SEPTEMBER 10, 2015, 7:09 PM LAST UPDATED: THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2015, 7:10 PM
BY CHRIS HARRIS
STAFF WRITER |
THE RECORD
RIDGEWOOD — A swastika was found on a stop sign in the village earlier this week, sparking an investigation by detectives.
Ridgewood police said vandals used gold spray paint to mark up the sign, at the corner of Northern Parkway and Colonial Road.
While a sacred, auspicious symbol in Hinduism and Buddhism, the swastika has become associated with hate and prejudice since being used by Germany’s Nazi Party in the 1930s.
A police spokesperson did not comment on whether the event was being handled as a “bias incident.”
This is the second swastika to catch the attention of the Ridgewood police within the last month.
SEPTEMBER 11, 2015 LAST UPDATED: FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 2015, 12:31 AM
BY MATTHEW SCHNEIDER
STAFF WRITER |
THE RIDGEWOOD NEWS
Ridgewood resident John Katzianer will receive the Volunteer of the Year award from Project Literacy of Greater Bergen County at a presentation scheduled for Sept. 17.
“It feels great,” Katzianer said about being chosen for the award, adding that working for the organization is “absolutely rewarding.”
Project Literacy, which teaches adults valuable learning skills, is run by volunteer tutors. Each year, awards are given to those who go above and beyond, and this is Katzianer’s year.
“The awards ceremony recognizes outstanding accomplishments in the field of adult literacy and honors individuals, companies and organizations for their dedication in providing the gift of literacy to adults who confront life in Bergen County without the skills to effectively communicate,” the organization said.
“This is the 27th year the award has been given to a volunteer tutor who has excelled in bringing the light of literacy into the darkness of illiteracy for an adult by working one-to-one with students who have basic educational needs,” said Christopher Stout, executive director of Project Literacy.
Katzianer, a 26-year veteran of Verizon, “is a seasoned math teacher and has been volunteering his skills to provide one-to-one tutoring at Project Literacy since 2012,” the organization said.
SEPTEMBER 9, 2015, 7:17 PM LAST UPDATED: WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2015, 7:19 PM
BY CHRIS HARRIS
STAFF WRITER |
THE RECORD
RIDGEWOOD — Efforts to conserve water supplies are paying off, thanks to last week’s imposition of stringent irrigation restrictions and strict enforcement of those limits, village officials say.
Ridgewood’s village manager, Roberta Sonenfeld, said Wednesday that the measures — including having firefighters cut off water service to 15 homes this past weekend — have been working.
On Saturday, use dipped by 1 million gallons systemwide from the August daily average, Sonenfeld said. On Sunday and Tuesday, water usage was down by 2 million gallons. It dropped by nearly 3 million gallons on Labor Day, the village manager said.
SEPTEMBER 9, 2015 LAST UPDATED: WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2015, 10:59 AM
BY MARK KRULISH
STAFF WRITER |
THE RIDGEWOOD NEWS
The Community Center Advisory Board is set to undertake a large-scale survey of the needs of the village’s oldest residents in an effort to better meet the needs of the senior citizens it serves.
A subcommittee of the Community Center Advisory Board, known as the Survey Committee, will be heading up the initiative, which the group says is needed due to the increasing world population of citizens 60 and over. Among its various duties, the board oversees many aspects of the senior center on the first floor of Village Hall, including the events held there.
In presenting the idea to the Village Council last month, Beth Abbott, the chairperson of the Survey Committee, said the board is charged with serving both the current and future users of the center, therefore learning more about Ridgewood’s population of older residents would allow it to provide better services and programs.
“We feel we would be remiss if we did not learn more about this portion of our community,” Abbott said. “Thus, we would like to conduct this needs assessment.”
The plan is for the group to take the survey to various focus groups to ensure it is user-friendly to its participants and the content is acceptable. Abbott noted two-thirds of the Survey Committee itself is age 55 or over, but the board still reached out to groups that study aging, such as the Taub Foundation of Bergen County and researchers at Rutgers University and Montclair State University.
Once the survey is ready to go, it will be circulated online via the online development company Survey Monkey and at various village organization meetings, in churches, the library and at the Oct. 4 Wellness Fair.
Councilwoman Gwenn Hauck, the liaison to the Community Center Advisory Board, said the survey would be conducted between October and December, with a final report coming the following spring.
