Ridgewood NJ, Just when I thought I’d seen it all, the latest “Ridgewood Parks and Recreation News” arrived at my home via US Mail this week, and in it I was shocked to find notice of a upcoming program entitled: LETS STAY ACQUAINTED WITH GWENN HAUCK “Community Wide Outreach of Available Senior Services.”
The Councilwoman’s name was printed in bold caps and was highlighted in yellow. The names of no other Village Council members appear anywhere within the two (2) page newsletter, nor, for that matter, do the names of any Village of Ridgewood Parks and Recreation Department employees.
“Mayor’s Office Hours For Residents”, “The Mayor’s Corner,” now “LETS STAY ACQUAINTED WITH GWENN HAUCK.” When can we expect the Deputy Mayor to announce his regular offering?
Can we just put an end to all of this self promotion, please. Next thing you know, we’ll be painting the names of Council members on municipal vehicles and hanging names off of signs to our parks just like they do in Hudson County. We’ve got to stop this ego driven madness now.
Linda Ferraro courtesy of Facebook
NOVEMBER 20, 2015 LAST UPDATED: FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 2015, 12:31 AM
BY GAIL KISLEVITZ
CORRESPONDENT |
THE RIDGEWOOD NEWS
Running can be described as the simple act of putting one foot in front of the other. But in a marathon, that simple act of moving forward for 26.2 miles takes on a whole new meaning, one with lots of perseverance and discipline. Among the finishers at the New York City Marathon on Nov. 1 were two Ridgewood women, Linda Ferraro and Dominique Hamel, who will never forget their day.
The New York City Marathon is the largest marathon in the world, with 50,000 registered runners. It starts at the foot of the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge in Staten Island and winds its way through all five boroughs of New York. Standing at the foot of that span on Marathon Sunday was Ferraro, running her first marathon at age 60, gripped with the usual fear and anxiety that every marathoner feels. Hamel was also nervous but for a different reason. A veteran of more than 50 marathons, all run under four hours, she was volunteering as an Achilles guide for a 73-year-old male cancer survivor who was predicting it would take nine hours to complete the course. She had never run that slowly or with a disabled runner as sick as he was. This was her third consecutive year as an Achilles guide and it would be her most challenging and rewarding.
Ferraro decided to tackle the marathon as a way of celebrating turning 60, and as a lifetime runner wanting to know what the experience was all about. “I have to admit it was on my bucket list, but way down, close to the bottom of the barrel,” laughs Ferraro, who had run a few half marathons. At the time she signed up for the marathon, Ferraro had nothing on the horizon and knew she could dedicate five months to the training. But then her two daughters got engaged and planned weddings three months apart, scheduled for June and September in 2015. Ferraro not only had to train for a marathon, she had to plan back-to-back weddings.
NOVEMBER 20, 2015 LAST UPDATED: FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 2015, 12:31 AM
THE RIDGEWOOD NEWS
Details on garage were ‘confusing’
To the Editor:
When the village manager and council asked residents to vote on a non-binding resolution to build a parking garage, it did not tell voters what they voted on had little bearing on reality. We were told to look at the village website for a description of the garage, financial plans, the Walker study, etc. for facts before voting. The words “draft” was on the rendering and “preliminary” on the financials, so voters really didn’t know what they were voting on, yet the ballot was specific. On the basis of the wording on the ballot, residents by a 2-1 margin voted yes. The town was very careful to use the words “non-binding,” but I doubt many understood the ramifications, that nothing on the website, in the plans, in the financials was definite. Yet we were told just the opposite.
All the money spent on the plans and financials was only for an “idea” of what was planned. All the details, the explanations, the reasoning taxpayers would not be responsible because of the very detailed financial plan, were not accurate.
