January 31,2016
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, This past fall, RHS juniors Catherine Keating and Emily Holmquist received honorable mentions in the New York Times Learning Network’s Review Contest.
All students of Lynn Moore and Colleen Contreras’ English 11 class participated in the contest, which asked them to write about experiencing works of culture new to their daily life. Out of over 1600 entries, there were only nine winners, nine runners-up, and 23 honorable mentions.
JANUARY 30, 2016 LAST UPDATED: SATURDAY, JANUARY 30, 2016, 1:21 AM
BY VIRGINIA ROHAN
STAFF WRITER |
THE RECORD
BOOKS
WHO: Grace Helbig.
WHAT: Signing “Grace & Style: The Art of Pretending You Have It.”
WHEN: 6 p.m. Tuesday.
WHERE: Bookends, 211 E. Ridgewood Ave., Ridgewood, 201-445-0726, book-ends.com.
HOW MUCH: Must purchase book ($19.99) at Bookends.
Jersey girl and YouTube star Grace Helbig sought a very specific balance in her new “Grace & Style: The Art of Pretending You Have It.”
“I wanted to make a book that felt sort of like a hodge-podge vision-board variety show all in a book sort of thing, that kind of ran the spectrum of serious and completely silly,” says Helbig, who now lives in Los Angeles but grew up in South Jersey and got her start in comedy when she was a student at Ramapo College.
“You know, beauty and style and how you see yourself aesthetically, they’re a really personal experience that you have. So I wanted to put in more serious stories so there’s a context that kind of gives permission to make fun of the beauty world in a way, but not in a mean-spirited way. I think it’s always important to understand someone’s perspective and point of view, especially when it comes to comedy, so I really wanted to have a balance there of serious and completely stupid.”
Location: Ridgewood Art Institute, 12 East Glen Avenue, Ridgewood, NJ 07450
Ridgewood Nj, An Opening Reception and Awards Ceremony will be held at the Ridgewood Art Institute. Light refreshments will be served. Over $5,000 in awards and prizes, including a $1,000 grand prize, will be presented by the RAI President. Prize winners or representatives must be present at the awards ceremony.
Sunday, January 31st, 2 -4 pm is the “Opening Reception” for RAI 36th Annual Regional Juried Show – the show is a “must see” in the tri-state area. We are giving out over $5,000 in awards. Here is a sneak preview of some of our Award Winners.
January 31,2016
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, Other than by possible anonymous postings, we have not heard a word from Paul, Albert or Gwenn. Sadly, this is not surprising. Paul and Albert lost their tempers and spewed innumerable nasty adjectives to discredit a resident who was acting completely in accordance with the law, and Gwenn sat quietly and allowed this verbal onslaught to carry on. This is one of many, way too many, such meetings at which Paul, Albert, and Gwenn have allowed and enabled the public crucifixion of an elected official, an appointed official, or a member of the general public.
Whether a resolution is inserted into the code at a future time to require that all recording by private citizens must be announced, the fact is that at this time such an announcement is not required. Thus, their nasty characterizations were way, way out of line. It is entirely possible that they went over the line into libel and slander. Lawyers can decide about that. Well, lawyers other than the one who calls himself Deputy Dawg.
We, the people, have all the dates and transcripts of their vicious outbursts dating back 4 years, and in Paul’s case 8 years. For Albert and Gwenn, who are running for reelection, we will be happy to replay these over and over and over for the voting public to be reminded of your true colors. We do not need to say anything; your own words will say it all.
To use one of Albert’s favorite catch words – GOTCHA!
JANUARY 30, 2016, 12:21 PM LAST UPDATED: SATURDAY, JANUARY 30, 2016, 1:13 PM
ASSOCIATED PRESS
SOUTH NYACK, N.Y. (AP) — The former women’s softball coach at a suburban New York Christian college charged with sexually harassing his players won’t have to register as a sex offender after pleading guilty to seven misdemeanor counts of forcible touching, his attorney said Saturday.
But former Nyack College coach Kurt Ludwigsen still faces a civil lawsuit from three members of his team who say he at one point also invited them to get life coaching from an adult film star.
Ludwigsen will serve three years of probation and complete community service following his guilty plea earlier this month, attorney David Goldstein said.