2. Statement of Compliance with the Open Public Meeting Act
Mayor: “Adequate notice of this meeting has been provided by a posting on the bulletin board in Village Hall, by mail to the Ridgewood News, The Record, and by submission to all persons entitled to same as provided by law of a schedule including the date and time of this meeting.”
3. Roll Call
4. RESOLUTIONS
15-261 Renewal of Liquor License
15-262 RBSA Donation to Improve Citizens Park Lower Field
15- 263 Endorse BC Municipal Grant for the Schedler Field
15-264 Endorse BC Historic Grant for Schedler House
5. Adjournment
09/09/157:30PMVillage Council Special Public Meeting
09/09/157:30PMVillage Council Public Work Session
09/15/157:30PMPlanning Board Public Meeting
09/16/158:00PMVillage Council Public Meeting
09/22/157:30PMBoard of Adjustment Public Work Session
09/29/157:30PMBoard of Adjustment Public Meeting
09/30/157:30PMVillage Council Public Work Session
What I find interesting is the ability for the public to fall into a dictated compliance without question. Every year we hear there is a water shortage, every year we hear we need to increase system capacity, every year we hear about lack of compliance.
Do we consider that some of the homes using the water have invested in new landscaping or lawns and may need to water them? How quickly would the town begin to look rundown without a flower in sight? Have we calculated the use of the new apartments and added system capacity or backups to address? Have we added any collection and storage to the system, we had a good amount of snow this past winter, did we store it? Are there any short or long term plans to address this issue other them having neighbors running around looking for the police to ‘rat’ out an neighbor? Seems that if that feels good to anyone, we have a much more serious issue in our neighborhoods
Message from the Village Manager Regarding Stage 4 Enforcement
I have received questions and concerns from several residents regarding the enforcement of Stage 4 restriction. There are ordinances that authorize specific staff in the Village to have the ability to enforce…..I think I mentioned in my E-Notice on Friday that based on Stage 4 and its seriousness, I authorized more staff members to have this capacity. I am hoping that the enhanced enforcement that we had this weekend and the coming days will be more effective than during Stage 2 restrictions. The only way a summons can be written is if the person sees the watering – unfortunately wetness around the area and having a green lawn do not cut it for writing a summons….so we have to be there at the right time. We now have a person dedicated to identifying violators between 4AM through 7AM – a time period that I do not think we were covering adequately…… we also have the RPD out around this time. Our Fire Department was making rounds over the weekend and actually shutting off the water in homes where automated sprinklers were in use if no one was home to shut the water off themselves. The Fire Department will also begin to issue summonses.
It is a bit early to share this news but it does seem to appear that the restrictions are having some impact. On average in August we used 10.2 million gallons per day….yesterday we used 7.2 million. Board of Ed properties as well as Village properties are all in compliance with the restrictions.
From a communications perspective, our first robo call early Friday afternoon was sent to 20,000 phones with 11,000 actually getting it…..we then did a second call in the evening. We do need to extend that list and the team is working on this. Our e-notice went out to about 4,000 email addresses – we have been emphasizing sign up. We also have posted the restrictions on the Village Facebook site, both Village websites (Ridgewood and Ridgewood Water) as well as both tv channels – but these are pull not push means of communicating. We also have posted the restrictions on the movable electronic sign on the west side. I am mentioning this because I think that there is no excuse for anyone not knowing that we are in Stage 4.
Best regards,
Roberta Sonenfeld
Village Manager
201-670-5500, ext. 203
With elegant architecture and high-end restaurants all within walking distance, Ridgewood is both urbane and sophisticated.
By Mary Ann Castronovo Fusco | September 1, 2015
Young parents pushing strollers share the broad sidewalks with friends schmoozing at an outdoor café. Teens hunt for bargains, while grandparents treat their charges to a matinee at the Bow Tie Cinemas Warner Quad or a fresh-made waffle cone at Kilwins. Nearby, Memorial Park at Van Neste Square is an oasis of calm. Welcome to downtown Ridgewood.
“I love how walkable it is, and that everything is in one small area,” says children’s book author Ann Malaspina. “I can go to the post office and mail a package, get a coffee at Ridgewood Coffee Company, meet a friend for lunch—all while having my car serviced.” And the town is “family friendly,” adds Malaspina, who raised her two sons in Ridgewood.