Residents were told time and again to look at the website for details before they voted. There was nothing “non-binding” about that. The picture on the “Vote Yes” signs for the garage was a partial rendering of the presentation to the public. Yet in a statement made on Facebook, both the manager and a council member said the vote was just to give an “idea” and in fact there was no decision about size, cost, etc. I don’t think voters knew when they voted. If there was no decision, why spend time, money and signs for this. The goal was to gauge public opinion, but the time, the signs, the letters urging the vote, was time better spent working with neighborhoods on more urgent matters.
It appears we have a council more dedicated to public relations than to good government. This is discouraging to say the least.
Mayor Aronsohn, in his recent Ridgewood News column, excoriated the author(s) of a flyer for what he characterized as inaccurate information. On the other hand, he sent a robo-call to residents urging them to vote yes, stating he was doing this at his own expense as a private citizen. So it was all right for him to do this, albeit he wasn’t anonymous (to his credit) with inaccurate information, but it was not all right for an anonymous flyer to be sent with accurate information? “Non-binding” usually refers to the number of votes pro and con, not on votes based on inaccurate information entirely. The council has turned this on end.
This is a further example of confusing information, vague ideas stated as facts, backpedaling, decisions made without public input. This is not transparency or good government. We deserve better.
Wouldn’t it be nice if all the unsatisfied neighborhoods got together to figure out a way to make our council and manager more transparent?
Ridgewood Residents Voice Concerns over administrative increases in the expenditures at Village Hall
November 20,2015
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, residents continue to voice concern over administrative staff increases at Village hall, specifically the hiring of a full time HR manager. As many remember rightfully or wrongfully that one of the reasons, Gwenn and Albert were elected was because many were unhappy with the compensation package offered to Ken Gabbert, our former Village Manager.
But now with the addition of a full time HR manager we are spending much more money surprise ,surprise. In addition the 95K we are paying, there is also the cost of benefits. Councilman Sedon asked this question in a public meeting. He questioned whether the salary of the Village Manager would be reduced accordingly to compensate for the addition of a new position that encompases what was, previously, part of the Village Manager’s job. The response to Councilman Sedon was pretty much a reprimand for having asked this in the first place.
Its being going to look more and more like the whole “Gabbert” hulabaloo was a well staged coup to replace their guy with your guy .
NOVEMBER 20, 2015 LAST UPDATED: FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 2015, 12:31 AM
BY MARK KRULISH
STAFF WRITER |
THE RIDGEWOOD NEWS
The village’s current financial situation and the results of an independent audit were presented to the council earlier this month as part of the series of quarterly financial updates.
The report focused on areas of the budget in which the village may fall short of expected revenue as well as comments and recommendations made by auditors for the village’s annual financial report for the year ending Dec. 31, 2014.
Village Chief Financial Officer Bob Rooney said revenue for the general fund appears to be on target, although there were a couple of areas that may present budgetary issues.
One area to keep an eye on is in the Building Department, where Rooney said new construction fell short of expectations, possibly resulting in a shortfall. The village also may come up short in administrative charges for outside police services. With a low headcount in the police department, the village is not able to provide the services it normally would, Rooney said.
Rooney also provided three budgetary expenses that need continued monitoring – attorney fees, police overtime and the maintenance of fleet in the central garage.
Mayor Paul Aronsohn asked why expenses for the central garage required additional observance. Rooney responded the village has had to send its equipment out for repairs due to limited staff, and there is a higher cost of maintaining because the equipment is older.
Photos taken at 12 noon on Thursday, 11/19, 16 days post election day.
Ridgewood NJ, As per Village Code 199-122H6.: Election signs. Temporary signs for elective office shall be permitted in nonresidential zones. Such signs shall be removed no later than 10 days after the date of the election to which they pertain. In the case of a primary election, the signs of all candidates who fail to remain as candidates in the ensuing general election shall be removed no later than 10 days after the date of the primary election. Such signs may be freestanding or attached to a building wall.
Ridgewood NJ, YWCA Bergen County now offers holiday babysitting for children ages 3 to 12 years at YWCA Bergen County, 112 Oak Street, Ridgewood, NJ. Holiday Babysitting is now available with dates offered through Wednesday, December 23, 2015.
