Category: village of ridgewood

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Village Council Moves to Approve Turf Field for Schedler Property

Zabriskie-Schedler_Property_theridgewoodblog

VILLAGE OF RIDGEWOOD VILLAGE COUNCIL
REGULAR PUBLIC MEETING
AUGUST 12, 2015
8:00 P.M.

1.   Call to Order – Mayor

2.   Statement of Compliance with the Open Public       Meetings Act

3.   Roll Call – Village Clerk

4.   Flag Salute and Moment of Silence

5.   Acceptance of Financial Reports

6.   Approval of Minutes

7.   Proclamations

A.              Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over 2015   Statewide Crackdown
B.              Declare September Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month
C.              Declare September National Preparedness Month

8.   Comments from the Public (Not to exceed 5 minutes      per person – 30 minutes in total)

9.   Motion to Suspend Regular Public Meeting and           Convene Special Work Session

10.  Special Work Session – See Attached Agenda

11.  Motion to Adjourn Special Work Session and             Reconvene Regular Public Meeting

12.  Manager’s Report

13.  Village Council Reports

14.  ORDINANCES – INTRODUCTION

3494 – Amend Chapter 265 – Vehicles and Traffic – 15             Minute Parking Meter – Establishes a third
15-minute parking meter on the east side of          North Walnut Street, closest to East Ridgewood            Avenue
3495 – Capital Ordinance – Construction of Handicapped          Ramp at Graydon Pool Parking Lot ($35,000)–          Appropriates this money for the construction of            a handicapped ramp at the Graydon Pool parking          lot. The amount appropriated will be paid back            through a Community Development Block Grant.
3496 – Amend Chapter 249 – Streets and Sidewalks –          Barricades –Establishes the use of Village           barricades in residential areas as well as in           the Central Business District for various events
3497 – Amend Chapter 145 – Fees – Establish Deposit         Fees for Use of Barricades – Establishes a              deposit fee of $125 for the use of barricades in   residential areas and $500 as a one-time fee for     the use of Village barricades by groups,              churches, and non-profits. This deposit will be            returned as long as the barricades are returned        and are not damaged. If the barricades are not             returned or are damaged, the deposit will pay             for the replacement or repair of the barricades.
3498 – Establish Policy for Maintenance of Tree Wells –     Establishes a policy whereby the owner of a           property is responsible for the maintenance of            the interior of the tree wells located in/on the        sidewalk by weeding, removing debris and             maintaining the overall clean appearance of the          tree wells
3499 – Amend Chapter 265 – Vehicles and Traffic –                U-Turn Prohibition and Parking Restrictions at           Willard School –Establishes no U-Turns on               portions of Morningside Road and California           Street; no parking on portions of Morningside              Road and no stopping or standing areas on                 portions of Morningside Road in the area of           Willard School

15.  ORDINANCES – PUBLIC HEARING

3485 – Prohibit U-Turns in Various Locations in Central     Business District
3486 – Amend Chapter 265 – Vehicles and Traffic –               Establish Stop Signs at Westbrook Road and             Norgate Drive
3487 – Amend Chapter 265 – Additional Valet Parking         Loading Zone – Chestnut Street
3488 – Lease of 1057 Hillcrest Road

16.  RESOLUTIONS

THE FOLLOWING RESOLUTIONS, NUMBERED 15-228 THROUGH
15-256 ARE TO BE ADOPTED BY A CONSENT AGENDA, WITH ONE VOTE BY THE VILLAGE COUNCIL.  THERE IS A BRIEF DESCRIPTION BESIDE EACH RESOLUTION TO BE CONSIDERED ON THE CONSENT AGENDA. EACH RESOLUTION WILL BE READ BY TITLE ONLY:

15-228    Title 59 Approval – Snowplowing Services –           Approves the plans and specifications for               Snowplowing Services (November 1, 2015                 through May 1, 2016, inclusive) in the                    Village of Ridgewood, prepared by the                Engineering Division, pursuant to Title 59
15-229    Award Contract – Snowplowing Services –                  Awards a contract to the lowest responsible            bidder, ConQuest Construction, 20 Carver               Avenue, Westwood, NJ
15-230    Award Contract – Snow Removal – Sidewalk and              Deck      Clearing Services – Awards a contract to        the lowest responsible bidder, Downes Tree               Service, Inc., 65 Royal Avenue, Hawthorne, NJ
15-231    Award Contract – Printing Services ($50,000)              –Awards a contract to Ridgewood Press, 609            Franklin Turnpike, Ridgewood, NJ. This is            necessary due to payments exceeding $17,500            with this vendor during the 2015 calendar            year.
15-232    Award Contract – Emergency Repairs of Graydon        Pool      Well (NTE $15,118.75) – Awards an                    emergency contract to Rinbrand Well Drilling              Co., Inc., 14 Waldron Avenue, Glen Rock, NJ
15-233    Award Professional Services Contract –                    Consulting Engineering Services – Ridgewood               Water (NTE $147,300) – Awards a no-bid                professional services contract to Arcadis              U.S., Inc., 17-17 Route 208 North, Fair Lawn,        NJ.  The required Pay to Play forms have been        filed.
15-234    Award Professional Services Contract –                    Emergency     Laboratory Services – Water                Department (NTE $33,865) – Awards a no-bid            professional services contract to Agra                 Environmental Laboratory Services, 90½ West               Blackwell Street, Dover, NJ.  The required           Pay to Play forms have been filed.
15-235    Award Professional Services Contract – Lead               and Copper and Water Quality Parameter                   Testing &      Compliance Services – Ridgewood            Water (NTE $68,100) – Awards a no-bid                   professional services contract to Agra                    Environmental Laboratory Services, 90½ West               Blackwell Street, Dover, NJ.  The required           Pay to Play forms have been filed.
15-236    Award Professional Services Contract –                    Groundwater Under the Direct Influence of            Surface Water – Ridgewood Water (NTE $88,250)         – Awards a no-bid professional services                contract to Leggette, Brashears & Graham,            Inc., 600 East Crescent Avenue, Upper Saddle              River, NJ.  The required Pay to Play forms             have been filed.
15-237    Title 59 Approval – Siding Repairs to Traffic        and Signal Building – Approves the plans and               specifications for Siding Repairs to the               Traffic and Signal Building, 561 Prospect           Street, Glen Rock, NJ prepared by the                Engineering Division, pursuant to Title 59
15-238    Award Partial Contract – Siding Repairs to           Traffic and Signal Building (NTE $33,478.22)           – Awards a partial contract to the lowest              responsible bidder, Stone Creek, Inc., 10            First Street, Lodi, NJ
15-239    Award Professional Services Contract –                    Maintenance Agreement for SCADA System and           Software Support (NTE $15,625) – Water                 Pollution Control Facility –Awards a                  professional services contract to Keystone           Engineering Group, 590 Lancaster Avenue,             Suite 200, Frazer, PA
15-240    Award Contract Under State Contract – Ford
F-150 Pick-up Truck – Parking Utility (NTE           $29,335) – Awards a contract under State              contract to Winner Ford, 250 Berlin Road,            Cherry Hill, NJ
15-241    Award Contract Under State Contract –                Snowplows (NTE $9800) – Awards a contract            under State contract to Van Dine Motors,
135 Railroad Avenue, Hackensack, NJ
15-242    Award Contract Under State Contract –                Bulletproof Vests (NTE $22,800) – Awards a             contract under State contract to Lawmen                    Police Supply – New Jersey, 7115 Airport             Highway, Pennsauken, NJ
15-243    Authorize Change Order – Emergency Service           Repair to Water Pollution Control Facility           SCADA System (NTE $3,824.58) – Authorizes a            change order to Keystone Engineering Group,               590 Lancaster Avenue, Suite 200, Frazer, PA.         This change order is necessary for the labor           effort related to troubleshooting the                   existing Thickener Feed Pump #1 and Wet Well           Pump #3 controls in the WPCF’s SCADA system.