The Ultimate Valentine’s Celebration!
Join the B.Witching team for a fun class of Love Potion Crafting
Class includes instruction and all crafting supplies. Learn to mix herbs and fragrances to formulate your own bath salt potion & roll beeswax and blend fragrances to create a Valentine’s Day candle.
Class dates:
Thursday Feb 11, 2016 from 5-7pm
Friday Feb 12, 2016 from 5-7pm
Saturday Feb 13, 2016 from 12-2pm
Saturday Feb 13, 2016 from 3-5pm
Saturday Feb 13, 2016 from 6-8pm (Adults Only—BYOB)
$25 per person paid in advance – $30 per person day of event.
Space is limited to 10 people per class and they sell out quick! Reserve space in person or by calling our Ridgewood Store. Not recommended for children under 6 years of age. The perfect Valentine’s Day Ladies Night Out, Girl Scouts or Mommy & Me Event!
B.Witching Bath Co. LLC
11 S. Broad Street, Ridgewood, NJ 07506 Tel: 201-444-0333
www.bwitchingbathco.com
The Ridgewood Art Institute
12 East Glen Avenue,
Ridgewood, NJ 07450
(201) 652-9615
Opening Reception: Sunday, February 14th from 2-4pm
Exhibit on view February 14th-27th
10am-5pm Monday thru Thursday
10am-1pm Friday thru Sunday
After a decade of work in commercial design and advertising in New York City and Columbus, Ohio, Alban R. Albert turned his full attention to the area of fine arts. Born in Paramus, New Jersey and a graduate of the Mechanics and Tradesmen’s Institute (NY) with additional studies at Pratt, he enrolled at Ohio State University. In 1956, he graduated cum laude with a B.S. degree in art education. He was also elected to Delta Phi Delta, the national art honorary, while at Ohio State. After years of teaching, in the mid-70’s he obtained his M.A. with a focus on ceramics from Montclair State College.
Albert was first introduced to oil painting in his youth by Otto Benz of North Haledon. He pursued the study further with Frank Vincent Dumond and Arthur F. Maynard of Ridgewood, N.J. Albert believes strongly in the principles of light and that is reflected heavily in his work. Albert served as president of The Ridgewood Art Institute in 1962 – 1964 and was also an instructor for eight years.
For a major part of Albert’s career, he was the head of the art department at Ramapo Regional High School. Starting as one of the original faculty members in 1956, he retired in 1985 after almost 30 years. In addition to teaching at Ramapo, he also served as an instructor in both the Adult Education Program (run at Ramapo) and the Ridgewood Art Institute. He ended his formal participation in the Ridgewood Art Institute in 1965, when he opened his own studio. He acquired the Old Wortendyke R.R. Station in Midland Park and, along with his partner, Janis Schlenz, started the Albert & Schlenz Studio Gallery. John P . Osborne, recently retired instructor and board member of the Ridgewood Art Association, would later become a student of Albert’s and a partner in the Albert & Schlenz Studio Gallery. Besides extensive teaching, Albert served frequently as judge, lecturer and demonstrator for various art groups in the NY-NJ metro area as well as Pennsylvania.
Albert has won numerous awards in local, county and state-wide exhibitions in his native New Jersey. In addition, his oil paintings have been accepted by juries in national shows under the aegis of the American Artists Association (Spring-field, MA) and of the American Artists Professional League. Diverse distinctions included the Landscape Prize in the 7th Regional Show of the Ridgewood Art Institute.
Albert’s works hang in private collections around the world and are especially prevalent in the northeastern United States.
Albert currently resides in Wyckoff, with his wife Sue.
The Ridgewood Art Institute
12 East Glen Avenue,
Ridgewood, NJ 07450
(201) 652-9615
Ridgewood NJ, Helen Ellis, will be signing her new book at Bookends , American Housewife , This Sunday (January 31st) at 2:00pm
HELEN ELLIS will sign her new book: American Housewife ($24.00)
A sharp, funny, delightfully unhinged collection of stories set in the dark world of domesticity, American Housewife features murderous ladies who lunch, celebrity treasure hunters, and the best bra fitter south of the Mason Dixon line.