Let the YWCA Bergen County’s experienced child care staff be Santa’s Helpers during the busy season! Santa’s Helpers are here to watch your children while you get those last minute shopping, wrapping, baking, cooking and appointments done in time for the holidays. It is one less thing to stress about during the holiday season! Your children will be safe and engaged at a place they know and love. YWCA’s reliable and caring staff will help put a little sanity back into your holiday season.
For ages 3 to 5 years: Holiday Babysitting is offered from 9:00 am to 12:00 pm on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Each date of Holiday Babysitting is $30 for YWCA 360 Members ($20 for each additional sibling), $40 for YWCA Program/Swim Members ($30 for each additional sibling) and $50 for Non-Members ($40 for each additional sibling). No babysitting will be held on Friday, November 27th.
For ages 5 to 12 years: Holidays Babysitting is offered from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm on Saturdays. Each date of Holiday Babysitting is $50 for YWCA 360 Members ($40 for each additional sibling), $60 for YWCA Program/Swim Members ($50 for each additional sibling) and $70 for Non-Members ($60 for each additional sibling).
Children must be registered 48 hours prior to attendance. Registration forms are available athttps://www.ywcabergencounty.org/PLymu. For more details or to register, contact Mary at 201-444-5600 ext. 352 or [email protected].
Ridgewood NJ, The Ridgewood Poloice report that on Monday, November 10, 2015 a juvenile walking on Godwin Avenue near the Whole Foods market reported that a vehicle traveling West on Godwin Avenue on the opposite side of the street described as a turquoise blue SUV (sport utility vehicle) or Crossover slowed as it passed him. The juvenile was not positive that the operator was speaking to him when he shouted “Get in the car, get in the car” from across the street. There was no attempted physical contact by the alleged actor.
The operator of the vehicle was described as a Hispanic male in his twenties or thirties, clean shaven. Responding patrol units were unable to locate the vehicle, the operator or any witness. We would like remind parents to council their children concerning any contact made with strangers and the possible dangers involved. All incidents, even those where the intentions of the stranger are not clear, should be immediately reported to the police. Quick police notification increases the opportunity for the police to investigate the incidents effectively and determine if any actual threat might be involved. The matter is being investigated by the detective bureau.
NOVEMBER 18, 2015 LAST UPDATED: WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 2015, 10:55 AM
BY MARK KRULISH
STAFF WRITER |
THE RIDGEWOOD NEWS
Print
(This article is the first of an ongoing series examining the Schedler property and the issues surrounding it.)
If you were to take a drive up West Saddle River Road, you would see a typical quiet suburban neighborhood with homes and manicured lawns spread out on small winding streets.
However, you would also see green signs asking people to help save their neighborhood as plans loom on the distant horizon for possible development of the area near the Zabriskie-Schedler house.
The house sits on 7 acres of woodlands between West Saddle River Road and the northbound side of Route 17. Last Sunday afternoon, it was also the site of a rally attended by dozens of neighborhood residents who fear their quiet environment, property values, health and quality of life would be harmed by development.
“Our concern is our houses, our quality of life and the impact on us,” said Paul D’Arpa, a Racetrack Road resident who organized the event. “We don’t want to stop the kids from being kids and playing. But is this the right environment for everyone?”
On a recent cloudy, drizzly Tuesday afternoon, D’Arpa stood on the sidewalk on West Saddle Road. He made his way further into the woods, moving towards Route 17. A soft-spoken man, the sound of trucks, buses and cars roaring by drowned out his voice.
“How is an umpire supposed to make calls here?” he asked, referring to a proposal to build a 90-foot baseball diamond after clearing some of the trees away. D’Arpa was standing at the approximate spot for home plate.
At the moment, the concept for the baseball field is just that – a proposal presented in October during a Village Council meeting, although the issue dates back several years. The council has not taken any action in regards to the field except for a resolution endorsing a report by the Open Space Committee that recommended a 90-foot baseball diamond with multi-purpose overlay field be constructed on the Schedler property.