East Ridgewood Avenue is the main artery, ending at the sprawling California Mission Revival-style train station, which dates to 1916 and is listed on the national and state Register of Historic Places. Over the past year, elegant way-finding signs—a joint effort by the Village and the local Chamber of Commerce—have sprouted on downtown corners, pointing visitors toward the many shops and restaurants on the side streets. More will come.
“I look at downtown as a destination,” says Village Manager Roberta Sonenfeld, a 19-year resident. “We have lots of people coming from different directions. It’s a small town feel that is also urbane and sophisticated.”
Ridgewood
September 8,2015
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, Recent events once again point to critical weakness in the water supply of the Village of Ridgewood and surrounding towns serviced by Ridgewood Water company . I cannot emphasize enough the importance of obeying these restrictions – this is a public safety issue – our firefighters need to have the necessary water and water pressure to be able to fight fires and we also need to maintain reserves for household use.
As you are aware we have ratcheted up enforcement over the last several weeks issuing over 50 summonses and hundreds of warnings. This has had some impact but unfortunately we need to take this further – so, I have taken the additional step of appointing more Village employees who will have the authority to issue summonses in order to achieve a higher rate of compliance.”Village Manager Roberta Sonenfeld
“I cannot emphasize enough the importance of obeying these restrictions – this is a public safety issue – our firefighters need to have the necessary water and water pressure to be able to fight fires and we also need to maintain reserves for household use.
As you are aware we have ratcheted up enforcement over the last several weeks issuing over 50 summonses and hundreds of warnings. This has had some impact but unfortunately we need to take this further – so, I have taken the additional step of appointing more Village employees who will have the authority to issue summonses in order to achieve a higher rate of compliance. “Roberta Sonenfeld.Village Manager
Water restrictions could be more effective if the town sent Postal Notice Flyers to all water customers, stage 2 and stage 4, or when Severely Urgent – drive around towns in evenings with loud speakers announcement, as they used to in past years. There are residents who are sincerely not even aware about Stage 4 water restrictions, only by word of mouth by good neighbors. Of course, there will always be those arrogant self entitles who will always defy rules.
* Please take note:
** Reverse Emergency Robo Calls – Not all residents get them, used to, how come? What happened?
** E- Notice – Not all residents get them or sign up.
** Website – Many residents do not refer to.
** Local News Newspaper – Many residents do not subscribe or refer to online.
** Link immediate release notice to BOE school website for more exposure.
** Mention the stiff fine of up to $1,250.00 That Stops Usage Abruptly!!
* Thanks to the Ridgewood Blog for posting – the Stage 4 News Release on Friday 9/4/15
Watercolors – Figures and Portraits – Ridgewood Recreation welcomes outstanding artist Nora Winn to provide new watercolor instruction, specific to figures and portraits, on Wednesday mornings at the Stable, 259 N. Maple Avenue. $95/6 classes. Students must bring own materials.
Acrylics with Sandi Chanoch – Individual and personalized attention helps all find their personal techniques. Tuesday afternoons at the Stable, 259 N. Maple Avenue. Students must bring own materials. $70/5 classes.
Annie’s Artisanal Cookery – International Inspired Meals Join Annie as she spices up meals with international zing. Enjoy recipe favorites from the Mediterranean, Latin America, Asia, France and Italy with a final session of “good old American desserts”. Friday afternoons at the Stable, 259 N. Maple Avenue. $120/6 sessions, all ingredients provided.
Pickleball- Enjoy beginner instruction of this newest popular racquet game at a free clinic Sunday, September 20th. Afterwards, join Ridgewood Recreation for adult instruction on Friday mornings. $30/6 weeks. Held at the Glen Courts, 865 E. Glen Avenue.
Tennis – Adult offerings with All Pro Tennis are on Fridays (beginning September 4th). Morning sessions are 9:30 to 10:30 am or 10:30 to 11:30 am. $115/6 weeks at Bellair Tennis Courts. Seniors (62 and over) can enjoy reduced registration fees, $60/6 weeks – 10:30 to 11:30 am, also at the Bellair Tennis Courts.
***Please visit the Recreation homepage at www.ridgewoodnj.net/recreation for more details and to download the registration forms for in-person/by mail signups to the Stable, 259 N. Maple Avenue, Ridgewood 07450. Online registration through Community Pass is available for programs (unless otherwise noted) at www.ridgwoodnj.net/communitypass.