15-244    Rescind Change Order – Benjamin Franklin             Middle School Drop-Off – Rescinds the change           order awarded to J.A. Alexander, Inc., by               Resolution #15-216 on July 15, 2015, due to             the fact that the award was erroneously made,        based on a different contractor’s prices
15-245    Authorize Change Order – Benjamin Franklin           Middle School Drop-Off (NTE $89,000) –                 Authorizes a change order to Rockborn                  Trucking and Excavation, Inc., 12 Taylor             Road, Wharton, NJ.  This change order is             necessary in order to create a drop-off at              the Benjamin Franklin Middle School.
15-246    Authorize Change Order and Approve Agreement              with Washington Township – Paving – Hampshire        Road and Standish Road –Authorizes a change               order to Rockborn Trucking and Excavation,             Inc., 12 Taylor Road, Wharton, NJ.  The                   change order will allow the Village’s                contract to be amended to allow for paving             both the Ridgewood and Washington Township               sides of Hampshire Road and Standish Road.              It is agreed that Washington Township will           pay an amount not to exceed $118,000 for             this change order.
15-247    Approve Shared Services Agreement – Fuel             (Ridgewood Board of Education) – Approves a           Shared Services agreement with the Ridgewood           Board of Education for the remainder of 2015              and the full calendar year of 2016 to provide        designated vehicle fueling to designated              Board of Education vehicles
15-248    Approve Membership in Middlesex Regional             Educational Services Commission Cooperative            Purchasing Program – Approves the Village’s           membership in the Middlesex Regional                 Educational Services Commission Cooperative               Purchasing Program and authorizes the Village         Manager to enter into an agreement with the           Lead Agency for said Cooperative Purchasing               Program
15-249    Establish Green Business Recognition Program              –Establishes a Green Business Program which           will be administered by the Village of                 Ridgewood Green Team and will recognize                    businesses in the Village that practice and               promote sustainable practices
15-250    Approve Renewal of Liquor License – M & C            Drugs, Inc., t/a Harding Pharmacy – Approves            the annual renewal of the liquor license held          by M & C Drugs, Inc., t/a Harding Pharmacy
15-251    Approve Annual Renewal of Liquor Licenses –              Approves the annual renewal of liquor                licenses for Ridgewood Lodge No. 1455 BPOE,             and the Upper Ridgewood Tennis Club
15-252    Approve Person to Person Liquor License                   Transfer – M & C Drugs, Inc. t/a Harding             Pharmacy to Maple Avenue Liquors, LLC –                 Approves the person to person transfer of the         liquor license held by M & C Drugs, Inc., t/a        Harding Pharmacy to Maple Avenue Liquors,            LLC.  The new owner of the liquor license           will retain it in pocket status, with no            licensed premise, until such time that a             suitable location is found to site the                    license.
15-253    Authorize Execution of Settlement Agreement               with NJDEP – Authorizes the execution of the
Stipulation of Settlement and Withdrawal of               Request for a Hearing Agreement and                authorizes the settlement of the matter in           the amount of $55,000.00
15-254    Hire Professional Consultant for COAH
(NTE $2000) – Approves the payment to Dr.            Burchell as the Principal Investigator to              prepare the Burchell Fair Share                         Analysis to establish the Village of                 Ridgewood’s obligation
15-255    Award Emergency Contract – Cleaning of Water              Tanks (NTE $27,000)- Awards a contract for            emergency services to Liquid Engineering           Corporation, 7 East Airpot Road, Billings,           Montana to achieve compliance with the USEPA              and NJDEP regulations
15-256    Award Contract – Leasing and Maintenance of               Police Vehicles (NTE $30,000) – Awards the             second year of a three-year contract to                  Enterprise Fleet Management, 1550 Route 23            North, Suite 101, Wayne, NJ

