Ridgewood NJ, This afternoon around 1 PM we were on the horse-drawn carriage, part of the Ridgewood Guild Winter Festival, which was an absolutely wonderful event. As the carriage headed west on Hudson toward Broad, lo and behold there were many empty parking spots in the Hudson Street lot. Yes, indeed, on a holiday weekend, less than a month until Christmas, one of the busiest shopping days of the year, with a big event occurring in the park, with people going out to eat because they are sick of turkey……all of that, and still plenty of spaces.
Moreover, as we headed north on Broad and looked back, we saw the beautiful spires of Mt. Carmel and United Methodist churches……these will no longer be visible, not even close to visible, if the gigantic garage is built on that corner. Food for thought.
Downtown for the Holidays-30th Anniversary
Fri, December 04, 2015
Time: 5:30 PM – 9:00 PM
Location: East Ridgewood Ave, Ridgewood NJ
30th Year Celebration !
Santa IS in Ridgewood-bring your list!
Lots of Music and entertainment !
Early Event – “for the kids”
5:30 – 6:30 – Santa in the park for the “wee tots” along with live entertainment by the “clock”, in the stores and restaurants along E. Ridgewood Ave featuring the RHS Marching Band, RHS Ridgewood Carolers, RHS Orchestra, Taekwondo All In
NEW THIS YEAR -5:30-9pm Special Feature-Holiday Express Train-bring the family and ride this fun train up and down E. Ridgewood Ave.
7-8 – “on stage live”
Live entertainment and tree lighting Celebration featuring performances by Porch Light Productions, From the Top Studio, Art of Motion, Arthur Murray Dance Studio, Santa and Much More!
8-9 “Merriment on E. Ridgewood Ave
Shh – Santa will be back in the park
Lots of music on the avenue
Restaurant reservation suggested
Specials going on during the Tree Lighting…
Femmebot has music and 10% store wide sale until 9pm on 12/4/15
Alex and Ani having in-store events-
10% off Store Wide at Femmebot
THANK YOU TO THE FOLLOWING SPONSORS
for the 30th Anniversary Celebration
Columbia Bank
Valley Health System
Van Dyk Health Care
Freedom Bank
CareOne at Ridgewood
Ridgewood News
Boiling Spring Saving Bank
PNC Wealth Management
Park West Tavern & Loft
West Bergen Mental Healthcare
ConnectOne Bank
Ulrich, Inc.
C.C. VanEmburgh Funeral Home
Pearl Restaurant
Daily Treat Restaurant
Atlantic Stewardship Bank
Bagelicious
Country Pancake House and Restaurant
Life Opportunities Unlimited
Pink Bungalow
Hillmann Lighting
Lazarus & Williamson
The Woman’s Club of Ridgewood
Christ Church
Cupcakes by Carousel
Femmebot Clothing
Beauty Plus Salon
Gold Fish Swim School
Ridgewood Public Library
West Side Nursery School
Ridgewood YMCA
Ridgewood Party Rental
For more details, please call us at 201-445-2600 or email [email protected] www.experienceridgewood.com
Minivan Broadsided in Black Friday Collision on East Glen in Ridgewood
November 27,2015
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, A mother and her two (2) young daughters escaped injury on Friday afternoon, 11/27, when their mini van was broadsided by an SUV at the intersection of East Glen Avenue and Northern Parkway in Ridgewood. Both vehicles were heavily damaged and removed from the scene by separate flatbed tow trucks. The incident occurred at approximately 1:15 PM.
Ridgewood PD, EMS and FD units responded. A minor crash related fluid spill was attended to by fire department personnel while the EMS unit evaluated the occupants of both vehicles. One (1) summons, for the disregard of a stop sign, was issued to one (1) of the drivers by a Ridgewood PD patrol officer.
