Ex-Ridgewood man accused of molesting college softball players due in court next week
AUGUST 20, 2015, 7:22 PM LAST UPDATED: THURSDAY, AUGUST 20, 2015, 9:21 PM
BY CHRIS HARRIS
STAFF WRITER |
THE RECORD
Kurt Ludwigsen, the former Ridgewood resident accused of molesting seven of the college softball players he was coaching, will be back in court next week following the postponement of a hearing that was scheduled for Wednesday morning.
Ludwigsen, 44, the former Nyack College softball coach, has been indicted on 197 counts of first-degree felony coercion, forcible touching, sexual abuse, and harassment.
AUGUST 21, 2015 LAST UPDATED: FRIDAY, AUGUST 21, 2015, 12:31 AM
THE RIDGEWOOD NEWS
Fate of Schedler property requires compromise
To the Editor:
“Oh what tangled webs we weave when first we practice to deceive” is a Shakespeare quote from the 16th century. This aptly describes current activities of the Village Council regarding the Schedler property.
Friends of Schedler were charged to find a use for the historic Zabriskie-Schedler house and to secure funding for its maintenance. This was accomplished and their report was given at the Aug. 5 council meeting in the form of a resolution request. The mayor appeared so flummoxed that all he could think of to stop the proceedings was to introduce another resolution to be voted on the following week that would in effect disregard the Friends of Schedler’s resolution. No discussion or vote was taken. If this sounds confusing that is because it is! On Aug. 12, the council voted 3-2 to accept a resolution that would move forward on the controversial 90-foot baseball diamond at the property in question leaving many people dazed and confused. It took a bit of time to realize that the council, in its efforts to dismiss the Schedler plan to save the house, had actually done the opposite. The council left the door open by its own actions, and advocates for Schedler can go for forward with procuring matching grant opportunities to support the house.
Will we trust them again? I think not. The amount of work on the part of many to raise funds and to advocate for a balanced plan for the property that would save the house, eliminate the need to remove four acres of trees and allow for a smaller field is huge. Had the process been more transparent and members of the council more honest in their deliberations with the Schedler group, much emotional upheaval and hours of time invested could have been avoided. Friends of Schedler want the property to be treated as the Habernickel property was treated. Neighbors were part of the process, treated with respect and compromises were made. The end result satisfied the majority, and now Habernickel Park is considered an asset to the village. This can be the future of the Schedler property. How wonderful for everyone if Ridgewood has a nationally recognized historic home used as a library by the Bergen County Historical Society in addition to an appropriate-size grass playing field and the trees that are so important to the environment.
We are running out of open space at the local, state and national levels. We must make good use of what we have left. Compromise is not a dirty word, it is how we best meet the needs of a diverse constituency. It is how a civil society operates when we are not dictated by emergencies.
Readers say Graydon Pool is a wonderful facility. Poor/incompetent management is the facility’s major problem.
Wasn’t there an instance many years ago in which Graydon either opened a week early, or closed a week later due to a major heat wave? Now, the management just doesn’t seem to give a damn about satisfying the public. By the way, what ever happen to the Wibit?
I love Graydon; have been going for many years; Wibit is too large’ crowds out swimming room. Since you can no longer swim past ropes; the swimming area is too small now in deep end. It used to be fun swimming from one area to another.
In Allendale you can still cross sections.
Graydon should have swimmers and guests sign swimming level when they first come in and have green dot on badge to show permission to swim in deep area and cross over to other sections
Excuses, excuses, excuses; nothing but lame excuses. The lifeguard issue could be easily resolved if management wanted it resolved. Memorial Pool in Fair Lawn is a sand bottom pool – same issue with lifeguard training & staffing. Look at their posted hours of operation:
Open Thursday, June 25 to Monday, September 7, 2014
10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. (7 Days a Week) (weather permitting)
NOTE: The Pool will be temporarily closed from Monday, August 31 to Friday, September 4
All pools have to manage the schedules of young lifeguards. This is not unique to Ridgewood. Have other towns cut hours or os ot just a Ridgewood problem?
