Category: village of ridgewood

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Summonses issued for Stage IV Water violations in Ridgewood

Sprinkler watering the lawn

September 25,2016
the Staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, Data obtained in response to a written request for public records of the Ridgewood Municipal Court revealed that between September 1, 2015 and September 23, 2015, owners of the below listed properties received summonses for reported violations of the declared Stage IV Water Emergency. Those street addresses listed more than once indicate owners who were recipients of multiple summonses.

The owners of these respective properties should be considered innocent of violating provisions of the declared Stage IV Water Emergency unless they are officially declared guilty by the Ridgewood Municipal Court.

Street Name House number Offense Date Fine
Avondale 220 9/10 $65.00
Avondale 241 9/10 $65.00
Banta 537 9/15 $65.00
Barrington 55 9/8 $65.00
Bedford 303 9/11 $65.00
Beechwood 202 9/16 $65.00
Beechwood 375 9/17 $65.00
Bellair 165 9/7 $65.00
Bellair 165 9/9 $65.00
Bellair 165 9/17 $65.00
Bellair 215 9/12 $65.00
Belmont 734 9/14 $65.00
Belmont 756 9/11 $65.00
Berkshire 382 9/6 $65.00
Berkshire 382 9/9 $65.00
Bogert 318 9/21 $65.00
Brookside 18 9/23 $65.00
Brookside 155 9/10 $65.00
Carlton 360 9/16 $65.00
Circle 108 9/9 $65.00
Colonial 445 9/18 $65.00
Colonial 470 9/16 $65.00
Concord 610 9/23 $65.00
Cottage 122 9/23 $65.00
Darby 501 9/10 $65.00
Dorchester 435 9/15 $65.00
E Glen 453 9/16 $65.00
E Ridgewood 797 9/23 $65.00
E Ridgewood 807 9/18 $65.00
E Ridgewood 906 9/17 $65.00
Eastbrook 612 9/21 $65.00
Eastbrook 623 9/21 $65.00
Eastgate 468 9/17 $65.00
Eastgate 487 9/10 $65.00
Eastgate 488 9/10 $65.00
Eastside 332 9/15 $65.00
Fairmount 105 9/10 $65.00
Fairmount 155 9/10 $65.00
Fairmount 201 9/10 $65.00
Fernwood 750 9/21 $65.00
Glenwood 355 9/14 $65.00
Godwin 252 9/23 $65.00
Godwin 305 9/17 $65.00
Greenway 201 9/9 $65.00
Greenway 201 9/13 $65.00
Greenway 201 9/21 $65.00
Greenway 201 9/23 $65.00
Greenway 221 9/9 $65.00
Greenway 285 9/10 $65.00
Grove 500 9/18 $65.00
Grove 508 9/16 $65.00
Grove 519 9/10 $65.00
Grove 615 9/15 $65.00
Hanks 484 9/18 $65.00
Heights 47 9/8 $65.00
Heights 47 9/21 $65.00
Heights 53 9/14 $65.00
Heights 145 9/10 $65.00
Heights 219 9/8 $65.00
Heights 456 9/19 $65.00
Heights 465 9/10 $65.00
Heights 517 9/10 $65.00
Highland 107 9/8 $65.00
Highland 200 9/12 $65.00
Highland 217 9/17 $65.00
Highland 272 9/16 $65.00
Highland 353 9/8 $65.00
Highview 384 9/16 $65.00
Hillcrest 473 9/12 $65.00
Hillcrest 706 9/8 $65.00
Hillcrest 751 9/12 $65.00
Hillcrest 811 9/21 $65.00
Hillcrest 941 9/8 $65.00
Howard 704 9/17 $65.00
Katherine 205 9/8 $65.00
Kenilworth 340 9/4 $65.00
Lincoln 171 9/8 $65.00
Lincoln 203 9/13 $65.00
Linwood 312 9/18 $65.00
Linwood 570 9/16 $65.00
Madison 87 9/8 $65.00
Manor 276 9/13 $65.00
Meadowbrook 443 9/10 $65.00
Melrose 120 9/8 $65.00
Melrose 213 9/8 $65.00
Morningside 608 9/9 $65.00
Mountain 345 9/14 $65.00
N Maple 140 9/10 $65.00
N Monre 368 9/13 $65.00
N Monroe 68 9/16 $65.00
N Monroe 132 9/15 $65.00
N Monroe 761 9/21 $65.00
N Monroe 801 9/22 $65.00
N Pleasant 60 9/23 $65.00
N Pleasant 236 9/23 $65.00
N Van Dien 17 9/18 $65.00
N Van Dien 130 9/17 $65.00
N Van Dien 155 9/17 $65.00
N Van Dien 155 9/23 $65.00
N Van Dien 167 9/9 $65.00
N Van Dien 223 9/23 $65.00
N Van Dien 262 9/18 $65.00
Nagle 553 9/17 $65.00
Norgate 836 9/17 $65.00
North 10 9/16 $65.00
Northern Parkway 151 9/8 $65.00
Orchard 310 9/14 $65.00
Orchard 310 9/16 $65.00
Paul 5 9/19 $65.00
Phelps 234 9/19 $65.00
Phelps 242 9/10 $65.00
Prospect 106 9/17 $65.00
Prospect 145 9/23 $65.00
Prospect 255 9/23 $65.00
Richards 275 9/8 $65.00
Roslyn 902 9/21 $65.00
S Irving 117 9/10 $65.00
S Maple 66 9/16 $65.00
S Pleasant 460 9/18 $65.00
S Pleasant 466 9/8 $65.00
S Van Dien 249 9/17 $65.00
S Van Dien 262 9/13 $65.00
S Van Dien 291 9/6 $65.00
S Van Dien 304 9/10 $65.00
Shelbourne 408 9/11 $65.00
Sheridan 150 9/17 $65.00
Spencer 195 9/8 $65.00
Spring 375 9/23 $65.00
Spring 386 9/18 $65.00
Spring 464 9/18 $65.00
Spring 537 9/10 $65.00
Steilen 203 9/8 $65.00
Sterling 516 9/16 $65.00
Stevens 490 9/13 $65.00
Stratford 820 9/11 $65.00
Sunset 211 9/8 $65.00
The By Way 245 9/13 $65.00
The By Way 260 9/13 $65.00
Union 164 9/8 $65.00
Union 220 9/8 $65.00
Upper 446 9/21 $65.00
Van Dyke 564 9/17 $65.00
W Glen 232 9/17 $65.00
Waiku 225 9/22 $65.00
Walthery 112 9/17 $65.00
Walthery 219 9/17 $65.00
Walthery 351 9/15 $65.00
Wastena 352 9/7 $65.00
Wastena 352 9/8 no entry
Wellington 620 9/11 $65.00
Wellington 713 9/21 $65.00
Westgate 301 9/9 $65.00
Willow 319 9/15 $65.00