NOVEMBER 27, 2015 LAST UPDATED: FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 2015, 12:31 AM
THE RIDGEWOOD NEWS
Parking revenues can support largest garage
To the Editor:
The Financial Advisory Committee (FAC) of the Village of Ridgewood in a previous statement strongly supported the proposal to construct a parking garage at the site of the existing Hudson Street parking lot.
The FAC conducted its own independent analysis of the costs and revenues associated with the proposed parking garage. Using very conservative assumptions (no new revenues, construction costs as high as $14 million and interest rates as high as 4 percent), the garage can still be funded entirely by parking revenues, with moderate increases in hourly parking rates and hours.
There are currently three proposals under consideration. From a strictly financial perspective, the proposal to build the largest 405-spot garage for an estimated cost of $12 million and a net gain of 305 spaces makes the most sense for the following key reasons:
As with any construction project, most of the cost is involved in building the first two levels, so we get greater benefit from the additional levels and a lower average cost per space with a larger garage — especially compared to building multiple smaller garages in various locations around the village. The first 306 spaces will cost $10.1 million or $33,000 per space, but the next 99 spaces (if we build the largest garage) will cost only an additional $1.9 million or $19,200 per space, which is a considerable savings. (The comparable numbers for the mid-size garage are 49 additional spaces for an additional $0.9 million, or $18,400 per space.)
From a long-term investment perspective the largest garage gives us capacity in the core business area of approximately 140 spots above what will be needed to simply replace the spots lost when the Brogan and Ken Smith lots are developed. If we go with the smallest garage, we are barely replacing the spots that will be lost and are thus making an investment that does not significantly improve the existing parking deficit or provide for growth. Further, the cost to expand the smaller garage at a later time would be cost prohibitive so we believe it is prudent to make this long term investment now.
Although the analysis we performed did not include new revenues, maximizing the number of spots enhances the attractiveness of existing stores and restaurants, and encourages new businesses owners to choose Ridgewood, which provides for the possibility of increased tax revenues from downtown properties.
Given the cost and effort involved in this project, it is clear from a strictly financial standpoint that maximizing the impact on improving the village’s parking situation is best accomplished by building the largest garage. That said, the financial argument must be considered along with other non-financial factors.
Robert Broatch, Richard Cundiff, Charles DiMarco, Nancy Haig, Mac Highet, Nancy Johansen, Janice Willett, Evan Weitz, Jimmy Yang
Pastels, oils on display at Cottage Place Gallery in Ridgewood
NOVEMBER 27, 2015 LAST UPDATED: FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 2015, 12:31 AM
BY EILEEN LA FORGIA
STAFF WRITER |
THE RIDGEWOOD NEWS
Dana Abel’s exhibit, “Ten Years – A Retrospective – Oil and Pastel Works” is at the Cottage Place Gallery in Ridgewood through Dec. 6.
A Ridgewood resident since 1994, Abel, a professional software developer, says painting was always her primary interest and once her youngest child reached teenage years, she started taking numerous painting classes and workshops. She studied pastel privately with Christina Debarry and oil with Aleksandra K. Nowak and with Basil Baylin and Joe Hing Lowe at the Ridgewood Art Institute. Since entering her first exhibition in 2003, Abel has received numerous awards at the local and national levels.
“Pastel is more immediate – quick and it is easier to see the final outcome,” she said. Featured pastels are: “Blue Vase,” “Daisies,” a RAI 28th Regional Open Jury Show award winner, “Gladioli,” and a portrait, “Redhead,” an early work.
NOVEMBER 27, 2015 LAST UPDATED: FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 2015, 12:31 AM
BY DIANA OLIVEIRA
STAFF WRITER |
THE RIDGEWOOD NEWS
The obstacles to write and direct a film are endless but not insurmountable for a student filmmaker endeavoring to succeed.
Grant Olans, a 2013 Ridgewood High School graduate and now a junior at Emerson College in Boston, is currently working on the post-production stages of what he calls his “most ambitious” short film to date. Having more resources at his disposal, for example, has proved a considerable challenge from what he was accustomed to in the past.