Who is the person from Parks n Rec responsible for staffing? Someone has some ‘explaining to do.
I have been there three times this week and there were plenty of patrons, including at 7:20 one evening.
Crestwood Lake in Allendale, also a sand bottom. Open 1/2 hour longer than Graydon.
Crestwood Lake Hours
Early Season
May 23 through June 19
Monday – Friday 1:00pm – 5:00pm
Weekends/Holidays: 10:00am – 7:00pm
Regular Season
June 20 through August 14
Monday – Friday 11:00am – 8:00pm
Weekends/Holidays: 10:00am – 8:00pm
Late Season*
August 15 through September 7
Monday – Friday 11:00am – 7:00pm
Weekends/Holidays: 10:00am – 7:00pm
It is “empty” because a 12 noon start time is not good for parents of children who are up early and ready to nap by 1 PM. Check out Glen Rock’s hours:
AUGUST 19, 2015 LAST UPDATED: WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 19, 2015, 9:58 AM
BY MARK KRULISH
STAFF WRITER |
THE RIDGEWOOD NEWS
The Village of Ridgewood has a new director of Operations on board with the hiring of Rich Calbi, a longtime municipal engineer with a background in running public utilities.
A native of Lyndhurst, Calbi has his bachelor’s degree in civil engineering and master’s degree in environmental engineering from the New Jersey Institute of Technology. He also has a professional engineering license and professional planning license. Calbi is also a certified public works manager and municipal engineer.
Calbi takes over for Frank Moritz, who retired from the post at the end of June.
Aside from serving as the head of Ridgewood Water, Calbi also takes over the director of Operations role, which includes oversight of departments such as recycling, fleet and sanitation.
The announcements of Calbi’s hiring and Moritz’s retirement took place on the same evening, May 27. Calbi started working for the village a few days before Moritz left to ensure a smooth transition during the changeover in personnel.
Calbi began his career working for the Army Corps of Engineers, specifically on the Passaic River Flood Tunnel project, which never came to fruition. He spent five-and-a-half years in the private sector doing flood abatement, storm water management and system design before going to work for local governments.
He started in the public sector in Clifton as the assistant township engineer before becoming the engineer in Maplewood Township in Essex County. Most recently, Calbi was the township engineer in Livingston, where he was also in charge of the Division of Public Works and Water Utility.
Ridgewood NJ, Duh? Couldn’t someone at Village Hall and/or The Stable have figured out how to have capitalized on this heat wave? The “not enough lifeguards” excuse is just kind of lame.
Late Season – Monday, August 17 to Sunday, August 30th
Weekends, 10 am to 7:30 pm
Weekdays, 12 noon to 7:30 pm
POOL CLOSED – Monday, August 31 through Friday, September 4
Labor Day Weekend – Saturday, Sept 5 through Monday, Sept 7
Daily, 10 am to 7:30 pm
The Ridgewood Guild will feature a complimentary movie for your enjoyment! Pack a picnic basket, bring your family and pull up some turf in Van Neste Park. Movies start when the sun goes down…about 8pm. August 19th – Harry Potter (Special Event)
Join us in for family fun and entertainment. We show films great for the whole family on a 25 foot screen and professional sound system. Bring snacks, a picnic blanket, and get ready for a great evening with your community.
2015 Movies in the Park Schedule
All movies are on Wednesdays and start at sundown (approximately 9pm in June and July and 8:30pm in August). In case of rain movies will be shown the following day (Thursday). Follow-us on Facebook for the latest information.
June 10: Star Wars
June 24: Citizen Kane
July 8: Ferris Bueller’s Day Off
July 22: Momma Mia!*
August 5: Murder on the Orient Express
August 19: Harry Potter and the Sorcer’s Stone*
AUGUST 18, 2015 LAST UPDATED: TUESDAY, AUGUST 18, 2015, 9:54 AM
BY MARK KRULISH
STAFF WRITER |
THE RIDGEWOOD NEWS
In an effort to supply the governing body with more financial and budgetary information on a regular basis, the village conducted the first of what will be a quarterly review of Ridgewood’s finances earlier this month.