But building a field and possibly clearing several acres of trees could result in unacceptable noise coming from the highway along with added pollution of the heavy traffic that passes through the area. The proposal detailed in October has a six-and-a-half foot high, 17-foot wide berm with deciduous trees along the highway and another line of trees along West Saddle River Road.
However, local residents who have come forward since the latest proposal was unveiled have said this may not be enough to satisfactorily reduce the potential negative side-effects of building a park and field.
Picture from Left to Right: Bruce Calari – Lead Guitar and vocals, Mike Casey – Drums, Eugene Thomas – Lead Vocals, John Florance – Bass and vocals. Special guest on Saxaphone.
Eugene Thomas and No Big Deal
“No Big Deal” will perform at The Office, 32 Chestnut Street in Ridgewood NJ,December 4 at 9pm.
It’s been a long time since Ridgewood’s own Eugene Thomas has put on an R&B show.
Ridgewood NJ, Eugene Thomas was the Lead Singer of the “Megatones” in the 1960s, and later the group “Epitome of Sound”, who’s 1968 hit song “You Don’t Love Me” was recently featured in the movie “Northern Soul”, and is #4 in the book “Northern Soul Top 500 hits”. “No Big Deal” was formed by Mike Casey and John Florance who both grew up in Ridgewood and Bruce Calari of Oakland, show casing Eugene singing R&B and Motown hits.
*** SUBSCRIPTIONS AND CONCERT TICKETS ARE STILL AVAILABLE *** “GREAT MUSIC….CLOSE TO HOME!”
Ridgewood NJ, The Ridgewood Symphony Orchestra opens its 76th season with a concert featuring organist Greg Zelek in performances of “Toccata and Fugue in D Minor” by J.S.Bach and Symphony No. 3 in C Minor – “Organ” by Camille Saint Saens.
The concert will take place on November 20 and will also include
“Finlandia” by Jean Sibelius and “The Moldau” by Bedrich Smetana.
The concert will begin at 8:00 PM, and will take place at West Side Presbyterian Church at 6 Monroe Street in Ridgewood. Subscriptions for the entire three-concert season are available for $65 ($55 for seniors, $30 for students). Advance purchase concert tickets are $25 ($20 for seniors, $10 for students).
The Ridgewood Symphony is led by Diane Wittry, who is in her second season as RSO Artistic Director and Conductor.
For more information on programs, subscriptions, or advance ticket sales, call (201) 612-0118, or visit the RSO website at www.ridgewoodsymphony.org
Ridgewood NJ, Bookends of Ridgewood will host New York Times Bestselling Author Mary Higgins Clark
on Wed. Nov 18th @ 7:00pm .
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
Ridgewood NJ, NJCS is looking for an ensemble of about 50 young singers (or more) from grades 6 through 12 to join us in our spring performances of Carmina Burana! The New Jersey Choral Society’s Youth Festival Chorus will be singing the rarely performed Ragazzi portion of Carl Orff’s beautiful work. Rehearsals will be on Mondays from 4-5:30pm in Ridgewood with concerts in Connecticut (May), New Jersey (June), and possibly Lincoln Center (June). Auditions will be held on Monday, January 14th in Ridgewood.
This will be a unique and exciting opportunity for young choral singers to perform with North Jersey’s premiere chorus Please share this information with anyone that would be interested in joining us, and have them contact our Youth Choral Director, Noelle Dachis, at [email protected] for more information!!!
In response to concerns voiced by several residents regarding Village Council members’ adherence to provisions of the Open Public Meetings Act, the council unanimously adopted Resolution 13-87, “Village Council Meetings and Communications Protocol,” in April of 2013. This document, which was developed by the council with the very best of intentions, is a list of “dos and don’ts” for the five elected council members to follow when discussing, investigating, or preparing for deliberation of municipal business.