THE FOLLOWING RESOLUTIONS, NUMBERED 15-257 THROUGH
15-259, WILL BE CONSIDERED SEPARATELY AND READ IN FULL:

15-257    Acceptance of Open Space Committee                        Recommendations Concerning the Schedler                   Property
15-258    Apply for Grant – Schedler House
15-259    Award Contract – Financial Feasibility Study             for Hudson Street Parking Lot

17.  Comments from the Public (Not to Exceed 5 minutes    per person)

18.  Resolution to go into Closed Session

19.  Closed Session

20.  Adjournment

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A serious accident waiting to happen?

crosswalk planters

August 12,2015

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, We love the flowers but are the planters & large blooming plants stationed at corners on East Ridgewood Avenue in the Central Business District making it difficult for small pedestrians – children – approaching crosswalks to see approaching car,s and/or making it difficult for approaching cars to see them?

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Village Uses “Kardashian Tactic” to Distract Voters from Illegal Dumping

VillageHall_floods_theridgewoodblog

file photo by Boyd Loving

What Colors Are This Dress? Kim Kardashian, Miley Cyrus, Justin Bieber And A Bajillion Other Celebs Weigh In

by gaby wilson 2/27/2015

In the last 24 hours, a dress divided the world as we know it. Do you see white and gold? Or black and blue? Lines have been drawn. Where do you fall? And do Kim Kardashian, Kanye West,Taylor Swift, Miley Cyrus, Justin Bieber, and a bajillion other celebs who were also tormented by #TheDress agree with you? Read on to find out!

https://www.mtv.com/news/2091624/dress-blue-black-white-gold-kim-kardashian-miley-cyrus-justin-bieber/

Sides mixed on Ridgewood restaurant’s exterior paint color
AUGUST 10, 2015    LAST UPDATED: MONDAY, AUGUST 10, 2015, 11:26 AM
BY MATTHEW SCHNEIDER
STAFF WRITER |
THE RIDGEWOOD NEWS

The Ridgewood Planning Board’s meeting last Tuesday included a long discussion on a shade of paint at Tito’s Burritos restaurant.

The painting was done, without the town’s permission, accidentally, according to David Rutherford, attorney for Tito’s co-owner Mike Caldarella.

The co-owner of Tito’s had just finished overseeing the painting of a restaurant in another town, and decided to use the leftover paint in Ridgewood, not knowing he was violating any rules, according to Caldarella.

“The painter finished early, and my business partner sent him to Ridgewood, unbeknownst to myself, thinking he was doing something really good,” said Caldarella.

“Our biggest mistake was not going immediately to the village and saying, ‘This is what we did, how can we put it right?'” Caldarella said. “Instead, we decided that we should wait it out and see what happens.”

Mayor Paul Aronsohn, a member of the Planning Board, said it is “unfortunate that approvals were not sought and obtained prior to the work being done. As the applicant’s lawyer acknowledged, that was the wrong approach.”

https://www.northjersey.com/news/business/sides-mixed-on-paint-color-s-impact-1.1389902

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Has the Mayor Aronsohn Delivered on his Promise to make government more responsive?

Paul_Aronsohn_theridgewood blog
file photo by Boyd Loving
Augusr 11,2015
the staff of the Ridgewood blogRidgewood Nj , To quote Mayor Aronsohn , “Across the board, people just feel that our government should be more responsive,” Aronsohn said. “That responsiveness should come in the form of more fiscal responsibility, in the form of budgeting differently, in the form of better response to cleanup. And then it comes in the form of the daily stuff, not getting emails returned, not getting phone calls returned. We need to change that. We will change that.“The voters wanted new ideas and new commitment to do government right. That’s what the three of us will deliver,” he said.

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Reader says structural investigation clearly reaffirms the structural integrity of the Historic Zabriskie-Schedler House

Freeholder_Zabriskie_Schedler_House_theridgewoodblog

file photo then Freehold John Mitch visiting the property with Village representatives 

The Historic Zabriskie-Schedler House is not “a crumbling 200-year-old house”, in fact, the information could not be more inaccurate. There is a structural investigation I would love to give the Record that clearly reaffirms the structural integrity of the 1820’s historic house. We can always find space for a 90′ multi-purpose field in a much better location but the destruction of an Historic house is a final death sentence for the Village and for history.. The Zabriskie-Schedler House has already been included in the Village of Ridgewood Master Plan, under “Historic Preservation Plan Element” the Village’s list of historic sites under the following criteria:
A. Important to the general development of the area and the unique cultural heritage of the community.
B. Significant example of an architectural style or period.
C. Representative example of vernacular architecture of the area.
This information has recently been reaffirmed during the re-examination of the Master Plan.
Funds are needed urgently to stabilize the Historic Zabriskie-Schedler House. Last year, The Ridgewood Historic Commission echoed the concerns of many village residents and submitted a request for a “Certificate of Eligibility”. This request was granted and on May 2, 2014 by the Department of Environmental Protection, Natural and Historic Resources, Historic Preservation Office, Trenton. The letter states, among other historic attributes, that “the Zabriskie-Schedler House is individually eligible for listing in New Jersey and in the National Register of Historic Places under Criterion C as an example of third period Jersey Dutch framed houses.