Village Chief Financial Officer Bob Rooney, in keeping with his goal of providing timely financial information to the council, was on hand at the Aug. 5 council meeting to update the dais on the municipality’s financial state.
In the future, such financial reviews will be given on a quarterly basis, Rooney said.
“Part of the goal is to give you a balance sheet and statement of income on a quarterly basis by fund and, at least annually, give you an update as to our fixed assets – the flow, the acquisition, the disposition – providing you as much as possible,” Rooney said. “Since it is a work in progress, I’m going to ask for your input. Whenever you see there’s something you want or you feel is important, by all means reach out to me.”
Rooney said village officials had already met with some departments, such as the police, building and fleet, to get a better understanding of their needs going forward and had planned meetings with other departments in the near future.
For this report, the financial team looked at line items with deviations that were higher than expected, said Rooney. Charges were evaluated against prior history and known budget requests by the department. Explanations from department heads, where applicable, were also provided.
AUGUST 18, 2015, 3:36 PM LAST UPDATED: TUESDAY, AUGUST 18, 2015, 3:36 PM
BY CHRIS HARRIS
STAFF WRITER |
THE RECORD
RIDGEWOOD — The village and its Zoning Board of Adjustment are named in a lawsuit filed earlier this month by the owners of the Exxon Mobil station on Route 17.
The suit, filed in Bergen County’s Superior Court, seeks a court order “restraining” the development of a nearby parcel of land.
The land being developed is now the site of a Shell filling station, but the owners want to raze the property and install updated gas pumps and construct a 2,000 square-foot 7-Eleven convenience store.
Those plans received approval from the Zoning Board of Adjustment seven months ago. The suit seeks to reverse the board’s decision.
The Summer Months Seems a Good time to review Bicycle Safety , and a reminder to Observe Bike Safety Every Day
NHTSA urges bicyclists and motorists to coexist on roadways with a ‘Safety First’ FocusWASHINGTON – With good weather heralding the start of the summer bicycling season, the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is reminding bicyclists and motorists alike to share responsibility for roadway safety. This includes respecting each other’s rights and obeying traffic laws when on streets or roads.
“We encourage bicycling as a great way to get to work, get in shape or just have fun, and encourage a ‘safety first’ mentality for all who share America’s roads,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx. “Whether it’s drivers who keep an eye out for cyclists, or cyclists who wear a helmet and follow the rules of the road, putting safety first will save lives and reduce injuries for everyone.”
NHTSA statistics show that in 2012, 726 bicyclists were killed and an additional 49,000 were injured in motor vehicle traffic crashes, an increase of 6 percent from 2011 (682). The average age of bicyclists killed in traffic crashes was 43. The vast majority of these deaths occurred in urban areas (69 percent) and at non-intersections (60 percent) and involved mostly male riders (88 percent). About half of these fatalities (48 percent) occurred from 4:00 p.m. to 11:59 p.m.
“Our agency is committed to increasing safe riding behaviors among bicyclists, and heightening awareness and personal responsibility among motorists and others about safely sharing the road with bicyclists,” said NHTSA Acting Administrator David Friedman. “All cyclists should always wear their helmets, as it is the most effective way to prevent head injury in a crash.”
This safety message is being kicked off as the agency joins the League of American Bicyclists and other bicycle advocacy groups and highway safety organizations across the country in celebrating May as National Bike Month.
NHTSA offers bicyclists the following “safety first” tips:
Wear a properly-fitted helmet that meets Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) standards.
Check your bike before heading out: check all equipment and parts for proper fit and function, including tires, brakes, handlebars and seats.
Ride as a vehicle on the road; always travel in the same direction as traffic.