Item No. 4 in this list reads as follows: “Telephonic or electronic communication between or among Council members or between a Council member and a member of the public during public meetings is prohibited.” In the 2013 public work sessions at which this document was edited, the clause prohibiting contact with members of the public was specifically inserted.
At both the Oct. 22 and Nov. 5, 2014, Village Council meetings, it was revealed that some members have their telephones and/or tablets on during meetings, and receive and reply to messages from family members. Resolution 13-87.4 does not allow for any exceptions to the prohibition, and family members are certainly members of the public. Both Mayor Aronsohn and Deputy Mayor Pucciarelli have clearly indicated that they have no problem breaking this rule in order to communicate with their families. As one resident stated on Nov. 5, this does not meet the high standards they set for themselves.
Our Village Council members put in long hours conducting business for Ridgewood, so one can imagine their temptation to be in touch with family during an evening meeting. Unfortunately, when their own rule is being broken, with private communications occurring during public meetings, members of the community are left with no way of knowing whether electronic exchanges might be taking place regarding substantive matters on the council agenda. If such interactions were to take place, this would seem to contradict the principles of the Open Public Meetings Act.
It is my hope that, moving forward, the Village Council will start following this document to the letter of their own law. Having telephones and tablets turned off and out of reach during these public meetings would completely eliminate any hint of impropriety.
I am writing to share our “next steps” with respect to a proposed parking deck.
As you know, we have spent the last few months engaged in a community-wide conversation on this topic – one that has been asking and answering a series of fundamental questions: Do we need a parking deck? If so, what should it look like? How big should it be? Where should it be? How should we pay for it?
To inform this conversation and to fully involve the public, the Council did two things:
First, the Council commissioned architectural renderings and a financial analysis that – together – have not only helped answer those questions, but have also given us a good sense of the challenges and the opportunities. We have made all of the information available to the public on our website and have discussed it during several public meetings … including Council work sessions, a Planning Board meeting, a Historic Preservation Commission meeting and a handful of public forums that involved presentations by the design team and one-on-one conversations with the experts. The renderings — which have evolved to reflect input received throughout this process — have been on display at Village Hall, the train station and the library. And the Village Manager and I have even set up shop outside of Memorial Park at Van Neste to answer questions and hear people’s ideas and suggestions.
Second, the Council also decided to put a referendum question on the November 3 ballot, so that we could gauge public opinion. The result was not only a record turnout on Election Day; it was also a show of strong support for a parking deck, which received a full 65 percent of the vote. In fact, the parking deck was the big vote getter for the day … receiving more support than any of the candidates on the ballot … 3,236 votes in support!
Now, we need to move forward and decide on the size of a parking deck.
To that end, working with our design team, we have settled on three alternative designs. Each has pros and cons. Each reflects feedback received from people throughout our community. And each would cost much less than the $15 million originally discussed.
§ Option A: A parking deck with 4 floors and an open roof that could accommodate 405 cars and cost approximately $12 million. (The current rendering on the Village website.)
§ Option B: A parking deck with 3 ½ floors and an open roof that could accommodate 355 cars and cost approximately $11 million.
§ Option C: A parking deck with 3 floors and an open roof that could accommodate 306 cars and cost approximately $10.1 million.
To facilitate this decision, the design team met individually with Council members last week to go through these options, and the design team will be on hand at our next Council meeting on December 2 to do the same with residents, too. We are also making available in the Village Hall lobby renderings that show what each of the options would look like and the costs associated with them. Our plan is to make a decision by mid-December.
Your involvement throughout this process has been invaluable, and we want to hear from you … again. Please stop by the lobby. Please come to our December 2 meeting. Please let us know your preference.
And as we get closer to resolving this issue – the need for more parking – that has been discussed and debated for over 50 years, I sincerely hope that we can share in the excitement of the moment and work together to make it happen.
Thank you.
Paul
PS. Please let me know if you have questions.
Paul Aronsohn, Mayor
Village of Ridgewood
@paularonsohn