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RIDGEWOOD POLICE DEPARTMENT TAKING BACK UNWANTED PRESCRIPTION DRUGS

Prescription-Drugs

September 26 2015

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, On September 26 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. the Ridgewood Police and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) will give the public its tenth opportunity in five years to prevent pill abuse and theft by ridding their homes of potentially dangerous expired, unused, and unwanted prescription drugs. Bring your pills for disposal to Ridgewood Police Headquarters at 131 N.Maple Ave. (The DEA cannot accept liquids or needles or sharps, only pills or patches.) The service is free and anonymous, no questions asked.

Last September, Americans turned in 309 tons (over 617,000 pounds) of prescription drugs at nearly 5,500 sites operated by the DEA and more than 4,000 of its state and local law enforcement partners. When those results are combined with what was collected in its eight previous Take Back events, DEA and its partners have taken in over 4.8 million pounds—more than 2,400 tons—of pills.

This initiative addresses a vital public safety and public health issue. Medicines that languish in home cabinets are highly susceptible to diversion, misuse, and abuse. Rates of prescription drug abuse in the U.S. are alarmingly high, as are the number of accidental poisonings and overdoses due to these drugs. Studies show that a majority of abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, including from the home medicine cabinet. In addition, Americans are now advised that their usual methods for disposing of unused medicines—flushing them down the toilet or throwing them in the trash—both pose potential safety and health hazards.