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FLASH FLOOD WATCH IN EFFECT FROM LATE TONIGHT THROUGH TUESDAY AFTERNOON

mayor _in_flood -theridgewoodblog

file photo by Boyd Loving

FLOOD WATCH
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NEW YORK NY
1256 PM EDT MON AUG 10 2015

…HEAVY RAIN ON TUESDAY COULD CAUSE URBAN FLOODING…

…FLASH FLOOD WATCH IN EFFECT FROM LATE TONIGHT THROUGH TUESDAY
AFTERNOON…

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN UPTON HAS ISSUED A

* FLASH FLOOD WATCH FOR PORTIONS OF SOUTHERN CONNECTICUT…
NORTHEAST NEW JERSEY AND SOUTHEAST NEW YORK…INCLUDING THE
FOLLOWING IN SOUTHERN …CONNECTICUT…SOUTHERN FAIRFIELD. IN
NORTHEAST NEW JERSEY…EASTERN BERGEN…EASTERN ESSEX…
EASTERN PASSAIC…EASTERN UNION…HUDSON…WESTERN BERGEN…
WESTERN ESSEX…WESTERN PASSAIC AND WESTERN UNION. IN
SOUTHEAST NEW YORK…BRONX…KINGS (BROOKLYN)…NEW YORK
(MANHATTAN)…NORTHERN NASSAU…NORTHERN QUEENS…RICHMOND
(STATEN ISLAND)…SOUTHERN NASSAU…SOUTHERN QUEENS AND
SOUTHERN WESTCHESTER.

* FROM LATE TONIGHT THROUGH TUESDAY AFTERNOON

* SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WITH A WARM FRONTAL PASSAGE COULD
PRODUCE HEAVY RAIN HEAVY RAIN CAPABLE OF CAUSING URBAN FLASH
FLOODING IN THE NEW YORK CITY METROPOLITAN AREA.

* RAINFALL OF 1 TO 2 INCHES…WITH LOCAL AMOUNTS AS HIGH AS 3
INCHES AND HOURLY RAINFALL RATES OF UP TO 2 INCHES PER
HOUR…ARE EXPECTED. WHILE THE HEAVIEST RAIN IS NOT EXPECTED TO
BE WIDESPREAD…URBAN AREAS THAT RECEIVE THE HEAVIEST AMOUNTS
COULD EXPERIENCE DISRUPTIVE IMPACTS.

* DESPITE DRY CONDITIONS…SOME FAST-RESPONDING SMALL STREAMS IN
NORTHEAST NEW JERSEY COULD APPROACH BANK FULL IF DIRECTLY
IMPACTED. LARGER STREAMS AND MAIN STEM RIVERS SHOULD NOT
EXPERIENCE FLOODING.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…

A FLASH FLOOD WATCH MEANS THAT CONDITIONS MAY DEVELOP THAT LEAD
TO FLASH FLOODING. FLASH FLOODING IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION.
YOU SHOULD MONITOR LATER FORECASTS AND BE PREPARED TO TAKE ACTION SHOULD FLASH FLOOD WARNINGS BE ISSUED.

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Ridgewood to review 200-year-old house

zabriskieschedler_theridgewoodblog

AUGUST 9, 2015    LAST UPDATED: SUNDAY, AUGUST 9, 2015, 9:50 AM
BY CHRIS HARRIS
STAFF WRITER |
THE RECORD

RIDGEWOOD – The future of the village-owned Schedler property – a crumbling 200-year-old house on seven wooded acres abutting Route 17 – was suddenly back on the council’s agenda last week because of an impending deadline.

Village Manager Roberta Sonenfeld said time was running out to apply for a matching grant from the Bergen County Historic Trust Fund that would be used to stabilize the building.

In 2009, Ridgewood purchased the thickly wooded property, believed to have been the site of a Revolutionary War encampment or battle, with $2.7 million in open space grant money specified for active recreation. The move preempted any commercial development of the site.

Resident Isabella Altano – representing Ridgewood Eastside Development, a grass-roots citizens group – pleaded with the council Wednesday night to meet the grant’s deadline next month.