Meet the women of American Housewife: they wear lipstick, pearls, and sunscreen, even when it’s cloudy. They casserole. They pinwheel. They pump the salad spinner like it’s a CPR dummy. And then they kill a party crasher, carefully stepping around the body to pull cookies out of the oven. These twelve irresistible stories take us from a haunted prewar Manhattan apartment building to the set of a rigged reality television show, from the unique initiation ritual of a book club to the getaway car of a pageant princess on the lam, from the gallery opening of a tinfoil artist to the fitting room of a legendary lingerie shop. Vicious, fresh, and nutty as a poisoned Goo Goo Cluster, American Housewife is an uproarious, pointed commentary on womanhood.
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
file photo by Boyd Loving
JANUARY 29, 2016 LAST UPDATED: FRIDAY, JANUARY 29, 2016, 12:31 AM
THE RIDGEWOOD NEWS
Studies needed at Schedler property
To the editor:
As a resident of the Schedler neighborhood, I’m writing to thank the Village Council for all of their efforts seeking the best design possible for the Schedler property. Specifically, I’m thankful to our Village Council for the following: (i) Mayor Aronsohn and several Council members have toured the Schedler property with neighborhood representatives, and observed firsthand the loud volume of highway noise where the current design places home plate, first base and the bleachers; (ii) as a result of such visits, the Village Council has agreed to place on its agenda the retention of a noise expert to provide advice on abating the loud, Route 17 traffic noise, and (iii) adjourning consideration of retaining the noise expert from the crowded, Jan. 27 agenda.
Simultaneously, I wish to reiterate my request that the Village Council retain a comprehensive group of experts, including a landscape architect and a traffic and safety expert in order to design the best park possible.
It appears that the Village Council is seeking to “save” money by using the Village Engineer for these critical design tasks. As the mayor and other council members who toured the Schedler property discovered, the current design places home plate and first base within 30 feet of a major highway — and it is too noisy for the enjoyable use of the players, coaches and parents.
Can you imagine spending several million dollars of taxpayer dollars on a park, only to discover that it’s too noisy to enjoy. But for the input of the Schedler neighborhood, and our council’s willingness to tour the site to hear the noise firsthand, that scenario would’ve become a reality.
I encourage the council to avoid being pound wise and penny foolish. Let’s retain bona fide experts now in order to insure that the park is designed to the highest standards for the benefit of our athletes, their families, the neighborhood and the entire village.
Please note that the Schedler neighborhood has submitted a proposal for the intelligent design of the Schedler property. The proposal provides a logical roadmap for designing an excellent park at the Schedler property, including an athletic field, for the maximum benefit for all of Ridgewood. The proposal has been submitted to the Mayor, the Council, the Open Space Committee and to the RBSA.
I respectfully request that The Ridgewood News publish the proposal in order to keep village residents informed.
David Edelberg
Ridgewood
HealthBarn at Irene Habernickle Family Park
From the Village of Ridgewood web site
Irene Habernickle Family Park – HealthBarn FAQs
The below document represents answers, approaches and comments to questions, concerns and issues that were raised by residents and the Council regarding the leasing of Habernickel’s Gate House to Health Barn, USA. The Village Council will discuss two resolutions at the Wednesday, February 3rdmeeting: one to change the use of the Gate House for recreational and educational purposes, and the second to authorize the signing of the lease between Health Barn and the Village. The vote on these resolutions will not be held until the Council session on February 10th. Any comments or questions can be directed to Roberta Sonenfeld ([email protected]) and Janet Fricke ([email protected]).
Gate House at Irene Habernickel Family Park – HealthBarn, USA
Response to Frequently Asked Questions
1.27.16
Traffic Safety Issues
Ridgewood Police Department completed a traffic study on Hillcrest Road in the Habernickel Park area during the fall recreational season; additional studies are planned – one for winter, another for spring recreation season. The traffic study shows that the average speed falls within a safe area and even though there were a couple high end speeds that percentage was minimal. As far as existing volume, the street has a low volume even though this area is a known “cut through” street. Traffic study was passed on to the Engineering Division for review and implementation.