Don’t hesitate to call the Recreation Office at 201-670-5560 for more information of if special accommodations are needed. Non-residents may register if space allows; an additional $10 fee will apply.
New program suggestions are always welcome! Please be sure to bookmark the Recreation homepage on your computer for easy access to updated program and special event information.
YWCA Offers Youth and Adult Synchronized Swimming! The YWCA Bergen County is offers synchronized swimming classes for ages 7 to adult at 112 Oak Street in Ridgewood. Instructor Laura Alt, certified US Synchronized Swimming coach, invites swimmers with at least Level 3 swim skills (swim the front crawl with coordination of side breathing, elementary back stroke, and tread water for 1 minute) to join in.
Synchronized swimming promotes healthy competition as an individual and as part of a team. It demands strong swimming skill, discipline and commitment on the part of its athletes. The sport develops strength, flexibility and the ability to work cooperatively within the team. Synchro students also learn to act as role models, and to support and respect those around them. The Syncho Swim Program assists young athletes to strive for excellence while enjoying swimming. Synchro swim is a performance sport (similar to ice skating or ballroom dance) which is performed in deep water. A swimmer learns basic swimming strokes, body positions, and stunts that are choreographed into routines that are performed in front of judges or an audience.
The YWCA offers two levels of youth synchronized swim classes, Synchro Stars team, and an adult synchronized swim class. For details about Synchronized Swimming, please call 201-444-5600, ext. 400. Bring a swimsuit, cap, and goggles.
Sarah Knapton, The Telegraph | September 4, 2015 2:56 PM ET
Rudyard Kipling was right. Cats really do walk by themselves, and do not need their owners to feel secure and safe, a study has shown. Although absent owners might worry that their pet is pining, in fact, cats show no sign of separation anxiety.
Researchers at the University of Lincoln have concluded that cats, unlike dogs, do not need humans to feel protected.
Before cat lovers start despairing about their aloof pets, however, animal behaviourists said they should take the finding as a compliment. If cats stay, it means they really want to be there.
Daniel Mills, Professor of Veterinary Behavioural Medicine at the University of Lincoln’s School of Life Sciences, said: “The domestic cat has recently passed the dog as the most popular companion animal in Europe.
“Previous research has suggested that some cats show signs of separation anxiety when left alone by their owners, in the same way that dogs do, but the results of our study show that they are, in fact, much more independent than canine companions.
“It seems that what we interpret as separation anxiety might actually be signs of frustration.” To find out if cats needed their owner to feel secure, the researchers observed how 20 cats reacted when they were placed in an unfamiliar environment together with their owner, with a stranger or on their own.
The study monitored the amount of contact sought by the cat, the level of passive behaviour, and signs of distress caused by the absence of the owner.
“Although our cats were more vocal when the owner rather than the stranger left them with the other individual, we didn’t see any additional evidence to suggest that the bond between a cat and its owner is one of secure attachment,” Prof Mills said.
The Park Steakhouse Park West Tavern Golf Classic
Fri, September 25, 2015
Time: 10:30 AM – 8:00 PM
Location: New York Country Club, 103 Brick Church Road, New Hempstead, NY, 10977
Cost: $200 per person
The Park Steakhouse Park West Tavern Golf Classic
When: Friday September 25th, 2015
Where: New York Country Club
103 Brick Church Road
New Hempstead, NY, 10977
845 362-5800
Time: 10:30 a.m. – 12:00 noon
Registration, Breakfast
Practice at the Range
12 Noon – Shotgun Start
6:00 p.m. Cocktail
Reception and Awards
Entry Fees: $200.00 per Golfer
We hope you will join us for a fun day of golf at New York Country Club. The day starts with a breakfast, followed by an on the course surprise lunch prepared by both restaurants staff. Capped off with a Cocktail/Dinner reception.
Proper attire & soft spikes required
The Park Steakhouse & Park West Tavern Golf Classic Entry Form
New York Country Club
Name of Golfers:
1. _____________________________________________________ I wish to purchase the
2. _____________________________________________________ following # of $200 tickets
3. _____________________________________________________ # of Golfers_____________
4. _____________________________________________________ X $200= $____________
I/We will attend the Cocktail Reception only. @ $50 per person # of Guests__________
Please make checks payable to The Park Charities