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Vote “Yes for parking garage” signs start appearing

Parking Garage

September 25,2015

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Several of the pictured signs were observed on lawns in front of private residences on Ridgewood’s East Side early this morning, including the Mayor’s home on Linwood Avenue and the Deputy Mayor’s home on Cottage Place.

Although the First Amendment of the United States Constitution protects a property owner’s right to display such signs, is it appropriate for both the Mayor and Deputy Mayor to be displaying their respective support for the garage not knowing 1) what the final price tag is, 2) what the design will be, nor 3) how the garage will be funded?  In short, they both have little if any factual data about the project, but yet they support it?  Duh?

Additionally, what taxpayer funded resources, if any, were used to design, print, and/or distribute these signs?  The Mayor mentioned during a recent public meeting how pleased he was that promotional material in support of the referendum was being developed (perhaps an inappropriate comment for an official meeting); did the Village’s contribution to the endeavor stop there, or is there more?

They have zero idea how much taxpayers will be on the hook for this pie in the sky project, but they’re happy to be riding the train out of the station.  ALL ABOARD!

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Ridgewood Water Serious Capacity Issues

RidgewoodWaterLogo_061912_rn_tif_

September 25 2015

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, If the current water storage tanks, wells, pumps, are not sufficient to meet current summer time peak demands (as Peak summertime demands are not the design standard, Average daily demands are the standard), what would happen with future growth as in the proposed apartments? There might not even be sufficient water supply for average household daily demands, let alone for firefighing. We can forget about outdoor irrigation of any kind completely, and become a cement city.
Additional larger capacity storage tank, wells and pumps, at another location in Ridgewood, should be addressed now. Other towns serviced such as Wyckoff has shown population growth, building expansion since the 1997 water study.

https://mods.ridgewoodnj.net/pdf/water/08VVFAQs.pdf
Review of 1997 study referenced in 2008 “Valley View Storage Tank Replacement study, indicated “minor additional demand might occur in decade or over several decades, not focusing on future demand should it occur, saying future change would be minimal. The sizing of the Valley View Tank should be a viable solution for many decades into the future.”
“Population growth has not markedly changed in the last 30 – 40 years. The minor amount of growth that has occurred in the last two decades can be characterized as in-filling (e.g. one house is torn down and two or three are built in its place). There is little room for development of any significance throughout the entire system that will have any impact on typical daily demands.
“The project is for regional public good. True, the project more directly services a particular area, but that area houses numerous properties that service the general public good – Ridgewood High School, GW Middle School, Village Hall, the downtown area, Valley Hospital, etc.”
Reference was made to the E.Glen and N. Monroe as possible sight . Study shows there are 4 other tanks with larger capacity 2,000,000 gallons, and 1 tank with 2,5000,000.gallon at locations Wyckoff, Glen Rock, E. Saddle River Rd, Ridgewood. Referenced other locations with lesser capacities.
https://mods.ridgewoodnj.net/pdf/water/08VVFAQs.pdf

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Readers Question all the focus on Tito’s Burritos , seems a bit of selective outrage

itsgreektome2 theridgewoodblog.net

All of this focus on Tito’s, but It’s Greek to Me gets a pass on those intrusive planters. I wonder why? Money talks, nobody walks. Support the right candidate for public office and you’ll be good to go too!

Mayor Paul’s friend Paulie V (Greek to Me)got away with that no questions asked. They are ugly, illegal, and dangerous (wall).

I agree, it is clean, it looks good. The colors are not outrageous. No neon green or anything wild. For heaven’s sake, DROP IT

I love Titos, great food, reliably delicious, nice employees, good prices. Leave them alone. Please!

Since when is the opinion of the historic commission binding ???

