t Take That Away from Me” and“Someone to Watch Over Me.” Concluding the program will be a series of show-stopping Gershwin tunes, such as “Love is Sweeping the Country,” “Of Thee I Sing” and “Swanee.”

 

Pianist Linda Sweetman-Waters and the NJCS Pops Spectacular Band will accompany the chorus. Dancers Jen and Tony Landa will also be featured and Broadway actors David and Britt Cryer will host this Pops Spectacular.

 

Advance tickets are $25.00 for adults and $22.00 for students, seniors, and patrons with disabilities. (Add $5.00 at the door). Discounted group pricing is also available. Come one hour prior to performance time for The Inside Line, a complimentary lecture for all ticket holders that provides an intimate and entertaining preview of the music. For reservations or more information, visitwww.NJCS.org or call the New Jersey Choral Society at (201) 379-7719.

 

Established in 1980, the New Jersey Choral Society is one of the state’s most prestigious choral groups, well-known for presenting outstanding and unique programs. Under the direction of Eric Dale Knapp, NJCS performs three major concerts annually in Bergen and Essex counties. They have performed at Carnegie Hall and the White House and have toured internationally in Austria, the Czech Republic, Germany, China, Australia, England, and France.

 

Immaculate Heart Academy is wheelchair accessible. Funding has been made possible in part by funds from the New Jersey State Council on the Arts/Department of State, a Partner Agency of the National Endowment for the Arts.

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New Jersey, 67 percent of moves were outbound

for sale Ridgewood_Real_Estate_theRodgewopodblog

file photo by Boyd loving

What the Top 5 States People Are Moving From Have in Common

Salim Furth / @salimfurth / January 06, 2016

Salim Furth, Ph.D., researches and explains how public policy affects economic growth as a research fellow in macroeconomics at The Heritage Foundation’s Center for Data Analysis.Read his research.

Americans are moving to places with affordable costs of living and strong labor markets (or good retirement communities). The top destination states of 2015could hardly be more different geographically and culturally: Oregon and South Carolina. What they have in common is that both states are relatively affordable places to live.

The data on moving comes from United Van Lines, which ranks the states based on the proportion of interstate moves that were inbound or outbound.

In Oregon, 69 percent of moves were inbound. The state with the worst ratio was New Jersey, from which 67 percent of moves were outbound.

The top five outbound states of 2015 were:

New Jersey
New York
Illinois
Connecticut
Ohio

In metro Portland, Ore., the average owner-occupied home cost $305,402 in 2013, compared to $380,420 in Seattle or a budget-busting $730,156 in San Francisco. But even in Portland there is room for improvement: Easing regulation a bit could make the average house $39,000 more affordable.

In South Carolina, homes are even cheaper, with free-market competition keeping the price of a new home close to the actual construction cost.

Where urban and suburban land use regulation is modest, builders can meet demand with new supply. In places like San Francisco and Boston that lack that flexibility, people leave despite those cities’ high wages and dynamic economies.

Moving patterns show how important cost of living is to American families. With perfect weather and a booming, high-tech economy, California ought to be the #1 destination. Instead, more moving trucks are leaving the state than entering.

The top five inbound states of 2015 were:

Oregon
South Carolina
Vermont
Idaho
North Carolina

Policymakers can lower the cost of living by removing unnecessary regulations and licensure requirements, streamlining bureaucracy, and ending protections that have been granted to favored industries.

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Ridgewood singer makes it to Hollywood with American Idol

Ridgewood 'American Idol' Caroline Byrne

FEBRUARY 5, 2016    LAST UPDATED: FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2016, 12:31 AM
BY DIANA OLIVEIRA
STAFF WRITER |
THE RIDGEWOOD NEWS

Singing was something that burgeoned into a private talent for Ridgewood resident Caroline Byrne. Always too shy to perform in public, the 26-year-old mostly practiced at home until college, when her friends encouraged her to audition for television talent shows.

“My friends pretty much started telling me, ‘You would be crazy not to audition for one of these shows,’” recalled Byrne. “And I always thought to myself, ‘OK, when I’m ready.’”