“Before, it was just me holding a camera and working with a couple of actors,” said Olans. “It’s a big crew now with more equipment. There are more moving parts and logistics that you have to keep track of.”
The short film — a project for his intermediate film production class — has been in the works since early October and is called “Inside the Carrousel.” Its concept was derived from two of Olans’ favorite movies, the 1985 comedy-drama “After Hours” and the 1986 romantic-comedy “Something Wild.”
In fact, the main scene in Olans’ eight-minute production is a re-creation of a sequence from the latter. His version, however, looks to antiquate the original 29-year-old scene.
The setting is a French restaurant, where a troubled man named Lance has lost his wallet and can’t leave without paying his bill. His quest to find a way out leads to several encounters. Without wanting to reveal too much, Olans admitted to toying with the idea of karmic punishment.
“The main character can’t connect to his daughter through his own flaws,” explained Olans. “So, losing his wallet and not being able to pay his bill are my own little forms of punishment until he can wake up and make things right.”
The film isn’t overly arty and experimental, said Olans, but rather a remarkably straightforward story with a slightly different narrative. He hopes that this attempt at finding his voice in his way of telling stories will appeal to audiences when he submits “Inside the Carrousel” to film festivals in the coming months.
NOVEMBER 27, 2015 LAST UPDATED: FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 2015, 12:31 AM
BY MARK KRULISH
STAFF WRITER |
THE RIDGEWOOD NEWS
During the holiday season, we sometimes need a reminder of the basic gifts we are lucky to have – food, water, family and a safe home with a warm bed in which to sleep.
Sometimes we also need a reminder that not everyone has such essentials, and there are even entire families that rely on local charitable organizations to help them in their time of need.
Such is the role of Family Promise of Bergen County, which works with local churches to provide housing for temporarily homeless families and has a robust presence in the village – it’s headquartered in the basement of the Ridgewood United Methodist Church on Dayton Street.
Congregations around Bergen County host up to 14 people at a time for a period of one week on a rotating basis. They are provided with shelter, three meals a day and support thanks to the efforts of the volunteers at the respective churches.
The program is open to both working families and those looking for work with transit provided to and from the Nancy S. Woods Family Center at the Ridgewood UMC, where families have the opportunity to shower and do laundry before heading to work or schools. Computers are also available to those looking for work.
Over on Cottage Place, Christ Episcopal Church is getting ready to host its next round of families on Nov. 29.
file photo by Boyd Loving
November 27,2015
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
The Ridgewood Blog just received this information –
Ridgewood NJ, In a departure of past practice, Village Council members have hired Mark Ruderman, Esq. and the firm of Ruderman and Glickman to negotiate a contract between the Village of Ridgewood and members of Ridgewood Policeman’s Benevolent Assocation (PBA) Local 20. Village Council members authorized the hiring of Mr. Ruderman and his firm under a no-bid contract, expiring on June 30, 2016, for an amount not to exceed $75,000; this was done via Resolution 15-182, passed on June 24, 2015.
For as many years as those who have been around for many years can remember, the PBA contract was always negotiated by the Village Manager, with labor attorney review only after the contract terms were accepted by both parties. The staff of The Ridgewood Blog wondered why the sudden change, and why Mr. Ruderman. Then we ran across this article:
So in a nutshell, Mr. Ruderman was successful in forcing the Tenafly PBA into arbitration, which resulted in a 3-year no raise contract, and a scaled back pay system that forces their members to work longer before reaching maximum pay. What the news article didn’t say was that Mr. Ruderman charged Tenafly $225,000 for his legal/negotiation services. Although the Ridgewood contract has a cap of $75,000, the cap expires on June 30, 2016. If terms are not reached by then, an opportunity may exist for Mr. Ruderman to either achieve or exceed his Tenafly payout.