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Fall Registration Open For Classes At Art Of Motion In Ridgewood

AoM_June09__844-big

(RIDGEWOOD, NJ) — Fall registration is now in progress for ART OF MOTION, a non-profit educational and cultural organization located in the downtown business district of Ridgewood. Classes are offered for Pre-K through the Professional level in Pilates, Yoga, Classical Ballet, Modern, Contemporary, Luigi and Broadway Jazz, Tap, Vocal Music, Choreography and Audition Techniques. https://www.newjerseystage.com/articles/getarticle.php?ID=5966

Art of Motion, Inc. is a non-profit educational and cultural organization dedicated to teaching and presenting dance, theatre, vocal music, body conditioning, and literary and visual art projects. AOM welcomes collaborations and site-specific residences featuring professional and community based artists.

AOM serves dancers and artists from the metropolitan region including Bergen, Essex, Passaic, Rockland, and Westchester Counties as well as NYC.

For more information contact AOM Studio Manager, Linda Combs, 201.652.5800 or visit www.artofmotion.org.

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Reader says Its Time to Fix Ridgewood Water

RidgewoodWaterLogo_061912_rn_tif_

“The Ridgewood Water System is unlike many other systems as it relies on a system of over 45 wells, associated treatment systems, piping, storage and more. These appurtenances have their limits and become extremely stressed when there is noncompliance with watering restrictions during a drought condition”

The candor is indeed refreshing, but it does point out that we are relying on an ancient, decrepit water pumping infrastructure that’s not adequate to our needs. This situation has been ongoing for at least 35 years. Without drastic (Level IV) water restrictions, we run the risk of being unable to fight fires. This is not a particularly extreme drought, but we’re already at the limit of our ability to enforce conservation. And what’s the solution to the problem? Deploy the uniformed services — the ones with the guns — and impose drastic fines

This is not merely oversight; it borders on negligence. It’s exactly the performance we’ve come to expect from public utilities. It’s time to fix this.

Council minutes Work Session ..JANUARY 28, 2009
Valley View Water tank originally was to be 100 foot diameter 1.7 million gallon.
Residents of the Heights got water tank size down to 75 foot 1.13 million gallon

“Mayor Pfund added that he thought that the Ridgewood Water Company actually did a very good job in reaching out to the community. He also congratulated the residents for bringing the size of the tank down from a 1.7 million gallon, 100-foot diameter tank to a 1.13 million gallon, 75-foot diameter tank.”
https://www.ridgewoodnj.net/minutes/WORK1.2809.htm

The council meeting minutes 2/13/2008 – comments from group of 100 Heights residents opposing the 100 ft diameter tank. The chief engineer at that time even stated if it were up to him, he would build the tank even bigger than the originally proposed 100 ft tank.. The resident living adjacent to tank property, has since sold her house 12/2012. google 69 Valley View, adjacent water tank property is 71 – 73 valley view.
https://www.ridgewoodnj.net/minutes/PUBLIC2%201308.htm

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Planning Board, Ridgewood restaurant still seeking a solution over color scheme

Titos Burritos theridgewoodblog.net

SEPTEMBER 22, 2015    LAST UPDATED: TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2015, 10:54 AM
BY MARK KRULISH
STAFF WRITER |
THE RIDGEWOOD NEWS

A discussion on Tito’s Burritos color scheme will have to wait until next month as the Planning Board announced the matter would be carried to the second meeting in October.

Planning Board attorney Gail Price notified the board that attorney David Rutherford had sent a letter requesting the application be carried until the Oct. 20 meeting, stating his client was still working on a few items.

Price said Rutherford’s email indicated they were “re-working” things and were going back for another meeting with the village’s Historic Preservation Commission (HPC).

Board alternate Isabella Altano and Councilwoman Susan Knudsen indicated that representatives from Tito’s had recently met with the HPC to discuss the situation and possible solutions.

A public hearing began last month as Tito’s co-owner Mike Caldarella admitted the dark blue paint job on the front entrance was done accidentally, but without permission from the town.

However, some members of the board took issue with the color scheme itself, as did the HPC, which believes the color is out of character with the surrounding buildings.