After participating in preliminary competitions — the first that “lit a fire” under her was a contest in which the winner would be featured on a new track by Swedish DJ John Dahlback (she was runner-up) — Byrne leaped at the opportunity to audition for the 15th and last season of Fox’s singing competition “American Idol.”

And she earned that coveted golden ticket to Hollywood.

https://www.northjersey.com/arts-and-entertainment/music/local-singer-makes-it-to-hollywood-1.1506653

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Town Garage site in Ridgewood and the village owned property in that area still a DEP declared it a remediation site

town_garage_theridgewoodblog

February 4,2016
the Staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood Nj , Reader offers a little recap . Seems that most of the neighbors are accepting the fact that the Health Barn is coming and as long as they get some concessions as to signage, sidewalks, lights and that tithe village is maintaining close control it is the best they can do.

Another issue has popped up regarding the Town Garage site and the village owned property in that area.  The DEP declared it a remediation site 10 years ago.  Nothing has been done and their is an underground water stream running through the property that is compromised by seepage from the hydraulic and diesel fuel tanks still buried there,  The village spent 35,000 dollars to identify what needed to be done several years ago and I have not heard a thing until last weeks meeting at the very end where the council discussed briefly the abandoned property ordinance, eminent domain and the fact that there is a toxic flume at the site which is adding to the contamination and needs monitoring so as to minimize the effect on the water and I believe wells were mentioned.  I have more information which I will forward to you.  Saw in old minutes where Keith Killion and Pat Mancuso saw the need to clean the site and put a garage there.  It is so much more centrally located and would be used by employees, shoppers ,diners as well as commuters more readily than HUdson Street.

So wish we would clean the site and have two smaller decks at both sites. Currently the Town Garage site owners are current on taxes but have done nothing else and Matt Rogers was asked to look into the abandoned property ordinance.  If we gained ownership of that property, it would give the town so many more options as to the best use of the property.  I think Kennsington is almost out of the picture.  Assisted living facilities are so expensive for the client and those people who would reside there are not the shoppers and diners.   55 and older might be a good fit and those people would bring business to the town.

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Reader says the Ridgewood Council Majority has Nothing but Contempt for Residents

3 amigos in action Ridgewood NJ

I’m constantly amazed at the contempt that these 3 have for so many of their own neighbors. People that comment at meetings are generally well-meaning and highly involved residents. Many of them are serial volunteers that make great contributions to our Village. The Council majority is at best dismissive and at worst obnoxious to anyone that dares to voice an opinion that differs from the conclusion that they’ve already reached or the deal that they’ve already made. They hold civility hearings and are completely uncivilized, they point fingers claiming conflict of interest and all have conflicts themselves, they disregard their own rules and flagrantly collaborate outside public meetings in violation of the Sunshine Laws.

History has shown again and again when governments try to silence their own citizens, citizens rise up and overthrow the government. Mr Aronsohn has confirmed that he will not seek re-election but there has been no word from the other 2 – one can only assume that they will run again. Please spread the word to your neighbors and send out links to the various recordings of this horrific behavior. We have to make sure that neither of the remaining Council majority gets another term.

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Habernickel Park: Only One Resident Showed from the Affected Neighborhood

Habernickel HealthBarn USA protest

photo by Boyd Loving

February 4,2016

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, Only one (1) resident from the affected area showed up at the meeting last night.  The plan seems to be moving forward with just some minor tweaking required in the contract language.  The main sticking issues from the neighborhood’s point of view are:  1) increased traffic, including large school buses during the school year between 10 AM and 3 PM, 2) signage on the building and, 3) possible field use conflicts (with softball, soccer, etc.).  Most could not believe that only one (1) person took the time to show up given the amount of new bus traffic in the neighborhood and the potential interference with local sports , possible loss of property values as well as the potential conflict with Green Acre funding.

see below

Good Afternoon 

Thank you for contacting me with your concerns.  While the change in zoning from residential to business is not under Green Acres’
jurisdiction, the use of Habernickel Park most certainly is.  The Village was forthcoming in educating Green Acres in the business
looking to lease the Habernickel Gate House.  The Village sent me a brochure and directed me to the HealthBarn USA’s website. However, while I did see the popularity and many accolades of this business it did not translate into the number of potential students
you have given me.