The hiring of Mr. Ruderman begs the staff of The Ridgewood Blog to ask what role, if any, Village Manager Roberta Sonenfeld and Director of Human Resources Sharyn Matthews are playing in the PBA negotiations, particularly since each of their roles include labor negotiations as a responsibility.
Bottom line – Why are taxpayers shelling out $92,000 a year in salary plus benefits for an HR Director who can’t negotiate? And then another $75,000 for someone who can? Good grief Charlie Brown!
NOVEMBER 25, 2015, 3:28 PM LAST UPDATED: WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2015, 8:58 PM
BY STEVE JANOSKI
STAFF WRITER |
THE RECORD
RIDGEWOOD — Votes by village officials on zoning changes that would clear the path for high-density, multifamily housing downtown will likely be delayed until January while officials gather more information about the controversy-raising proposal’s potential impacts.
Also, Mayor Paul Aronsohn said Monday. the public will be allowed additional sessions to comment on the five introduced zoning ordinances at the council’s Dec. 9 public meeting. The changes would increase the number of allowable housing units per acre from 12 to 35 in four zones in the central business district.
The Village Council, however, won’t vote on them that night. It will await results of a yet-to-be-commissioned financial impact study, which Aronsohn has called the “missing piece of the puzzle.” The study “won’t answer every question, and it may leave a lot of questions unanswered that we need to address,” he told the council at a meeting this month. But at least the questions would be raised, he said.
Ridgewood NJ Unfortunately, we will have to change tomorrow’s race to an organized 4 mile group run, and move the actual competitive event to Sunday.
We were informed just today that the Ridgewood Police Department are unable to staff this event. Obviously, this information came at the last minute, and is far beyond our control.
The good news is that, we will still meet and run 4 miles. We will still have all the amenities of the event, and we will still have a great Thanksgiving Morning. The bad news is that those of you running on a competitive level, will have to hold off until Sunday.
We do apologize for any disappointment caused, but we do look forward to a fun event tomorrow and then again on Sunday.
Details for Tomorrow:
Meet at Benjamin Franklin Middle School
Start time: 9am.
Distance 4 mile – Fun group run.
Kids Fun: We will still have a kids fun run on the track at 10am.Details for Sunday:
Full competitive Race, with Chip Timing
Start: Benjamin Franklin Middle school
Time: 9am
Distance: 4 mile Race.
Please bring your Race Number.*All entries will be deferred to Sunday’s race. Unf
courtesy of Boyd Loving’s Facebook page
November 25,2015
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, A Honda Civic and a Toyota Corolla collided at the intersection of South Maple Avenue and Dayton Street in Ridgewood on Wednesday afternoon at approximately 1 PM. Ridgewood PD, EMS and FD units responded to the collision.
Both drivers refused medical aid, but each of the vehicles was heavily damaged, requiring their removal by separate flatbed tow trucks. Ridgewood FD personnel attended to a minor crash related fluid spill. There was no word at the scene as to whether any summonses were issued by police.
I recently noticed that Ridgewood police have used to their advantage new pine trees that have been planted in front of the Bergen County utility shed on Franklin Turnpike behind a park-and-ride lot. This provides perfect cover for their vehicles to monitor speeding cars heading north on Franklin Turnpike.
Prior to the tree planting, police would monitor from this location but be visible. Certainly their visibility deterred or reduced the likelihood of speeders. Now their camouflage doesn’t deter, but it facilitates the choice to speed and for Ridgewood to issue summonses and garner revenue.
So is the Ridgewood Police Department in the business of deterring vehicular violations and related accident risks, or only issuing summonses? How would police feel if I was able to get permission from one of the property owners to post a sign on Franklin Turnpike stating, “Speed trap ahead hiding behind the trees — slow down.”
It seems to me this would be a win/win for all drivers, reducing the likelihood of speeding and preventing accidents. But revenues may be reduced.