 

https://www.northjersey.com/news/business/board-ridgewood-restaurant-working-on-a-solution-1.1415397

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Members of Taekwondo All In were recognized by the Village of Ridgewood

Taekwondo All In

September 22,2015

the staff of the Ridgewood

Ridgewood NJ, Master Youngmin Kim competed and achieved championship medals at the highest levels in Korea.
He also earned full athletic scholarships from middle school through college.
In addition, he has a masters degree in sports management.

Since 2012, Master Kim has focused on teaching by founding and running Taekwondo All In in Ridgewood, NJ.
The efforts of his teaching and his students’ perseverance have amounted to exceptional results.

33 Chestnut St
Ridgewood, New Jersey
(201) 857-0445

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‘Cake Boss’ to make heavenly treat for the Pope

alg-cake-boss-shop-jpg

By Rebecca Panico | The Jersey Journal
on September 20, 2015 at 12:04 PM, updated September 20, 2015 at 2:44 PM

HOBOKEN – Hoboken’s very own “Cake Boss” will serve up some divine sweets for Pope Francis’ Philadelphia visit next Saturday, according to the New York Post.

Buddy Valastro, who stars in the TLC television series along with other family members, was asked to whip up a cake for the pope’s “Festival of the Families” event on Sept. 26, the newspaper reported. The event will feature performances by Aretha Franklin and The Fray.

Valastro opened a new bakery in Philadelphia this past summer, NJ Advance Media reported. It is the 10th Carlo’s Bakery to open, with the flagship location in Hoboken.

Valastro — “a devout Catholic,” according to the New York Post — described earlier this year what his cake for the pontiff would look like.

“It would be in the shape of his magnificent hat or the Vatican…That city is rich in history, and buildings. I wouldn’t know where to start!” he told The Telegraph.

https://www.nj.com/hudson/index.ssf/2015/09/hobokens_cake_boss_to_make_heavenly_treat_for_the.html

 

Carlo’s Bakery Ridgewood  
“Cake Boss” Buddy Valastro’s bakery is known for a variety of cookies, cannoli & elaborate cakes.
Address: 12 Wilsey Square, Ridgewood, NJ 07450
Phone:(201) 962-9080
Hours: Open today · 7:00 am – 9:00 pm

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Ridgewood Knights of Columbus – Annual Stickball Tournament.

Stickball 4

Ridgewood-NJ-September 21, 2015: The Ridgewood Knights of Columbus Council #1736 is once again proud to be hosting their annual stickball tournament, now in its sixth year, on Saturday October 10, beginning at 10:00 a.m. on Passaic Street in Ridgewood. The entrance fee is $100 for a team of four. There will be trophies for first place for seniors and juniors.

Refreshments, hotdogs, and hamburgers will be served at the Hall after the games.

Proceeds from this year’s event will be donated to the Street 2 Street Inner City Youth Basketball program. Street 2 Street specializes in helping kids almost everyone else has given up on to believe they can rise above their circumstances to make a positive impact on their world.

Local organizations are encouraged to sign up and join in the activities.

For an application or questions, email:

[email protected] or [email protected].

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Reader says The facts are ; there is no shortage of water, the issue is the lack of pumping and storage due to poor planning and management.

water_meter_theridgewoodblog

Some of the posts are making a different point. My suggestion is that a some point the village has become a place where neighbors blindly follow a restriction, call out neighbors for trying to maintain their properties, and never seem to push for understanding of how to address the issue or correcting it. The facts are interesting; there is no shortage of water, the issue is the lack of pumping and storage due to poor planning and management. Claims that we hit Stage 4 due to disregard for previous stages shows a complete lack of understanding of how the water systems work, there is no linkage. We expect our neighborhoods to have maintained houses with landscaping, etc and then call out those who invest to do so. When I was young I remember the local police pulling into a school event and participating, now the village has them shutting it down. Imagine how much goodwill would have been realized had the police car been ‘washed’ by the kids. Isnt that the relationships we should foster as a Village.

This weekend I traveled to another town in eastern Bergen, where I noticed the local fire department was sponsoring a ‘wash’ seemed odd that less them 12 miles away they had enough rain to avoid water issues.

The village needs to reset a bit and ask the right questons to the right authorities, when we are the point where the police are shutting down fund raising events we all should be concerned.

