Category: village of ridgewood

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Loss of parking at Ridgewood school has village in tight spot

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APRIL 17, 2015    LAST UPDATED: FRIDAY, APRIL 17, 2015, 12:31 AM
BY MARK KRULISH
STAFF WRITER |
THE RIDGEWOOD NEWS

An ordinance introduced last week to limit the hours motorists can park on Corella Court during the school day has nearby residents concerned that parking problems will now spill over onto neighboring Stevens Avenue.

From Sept. 1 through June 30, parking will be limited to two hours from 8 a.m. until 3 p.m. on both sides of Corella Court. The ordinance also calls for a stop sign to be installed on the east side of the street at its intersection with Stevens Avenue.

The changes stem from an influx of cars parked on Corella Court for hours at a time each day, which was attributed to construction done at Hawes Elementary School that took away parking from employees, forcing them to the nearby cul-de-sac, said Village Manager Roberta Sonenfeld.

“It is a serious situation at Corella Court,” Sonenfeld said. “We cannot get emergency vehicles in and out [and] people cannot back out of their driveways, so it really is a serious problem.”

Jim Brandes, a Stevens Avenue resident, said the current proposal will only move the problem further up the street to the area of Stevens Avenue north of Corella Court. Brandes said the situation will, in fact, become more dangerous because Stevens Avenue is busier and more narrow than Corella Court.

https://www.northjersey.com/news/loss-of-spaces-has-village-in-tight-spot-1.1311166

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Ridgewood municipal, school officials discuss district’s budget

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APRIL 16, 2015    LAST UPDATED: THURSDAY, APRIL 16, 2015, 3:43 PM
BY DARIUS AMOS
STAFF WRITER |
THE RIDGEWOOD NEWS

Municipal officials gave high marks to the Ridgewood school system for its overall work and offered preliminary support to the district’s proposed $101 million budget.

At the annual joint meeting between the village’s governing and education leaders on Monday, Board of Education members and district administrators reviewed their anticipated 2015-16 spending plan, which will be up for BOE vote later this month.

The schools budget calls for an average tax bill increase of approximately $195, a figure based on an assessed home value of $690,662.

When combined with the district’s outstanding debt service levy, the amount to be paid is a 2.04 percent increase over last year.

In explaining the proposal, Alfredo Aguilar, district business administrator, highlighted the various programs that the budget would support. Included in his list were four additional staff positions, 13 new class offerings throughout the high school and middle schools, and $1.5 million earmarked for technology maintenance and upgrades.

https://www.northjersey.com/news/education/ridgewood-municipal-school-officials-discuss-district-s-budget-1.1310985

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Eastern Armored Services to handle Ridgewood parking meter coins

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APRIL 15, 2015    LAST UPDATED: WEDNESDAY, APRIL 15, 2015, 7:17 AM
BY MARK KRULISH
STAFF WRITER |
THE RIDGEWOOD NEWS

Village officials have authorized the signing of a contract with an armored car service to provide transportation and counting services for coins collected by the village from parking meters.

With a resolution adopted earlier this month, Ridgewood entered into an agreement with Trenton-based Eastern Armored Services for the secure transport, counting and subsequent depositing of coinage from the Parking Utility.

The measure is another step to prevent theft in the wake of the $460,000 in coins that were stolen by former Public Works employee Thomas Rica between 2010 and 2013 and the subsequent 2015 audit, which posits that an additional $377,000 in coins had been swindled during that time.

Village Manager Roberta Sonenfeld said this agreement would relieve the village of its duty to count coins, handing off the job to an outside company, which would then deposit the collected coins in the bank.

https://www.northjersey.com/news/armored-car-to-pick-up-ridgewood-coins-1.1309305

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NEW Expanded Parking Hours at Cottage Place Lot!

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Ridgewood NJ, The Village has announced that starting Thursday, April 16th the new regulated hours for parking at the Cottage Place Lot will be from 10AM to 6PM; Monday through Saturday at a cost of .75 cents per hour. Payment for parking can be made using coins at the meter (nickels, dimes, quarters) or by purchasing a CBD Monthly Pass.

As in the past, the programs for RPP’s for Non Residents and Residents and the Monthly CBD Permits are still in effect.

The Parkmobile App will be available for use in all lots the week of May 4th.