The house, which was occupied by Florence Schedler until she died in 2007 at age 104, “is in dire need of help,” Altano said. She said the “roof is falling and mold is present.”

Altano said an anonymous donor had placed $45,000 in an escrow account, earmarking the funds for the structure, but village officials said the fact that the source of the money is unknown is an issue.

https://www.northjersey.com/news/ridgewood-to-review-200-year-old-house-1.1389542

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Meet the Village Manager Roberta Sonenfeld

Village_Manager_Roberta_Sonenfeld_theridgewoodblog

photo by Boyd Loving

Meet the Manager – Thursday, August 13 4:30 – 7:30PM

Village Manager Roberta Sonenfeld will hold office hours for Ridgewood residents and business owners on Thursday, August 13 between the hours of 4:30 to 7:30PM. This is an opportunity to share your thoughts and provide input to Roberta. These sessions will be scheduled at 15 minute intervals and will be held in the Court Room – on the Fourth Level of Ridgewood Village Hall. Please contact Beth Spinato at 201-670-5500, ext. 203 to make an appointment. Walk-ins are welcome but should realize that the schedule may already be booked. We will announce the schedule for these meetings on a monthly basis.

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Will excavator soon be demolishing Historic Schedler House?

house demo sm_full

August 6,2015

ths staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, With the expected Village Council “majority” approval of a resolution endorsing an Open Space Committee plan to build a 90 foot baseball field, including a concession stand, on the Schedler property, and demolish the existing historic house to facilitate same, this taxpayer predicts that Village Engineer Christopher Rutishauser will soon be ordering a demolition excavator to accomplish the dirty task.
I wonder if the police department will be ordered to completely close off West Saddle River Road so no one can get photos or videos of the destruction in progress?  What time of day do you think they’ll start the engines?  Under the cover of darkness maybe?
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Ridgewood Water – Stage II Restrictions

RidgewoodWaterLogo_061912_rn_tif_

Dear Ridgewood Water Customers:

The hot weather and limited rainfall has led to a big increase in water use for irrigating. At the same time, the rainfall and groundwater status as monitored by NJDEP has recently been downgraded from “near normal” to “moderately dry.” Stage I restrictions have not moderated the water demand enough to maintain reserves for firefighting and other emergencies, so Ridgewood Water is implementing Stage II restrictions. Stage II limits the use of water for irrigation to two days per week. If your street address is an odd number, you may irrigate on Tuesdays and Saturdays only. If your street address is an even number, you may irrigate on Wednesdays and Sundays only. A hand held hose may be used at any time. No irrigation is allowed on Mondays, Thursdays, or Fridays except for a hand held hose.

We appreciate your cooperation in conserving this vital, shared resource.

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Pedestrian Hit on East Ridgewood Ave in Ridgewood

Pedestrian hit east ridgewood ave

photo courtesy of Boyd Loving’s Facebook

August 7th 2015

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood Nj, Ridgewood police, fire and EMS personnel at the scene of a Friday morning, 08/07, accident involving a pedestrian and motor vehicle. The incident occurred at the intersection of East Ridgewood Avenue and North Irving Street shortly after 7:30 AM.

The pedestrian sustained very minor injuries and refused transport to a hospital. Police issued a summons to the driver for failing to yield to a pedestrian in a crosswalk.

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Volunteer Charlotte Samuels teaches young swimmers from Camp YDP in Paterson how to Swim

Citizens For Swimming program

Swimming just part of the lesson for Ridgewood program

AUGUST 7, 2015    LAST UPDATED: FRIDAY, AUGUST 7, 2015, 12:31 AM
BY MATTHEW SCHNEIDER
STAFF WRITER |
THE RIDGEWOOD NEWS

A group of inner-city children filed off big yellow school buses on Tuesday, excited for the day of swimming and fun that awaited them.

They came from Paterson, where accessible bodies of water are not very abundant, to idyllic Ridgewood and Graydon Pool as part of the Citizens For Swimming program.

Founded in 1968, Citizens For Swimming is a charitable initiative that brings about 75 kids out of the urban landscape and into suburbia, in order to give them nine days of fun and to teach them how to swim.