Obey traffic signs, signals and lane markings; signal all turns; and follow local laws.
Be predictable by riding in a straight line and use hand signals at every lane change or turn. Look ahead for traffic and obstacles.
Be visible: wear bright colors, reflective materials and lights on your bicycle at night.
Ride focused and alert: don’t use electronic devices, and never ride impaired by alcohol or drugs.
Drivers of motor vehicles must share the road with bicyclists:
Respect designated bicycle lanes.
Allow at least three feet clearance when passing a bicyclist on the road.
Look for cyclists before opening a car door or pulling out from a parking space.
Yield to cyclists at intersections and as directed by signs and signals.
Look for cyclists when making turns, either left or right.
Never drive distracted or impaired. Always buckle up.
AUGUST 14, 2015 LAST UPDATED: FRIDAY, AUGUST 14, 2015, 7:29 AM
THE RIDGEWOOD NEWS
Time to mandate rain sensors for irrigation systemsTo the Editor:On Aug. 6, patrons of Ridgewood Water received the dreaded robo-call announcing stage II watering restrictions. At this writing, less than a week later, sprinklers and other irrigation systems may be used only two days a week.
Home and other property owners who have spent time, effort and money to make their places green may watch their investment wither as green turns to brown. A simple way to conserve water would require an update to a water department regulation: mandate the use of a rain sensor with every existing irrigation system as well as new ones.
These small, unobtrusive, inexpensive monitors tell the sprinkler system not to turn on when the gauge contains a certain level of water. Avoiding wasted sprinkling during or just after a rainfall helps the homeowner as well by saving money, especially as water rates rise.
Rain sensors are mandated by Ridgewood Water only for newly installed irrigation systems, with older systems grandfathered. With stage II in force and the specter of stage III looming, the time for grandfathering is past. A deadline of April 2016 would be reasonable, after which a warning could be given and then fines levied for noncompliance.
Ridgewood Water asks residents to alert their neighbors who flout watering restrictions. Passing the buck to neighbors for oversight on this issue is unrealistic. It has to come from the top.
My own story includes a cautionary tale. After years of observing other people’s sprinklers working in the rain, and having done too much planting to continue hauling sprinklers around or water the yard with a hose, I finally had a sprinkler system installed about six years ago. As required, a rain sensor was included. I congratulated myself upon being an environmentally aware and frugal citizen.
One night last summer I happened to be awake at dawn, when my sprinkler system turned on – to my surprise, since it was raining. When this happened a second time, I called my current sprinkler company (having dropped the original one for other reasons) to request a visit. The technician found that the sensor had been installed under a small overhang. It had never worked. Neither company had ever checked.
I had the sensor moved. It works now. But for years I was an unwitting scofflaw.
Moral: even those with a rain sensor in place would do well to make sure it is actually working. But first, let’s make sure everybody has one.
AUGUST 17, 2015 LAST UPDATED: MONDAY, AUGUST 17, 2015, 9:49 AM
BY MARK KRULISH
STAFF WRITER |
THE RIDGEWOOD NEWS
Civility talks continued in the village last Monday with a special presentation from two Ridgewood residents who have become advocates for social change regarding bullying and cyber-bullying, particularly those affected in the nation’s LGBT community.
Joe and Jane Clementi, the founders of the Tyler Clementi Foundation, named for their son, whose September 2010 suicide became a national news story, were on hand at the Senior Center in Ridgewood to discuss the foundation’s latest project entitled “Day 1.”
Day 1 is a recently-launched, national anti-bullying campaign that empowers those in leadership positions.
“The idea of it is we instruct people in authority, whether it be teachers, managers, leaders in sports groups, on how to conduct a preemptive explanation about bullying and how to not engage in it and what kind of behavior is tolerated in a group and what kind of behavior won’t be tolerated,” explained Joe Clementi.