The Village Engineer recommended:
Short Term:
Stripe 2 crosswalks- at Norman and at Hillcrest. Double yellow center line on Hillcrest Rd. (Morningside to Monroe); signage to alert motorists that they are approaching a crosswalk.
Paint white “Tic” marks on Hillcrest at private driveway openings to allow for better egress.
Amend ordinance to allow for parking on the park side (north) of Hillcrest and not the opposite (south) side. Ordinance #3517
Plans were presented and approved at the monthly Citizen’s Safety Advisory Committee Meeting held December 17th, 2015. Resolution #16-21
ii. Long Term:
Extend sidewalk in front of park to Andover Terrace;
Installation of sidewalk on south side of Hillcrest – Morningside to North Monroe.
Speed humps/ bumps are not recommended by Police or Engineering Division; the double center line is recommended for traffic calming.
Bus Drop Off (M-F 10am -3pm only) – Procedures will include drop off at entrance to Gate House. Buses may park in parking lot or return to premise for pick up. Engine idling prohibited.
Operation of Facility
When the Village purchased the Habernickel property in 2004 using Green Acres funding, a conservation easement was required to be placed on the deed. The easement states that Green Acres rules and regulations must be followed for this property. Green Acres requirements have been followed by Ridgewood, including most recently, the hearing to alert the public to the proposed change in use.
The Village Recreation Department will establish a satellite office on the second floor of the Gate House. The office will be used to provide any assistance or support necessary and will be staffed as needed.
No zoning changes were necessary for the Village to make this change in use.
The change will allow Recreational/ educational programing for the Gate House; no overnight accommodations or private counseling sessions in the Gate House are defined in the Lease.
HealthBarn will be required to follow procedures in the lease to make any improvements to the Gate House. The cost of improvements (including permits) will be covered by tenant.
Community Gardens are allowed in parks with permission from the Director of Parks & Recreation. All maintenance and related costs will be responsibility of HealthBarn. There will be no use of the Horse Barn itself.
Signage – A sign is allowed on the Gate House. Location and size is addressed in the Lease. Prior to installation, approval from Director of Building Department and a permit is required.
Security/lighting analysis will be made by Ridgewood Police for the exterior of the Gate House and will recommend appropriate action.
The hours of operation of any of the programs will be in accordance with the items listed on Schedule A – Mondaythrough Saturday – 9:00AM to 5:30PM; Wednesday and Friday evening. 6:30PM to 9:00PM. The Tenant will be permitted to open and close the facilities a half hour before and after the operation of the programs. Any temporary adjustments to days/hours of operation must be requested five (5) business days in advance, in writing, to the Director of Parks and Recreation or the LANDLORD.
The Gate House facility provides space for additional education/recreational programs for local youth that cannot be held elsewhere in Ridgewood as facilities are being used to full capacity.
Building Code Officials and the Fire Inspector have inspected the Gate House. They will make professional recommendations when questions arise in their area of expertise.
Park areas to be used by HealthBarn – the Gate House , Teaching Community Garden, and potentially some Habernickel field areas will be used by HealthBarn as approved by the Director, Parks & Recreation.
Green Acres does not deny public access to parks that are in the Green Acres program.
Student drop off and pick up area will be at the entrance to the Gate House. If parking is needed during classes, 12 onsite spaces will be used in the parking lot. In addition 3 staff parking spaces are available in the Gate House garage/driveway.
Mini buses carrying up to 14 may drop off at the Gate House entrance; mini buses may park in the parking lot for no more than 2 hours. No engine idling is permitted for any buses. Full size buses (carrying not more than 48 passengers) are permitted only during the hours of 10:00AM to 3:00PMMonday through Friday to drop off at the Gate House entrance. Buses can park in any offsite designated parking lot and return at agreed time for pick up.
Animals are not allowed unless by special request for a program or a certified service animal.
HealthBarn is a vendor to the Village of Ridgewood and as such all programs will be regularly inspected, reviewed and monitored by the Director, Parks and Recreation.
The Tenant understands that it is expressly prohibited from operating and holding private consultation sessions at the Gate House and on Habernickel parklands. One upstairs room will serve as an office. The building shall not be used for living quarters.
The Gate House and all programs shall be open for inspection by Landlord at any time.