“I work in public health, so I know that learning to swim is really important for kids,” said Dawn Walter, who runs the program. “They’ll be in situations throughout their lives where, even if they don’t know how to swim, learning a little water safety can save their lives.

“Many of the kids move up several swim levels during their nine days of lessons,” she said. “We feel that teaching the kids to swim can help keep them safe for a lifetime.”

This seemed to be a theme among the volunteers, as two others expressed their desire to teach the kids how to swim out of concern for their long-term safety.

https://www.northjersey.com/community-news/clubs-and-service-organizations/learning-to-swim-is-just-part-of-lesson-1.1388282

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Ridgewood council plans two votes on Schedler property

zabriskieschedler_theridgewoodblog

AUGUST 7, 2015    LAST UPDATED: FRIDAY, AUGUST 7, 2015, 12:31 AM
BY DARIUS AMOS
STAFF WRITER |
THE RIDGEWOOD NEWS

A looming grant deadline has stirred the mostly dormant discussion on the future of the Schedler property, specifically the east side estate’s historic, 200-year-old house, and an upcoming vote might determine how the conversation moves forward.

The Ridgewood Council is expected to vote next week on two resolutions directly related to the 7-acre, wooded tract of land and home.

The first resolution calls for the governing body to endorse the Ridgewood Open Space Committee’s 2010 recommendation to consider the property for “passive and active recreational development.” The committee’s recommendation has already been supported by several Ridgewood civic organizations.

A second resolution, as discussed at this week’s council work session, would permit Ridgewood to apply for a Bergen County Historic Trust Fund matching grant. The grant would be used to stabilize the Schedler house, which has fallen into disrepair following years of weathering and neglect.

“The house is in dire need of help. The roof is failing, and mold is present inside the house,” said Isabella Altano, a member of residents’ group Ridgewood Eastside Development (RED). The grassroots organization has been petitioning for the preservation of the historic home for several years.

This week, she appealed to the council for its support of the grant application and detailed the group’s work thus far. According to Altano, the residents have opened an escrow account at a local bank and already secured $45,000 or “50 percent of the $90,000 needed to stabilize the house” under the name “Friends of the Historic Zabriskie-Schedler House.”

The $45,000, she said, has been procured through an anonymous donation.

“Once the application is submitted by the village and approved by the county, [the group] will organize a 501(c)(3) in order to receive tax-deductible donations,” Altano said.

The county has established a Sept. 3 deadline for grant application submission.

https://www.northjersey.com/news/council-planstwo-votes-as-deadline-looms-1.1388223

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Ridgewood Water Announces Stage II Water restrictions

drip

E – Notice – Water Restrictions – Stage ll – August 6th

Dear Resident,

The hot weather and limited rainfall has led to a big increase in water use for irrigating. The Stage I restrictions that we have had in place have not moderated the demand enough to maintain reserves for firefighting and other emergencies so we need to immediately implement Stage II restrictions which limits the use of water for irrigation to two days per week. If your street address is an odd number, you may irrigate on Tuesdays and Saturdays only. If your address is an even number, you may irrigate on Wednesdays and Sundays only. Hand held hoses may be used at any time.

We appreciate your cooperation. I know that we have communicated several times about enforcement and compliance and we have stepped up our monitoring in this area. In order for us to address this issue, we must do so together – I think we would all want to avoid going to Stage III restrictions and we can go a long way in that goal by abiding by these conservation measures.

As usual, please let me know if you have any questions or comments.

Best,

Roberta Sonenfeld
Village Manager
201-670-5500, ext. 203
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Ridgewood False Alarms Endanger Lives

Ridgewood_Police_theridgewoodblog
file photo by Boyd Loving
August 6,2015
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, Ridgewood Police report that on Thursday July 30, 2015 a North West Central Bergen Dispatch received a box alarm of fire from the area of Lenox and Ackerman Avenues. Responding officers were unable to locate a fire and the actor who had pulled the alarm had left the scene. A short time later when North West Bergen Central Dispatch received a second alarm in the area of Melrose Place and Godwin Avenue.
Patrolman Jeffrey Kay observed a male actor running from the area. Nycheem P. Gatling (20) of Paterson was subsequently arrested and charged with two counts of 2C:33-3a, causing a false public alarm. Mr. Gatling was released pending a first appearance before the Ridgewood Municipal Court.