You are correct that busses bringing students to the Park on a regular basis would be disruptive to community as
would 60 to 75 students attending classes on a daily basis in addition to the park’s regular visitors.  However, I do want to point
out that the programing will go through the Village Recreation Department or Community School and that ultimately the Village
has control of the course offerings.  Additionally, private clients cannot be served in this location; Ms. Antine would need
to bring her classes / workshops to her private clients.  

You are also correct that the classes being proposed to be held are not all recreation / conservation oriented however Green Acres has stressed and the courses encouraged the use of the parkland in the programing.  N.J.A.C. 7:36-25.7(f) (attached) allows for the use of a building that existed on funded parkland at the time of receipt of

Green Acres funding as a recreation center provided the town complies with the change in use procedures at N.J.A.C. 7:36-25.6.  

Green Acres believes that the type of classes / workshops that will be offered at the Habernickel Gate House are of the sort that would be found at any community or recreation center.

I appreciate your concerns regarding traffic and the business getting bigger.  Green Acres does not want the size of the Business,
HealthBarn USA, to negatively impact the park due to the business they are conducting onsite.  Green Acres looks at HealthBarn USA as a concession, providing to the residents a service the Village could not do on their own.  It will
not be allowed to become the headquarters for HealthBarn USA.

I am copying Janet Fricke on this email as she is responsible for addressing the public’s concerns regarding this change in use.  I
encourage you to voice your concern at the Public Hearing scheduled for Wednesday evening so that you can get the answers to your questions regarding how many classes, how many students, traffic, etc. .

Thank you for taking the time to contact me.  If you have further questions please let me know.  The State Offices are closed tomorrow, Election Day.  However, I will do my best to respond back in a timely fashion.

Regards,

Nancy Lawrence
Compliance Officer
Bureau of Legal Services and Stewardship
NJDEP Green Acres Program
Mail Code 501-01, P.O. Box 420
501 East State Street, 1st Floor
Trenton, NJ 08625-0420
609.341.2054 direct
609.984.0608 fax

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Ridgewood Emergency Services (RES) adds a new ambulance to its fleet

Ridgewood Emergency Services (RES) adds a new ambulance
February 4,2016
the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ , Chief Tony Lillo announced that the department purchased a new 2016 Ford F-450, four-wheel drive,Type I Horton ambulance from VCI Emergency Vehicles.   “In accordance with our fleet replacement plan, this new ambulance will replace a 2000 Ford E-450 Type III PL Custom ambulance, one that has been in service for 15 years, well beyond its expected replacement date,” Lillo said.

The new ambulance, Ambulance 12, is now in service with the RES Ambulance 11, a 2003 International Freightliner and Ambulance 10, a 2007 Ford E450.Horton Emergency Vehicles Group, based in Grove City, Ohio, designed the state of the art ambulance in conjunction with RES Officers. The vehicle was manufactured with improvements in design and safety for the Emergency Medical Technicians and the patient. Improvements include 3 point restraints, privacy glass, airbags for EMTS in the patient compartment as well reverse cameras and blind spot cameras as well.

The ambulance is licensed by the NJ Department of Health and is staffed by NJ EMT’s.

In 2015, RES responded to 1704 requests for assistance. This amounts to 19,236 hours donated by the volunteers to the Village of
Ridgewood on active duty — a cost savings of more than $1 million to the Village of Ridgewood. This does not include time spent on
training, meetings, meeting and event preparation.

As a volunteer organization, RES is always looking for those who would love to serve their community. If you are interested in becoming a part of our family, a tour of our facility is highly recommended calling (201) 670-5589 or by emailing us at
[email protected].