Health Barn’s curriculum has been reviewed by Green Acres and Ridgewood Parks and Recreation to ensure that the educational and recreational standards are of high quality for each age group. It is not a daycare or babysitting operation. This enrichment educational experience provides families with nutritional guidance to facilitate better mealtime behaviors for a healthy lifestyle.
The Tenant will have appropriate number of students attending programs for each age and program type as approved through Ridgewood Parks & Recreation Department.
Business Issues
HealthBarn moved due to Abma’s Farm wanting to use their space to expand their own business. Ridgewood staff visited the HealthBarn operation at Abma’s Farm.
A local real estate professional conducted an analysis of the location to determine the base bid for this lease. The lease requires an annual Tri State CPI increase.
The initial lease is for 5 years with renewal for 1 more year adhering to Green Acres rules. A capital improvement of $50,000+ entitles the tenant to a 6 year lease.
The Lease document will be available to the public when it is complete.
Required Insurance coverage is $1,000,000 per occurrence and $2,000,000 is aggregate. The Village of Ridgewood is listed as additionally insured.
All employees, agents and representatives of HealthBarn must have satisfactorily passed background checks. Documentation will be kept on file.
The Gate House will provide program space as well as office space for registration, planning and operational needs. No overnight accommodations are permitted. The Gate House will be regularly monitored by the Parks and Recreation Department and will be inspected by the Ridgewood Building, Fire and Health Departments and comply with all of their requirements.
The Village is not entitled to the Tenant’s business plan.
The Lease includes legal language to protect the Village if the tenant does not follow lease requirements and termination is needed.
The tenant of the Gate House is required in the lease to submit a quarterly listing and analysis of classes and programs, including attendance, staffing, and related costs to the Director, Parks & Recreation Department for review. The tenant’s current listing of programs is part of the Lease as Schedule A and is the standard (baseline) for all HealthBarn programs. Birthday parties are an approved use by Green Acres. If the tenant wishes to make changes to programs, it must be cleared five days in advance by the Director of Parks & Recreation.
JANUARY 29, 2016, 4:20 PM LAST UPDATED: FRIDAY, JANUARY 29, 2016, 5:10 PM
BY MARY JO LAYTON
STAFF WRITER |
THE RECORD
The state’s largest insurer has sued Holy Name Medical Center in Teaneck and The Valley Hospital in Ridgewood to halt an ad campaign the hospitals launched in protest of a new tiered health plan they say makes them look inferior.
Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey calls the advertising against its Omnia plan a “smear campaign” — one that goes so far as to say the insurer doesn’t like babies. The campaign is motivated “solely by a desire to damage Horizon financially as well as its business reputation,” the lawsuit filed this week noted.
Bruce Rosen, an attorney representing Valley and Holy Name, defended the ads on Friday. “This is a blatant attempt by Horizon to distract attention away from the potentially disastrous impact that the Omnia plan is going to have on the two hospitals, their patients and New Jersey’s health care system,” he said.
photo by Boyd Loving
Allyson Souza
January 1, 2016 | 8:00 am
The temperature drops, the last brightly colored leaf falls off the tree, and you can feel that nip of snow in the air. Winter in New Jersey can be beautiful — until it’s the third freezing-cold day in a row, and you and your kids are going stir crazy. If this sounds like what winter has in store for you and your brood, don’t panic: New Jersey has plenty of places to for the whole family to go. The kids can burn off energy, be entertained — and even learn a thing or two. And let’s face it: Anything beats watching Minions for the eight hundredth time.
A Senate committee Thursday voted 5-0 to dissolve local and county ethics boards and turn the responsibility of investigating the questionable behavior of any government official to the State Ethic Commission. Susan K. Livio, NJ.com Read more
It was also recently reported that the Village’s new code enforcement officer (Ms. Tracey Jeffrey) was observed on South Monroe Street driving a vehicle with Rigewood Water logo emblazoned on the door. However, I suppose that the argument could be used that enforcement of the leaf pick up rules impacts water quality.
I observed countless vehicles emblazoned with the Ridgewood Water emblem engaged in snow removal activities on Ridgewood streets following last week’s blizzard. So it appears as though there is some merit to the lawsuit.