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Reader says Time for a “Tip Line ” to catch Watering Violators in Ridgewood

ridgewood water

Why does it have to be a complaint if its illegal. Why not have an anonymous “tip” line?
For instance, if a call to the police asking if they still are writing a summons for sprinkling, the response is yes, what’s the address, what’s your name, address and phone number and will you sign a complaint, the only way they’ll issue a summons is when they send someone out, they actually have to see the sprinkler on when they get there.
Not true, he saw the sprinkler on watering, put the spot light on it, walked up to house, flashlight showed sprinkler on, talked to owner at front door, owner claimed they’re “new” didn’t know, police gave warning, didn’t give summons. Another neighbor saw and heard, told police they water all time. The owner knew about restrictions from other neighbors last year and repeatedly knew about it this year, ignored rules, sprinkler on at night whenever he felt like thru stage 1,2 and 4.
so, even when they actually see a sprinkler on, it don’t cut it for writing a summons? What gives?
“from the VOR website – Village Manager Regarding Stage 4 Enforcement”
“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.”

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Village of Ridgewood Manager Updates Watering Restrictions, Enforcement and Waivers

waterheader2

But the questions remains can I wash my car or not ?

Village of Ridgewood E-Notice

Water Restrictions

Dear E Notice Resident,

Your cooperation with Stage 4 watering restrictions as well as stricter enforcement has had a very positive impact on our water usage. We have seen roughly a 50+% decrease in usage from the highs of August and early September. That being said, weather forecasts over the next several days are not positive from a rainfall point of view and we will continue Stage 4 restrictions – with some ability to do case by case waivers – until further notice. We will continue our heightened enforcement – I know some of you have expressed dismay that we are not ticketing every residence and that there are still residents that are flagrant violators – we will continue to be vigilant about this.

Just a reminder: No irrigation of any kind is allowable on Mondays, Thursdays, or Fridays. Irrigation using only a hand-held hose with a spray nozzle is permitted for odd-numbered addresses only on Tuesdays and Saturdays and for even-numbered addresses on Wednesdays and Sundays.

Waivers for special circumstances such as irrigating newly planted lawns and shrubs, cleaning cars or houses, and filling swimming pools will now be considered on a case by case basis. In order to be considered for waivers, please contact Ridgewood Water at 201-670-5520 or email Customer Service at [email protected].

Several of you have asked me about why Ridgewood Water has instituted Stage 4 restrictions as opposed to some other water utilities. The Ridgewood Water System is unlike many other systems as it relies on a system of over 45 wells, associated treatment systems, piping, storage and more. These appurtenances have their limits and become extremely stressed when there is noncompliance with watering restrictions during a drought condition. This is part of the problem we had when we were in Stage 2 watering restrictions. During a peak summer day with irrigation systems running, water production can more than double reaching limits as high as 14 million gallons per day. Some think the crux of the problem is lack of storage but during the conditions we have been experiencing we cannot even fill the tanks completely.

Improvements are needed in certain areas to provide more resiliency and fire protection and we are working on those capital projects…….but the entire system cannot be overbuilt at the expense of providing unlimited irrigation supply. Conservation and better controls are important components of our overall answer. Ridgewood Water will be working closely with each community (besides Ridgewood, we service Glen Rock, Midland Park and Wyckoff) to start building a conservation platform for the future. Considerations will include requiring the installation of weather, rain and soil sensors, and implementing new watering schedules – all of which can be controlled with smart irrigation technology.

Several of you have also asked me to discuss rates we bill our customers. We are one of the lowest cost providers of water in our immediate region. This year’s rates were kept flat, with no increase. It is important for Ridgewood taxpayers to know that Ridgewood Water is totally financed by the consumers of Ridgewood Water.

Apologies for the long E-Notice but I also had wanted to respond to some of the questions I have received from you as well as to communicate a status on our watering restrictions. We will continue to monitor conditions and inform you of any changes to the restrictions.

Best,

Roberta Sonenfeld

Village Manager

201-670-5500, ext. 203

-PLEASE SHARE THIS INFORMATION WITH YOUR NEIGHBORS