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Maybe we just suck as Parents : Doctor Links ADHD Diagnoses to Poor Parenting

helicopter-parents2

Startling comments which go against conventional parenting tips.
Annie Holmquist | February 2, 2016

You Are Here

Whoa… Doctor Links ADHD Diagnoses to Poor Parenting

Startling comments which go against conventional parenting tips.
Annie Holmquist | February 2, 2016

Dr. Leonard Sax has been making waves lately with his latest book, The Collapse of Parenting. The book’s basic premise is that American parents have failed to realize that they are their child’s authority, not their friend.

In an interview with NPR over the weekend, Dr. Sax again made some startling comments that go against conventional wisdom in today’s parenting, particularly in the realm of hyperactivity and anxiety disorders such as ADHD.

Although Dr. Sax believes that there are legitimate cases of ADHD, he also believes there are a number of false diagnoses. These diagnoses stem from:

Lack of respect for parents and over-reliance on friends.
Overindulgent parents who fail to establish appropriate limitations.

Dr. Sax explains further:

https://www.intellectualtakeout.org/blog/whoa%E2%80%A6-doctor-links-adhd-diagnoses-poor-parenting

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New Jersey appeals court agrees to hear appeal of Dharun Ravi in Tyler Clementi Case

092910_tyler_clementi_400

Judges to hear arguments in Rutgers webcam spy case appeal

FEBRUARY 3, 2016, 7:50 AM    LAST UPDATED: WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2016, 7:51 AM
ASSOCIATED PRESS

NEWARK, N.J. (AP) — A New Jersey appeals court is set to hear arguments in the case of a former Rutgers University student convicted of spying on a roommate who later committed suicide.

Dharun Ravi in court in May.

Dharun Ravi was convicted in 2012 of bias intimidation, invasion of privacy and other crimes. He was sentenced to 30 days in jail.

Ravi secretly broadcast images online of roommate Tyler Clementi in an intimate encounter with another man. Clementi later jumped off the George Washington Bridge.

https://www.northjersey.com/news/judges-to-hear-arguments-in-rutgers-webcam-spy-case-appeal-1.1504853

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Village of Ridgewood Council sticks it to taxpayers, again

3 amigos in action Ridgewood NJ

file photo by Boyd Loving

February 3,2016

by Boyd A. Loving

Ridgewood NJ, The Public Hearing for Ordinance #3519, “Leasing agreement with the Bergen County Improvement Authority,” was officially closed by a unanimous vote of the Ridgewood Village Council during a Special Public Meeting held on the evening of Wednesday, January 27, 2016.

At no time either prior to or during the Special Public Meeting was their any detailed financial information made available to Ridgewood’s taxpayers regarding the subject matter of Ordinance #3519, a “Leasing agreement with the Bergen County Improvement Authority.”  However, on Monday, February 1, 2016, a full five (5) calendar days subsequent to closure of the official Public Hearing on Ordinance #3519, a document entitled “Bergen County Improvement Authority Parking Financial Summary” was posted on the Village of Ridgewood’s official website.

I ask:  1) Why was the Public Hearing for Ordinance #3519, “Leasing agreement with the Bergen County Improvement Authority” even held if no detailed financial information about the “lease” was available for public review, and most importantly, 2) Why did all members of Ridgewood’s Village Council vote to CLOSE the Public Hearing on Ordinance #3519 prior to the availability of the document entitled “Bergen County Improvement Authority Parking Financial Summary?”

Mr. Aronsohn and Mr. Pucciarelli used the following adjectives to describe the behavior of a taxpayer who LEGALLY videotaped a recent Open Public Meeting.  I suggest that these same adjectives apply to the behavior of the Village Council with respect to closing Ordinance #3519’s Public Hearing prior to taxpayers having access to the document entitled “Bergen County Improvement Authority Parking Financial Summary.”

The adjectives are:

disgraceful
beyond the pale
not a way to conduct business
[should] not be tolerated
surreptitious
secretive
sneaky
awful
deceitful
hidden

Remember these adjectives and who they pertain to prior to casting your vote on May 10 in the Municipal Election.