Clementi said he believes the campaign will work and it is designed to be simple, effective and cost-free to allow easy implementation in workplaces, schools, sports programs or any group-oriented activity
Ridgewood NJ, On Sunday, September 27, 2015 our Nation honors our Gold Star Mothers and families. The Presidential Proclamation in 2011 commemorating this day pronounces, “As members of a grateful Nation, we owe a debt we can never repay, but hold this sacred obligation forever in
our hearts, minds, and actions. We honor their sacrifice, and stand with our servicemembers, military families, and Gold Star families as they have stood for us.”
The American Legion Post 53 and Ridgewood NJ’s Blue Star Families are committed to bringing awareness to our community and to commemorate the sacrifices these mothers and their families have made for our Country.In the aftermath of World War I, Washington D.C. resident Grace Darling Seibold formed an organization called Gold Star Mothers to support the moms who had lost sons and daughters to the war. Grace’s son, First Lieutenant George Vaughn Seibold, was an aviator killed in combat over France in 1918. In 1928, the small D.C.-based group decided to nationalize its efforts. In 1936, a joint congressional resolution established the last Sunday in September as
Gold Star Mother’s Day. The Gold Star Mothers grew from a support group of 60 women to today’s extensive nationwide network with tens of thousands of members and hundreds of local chapters.
In Ridgewood, NJ the Gold Star Mother’s Day Committee will sponsor our fourth annualevent commemorating Gold Star Mother’s Day on Sunday, September 27
There will be a short ceremony starting promptly at 7:00 p.m. and hundreds of luminaries will be lit to honor Gold Star Mothers and their families. But in addition, our goal is to see thousands of other luminaries lit throughout Ridgewood and other towns on September 27th to honor the Gold Star Mothers and families!
Luminaries will be available for a donation before the ceremony at the following
location:
Residence of Bob Paoli, Commander American Legion Post #53,at 368 N. Pleasant Avenue, Ridgewood, NJ. 07450
Call 201-445-1738 to arrange time to pickup
Everyone also can stand with us in honoring the Gold Star Mothers and families by
helping to raise awareness through:
talking to your family, friends, and neighbors about the event;
joining us at Van Neste Park; and,
supporting this event with a donation (please make checks payable to the American
Legion Post #53, write “Gold Star event” on the memo line, and send it to the American Legion Post #53, P.O. Box 1525, Ridgewood, NJ 07450).
Thank you for your support and cooperation,/s/ Ridgewood, NJ Gold Star Mother’s Day Committee.
Ridgewood Chamber Annual Car Show
Fri, September 11, 2015
Time: 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM
Location: Memorial Park at Van Neste Park, Ridgewood NJ
Ridgewood Chamber of Commerce presents
Annual Fall Car Show!!
This years car show is dedicated to the Memory of those who died on 9/11.
A special “Memorial Award” will be given out by Duxiana of Ridgewood.
This is the best EVENING car show in the Fall!
For more details, please call us at 201-445-2600
to receive a registration form or email [email protected] www.experienceridgewood.com
Ridgewood Chamber Car Show information
Car Owners please place your certificate on the windshield of your car as you enter the show – you will be able to drive right through and park your car quickly.
Some Information for Car Owners:
Entrance location: Please enter off of Franklin Avenue onto North Walnut Street
(North Walnut St., 07450 is between Stop & Shop and TD Bank)
Drive up to the corner of E. Ridgewood Ave., check in will be near
Hillmann Lighting store – 133 E. Ridgewood Ave for your GPS.
Parking: Parking will be on a first-come first serve basis. You will be able to park around Memorial Park and on East Ridgewood Ave.
Police reminders: The Ridgewood Police Department wishes to remind all
participants there is no consumption of alcohol allowed at this
event. Summons will be issued to violators. Ridgewood has
some wonderful restaurants and pubs. Enjoy!
Due to pedestrian safety, cars will not be allowed to leave the
Event until the police open up the road – unless you have received special permission and parking location.
We welcome you to Ridgewood! Music will keep the evening lively and there will be trophies for many categories at 8:30pm near the music.
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.