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If it’s April, it must be allergy season

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APRIL 10, 2015    LAST UPDATED: FRIDAY, APRIL 10, 2015, 12:31 AM
BY LUCY PROBERT
THE RIDGEWOOD NEWS

In our house, two lacrosse schedules, one muddy dog and a teenager’s pair of red, itchy eyes mark the beginning of spring. Ah, the allergy season; in this area, it comes up fast and hits pretty hard.

Just look at the number of streets named after trees (Oak, Maple, Chestnut), proof that pollen is alive and well and soon to start coating our cars and filling our kids’ noses.

But if you’ve got seasonal allergies in your home, you’re not alone; statistics show that up to 40 percent of children suffer from them with stuffy noses, sneezing and those itchy eyes. The good news is that it’s a relatively brief season. The bad news is that those few months can bring misery.

This pesky pollen comes from weeds, plants, grasses and trees, pretty much whatever we come in contact with just by being outside. Around here the allergy season starts with maple, says Dr. Patricia Hicks, an allergist in Ho-Ho-Kus. Then by mid-May we start to see oak pollen, then it’s grass, she says.

“The problem is that these add to each other, so by the time the season is in full swing, you’re dealing with multiple pollens.”

Peak time is around Mother’s Day and by summer most symptoms have lessened.

https://www.northjersey.com/community-news/family/if-it-s-april-it-must-be-allergy-season-1.1306173

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Ridgewood approves increasing construction code fees

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APRIL 14, 2015    LAST UPDATED: TUESDAY, APRIL 14, 2015, 9:42 AM
BY MARK KRULISH
STAFF WRITER |
THE RIDGEWOOD NEWS

The Ridgewood Council has approved new construction code fees, adopting the implementing ordinance by 3-2 vote during its meeting last Wednesday.

Council members Susan Knudsen and Michael Sedon voted against the fee changes.

Knudsen did not offer explanation for her vote; however, Sedon said he reviewed the Building Department’s upcoming budget when reaching his decision. In comparing anticipated revenues and expenditures, the councilman said the department is turning a $134,000 profit.

“My feeling is we’re covering the cost of the department and able to make a little bit of money while still offering residents a bit of a deal on inspections when they have work done,” Sedon said, suggesting the higher fees were unnecessary.

With the new ordinance, the building department is aiming to bring the village’s construction code fees more in line with surrounding towns and the state of New Jersey.

Tom Yotka, the new director of the Building Department and construction official, said the Department of Community Affairs (DCA) requires the construction official in each municipality to review the fees a minimum of every two years. Yotka noted the last effective change to the ordinance was in 2009, but did not know when the department last reviewed its charges.

https://www.northjersey.com/news/new-fee-structure-approved-1.1308346

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Ridgewood Bear ; experts say expect to see more

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photo from Ridgewood Police 

April 13,2015
the staff of the Ridgewood blog

RIDGEWOOD, N.J. , Ridgewood Police with the help of Fish and wildlife officials tranquilized a bear found roaming through the Village in a sign that bear-sighting season is here.

Chief John M. Ward ,”I would like to thank Bergen County, Glen Rock and Ho Ho Kus Police Departments, TYCO animal control and NJ Fish & Game for their assistance in the tracking, containment and capture of the bear. Additionally I would like to thank Ridgewood Fire, Emergency Services, and OEM for their valuable assistance with notification of the public and helping to secure the perimeter, area sports fields and schools during the incident.
Finally I would like to thank our residents for their cooperation and understanding which allowed us to deal with the situation as quickly and safely as possible. “

Authorities speculate  that the 175-pound male black bear that was seen Saturday morning in Ridgewood,may have been the same one seen in Hawthorne Friday night.

Experts tell The Bergen Record that bear sightings pick up at this time of year as the bruins emerge from hibernating to look for food. Males can roam as far as 50 miles from their dens.

Bears have been seen all around New Jersey but sightings have been mainly concentrated in the northwest part of the state.

New Jersey hosts a state-sanctioned bear hunt that has killed about 1,900 bears since 2010 and the state has proposed expanding the hunt in coming years.

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More charges for Ridgewood man accused of improper sexual contact by college softball players

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APRIL 13, 2015, 8:02 PM    LAST UPDATED: MONDAY, APRIL 13, 2015, 8:03 PM
BY CHRIS HARRIS
STAFF WRITER |
THE RECORD

SOUTH NYACK, N.Y. — Six additional charges were filed on Monday against Kurt G. Ludwigsen, the 43-year-old Ridgewood resident accused of inappropriately kissing and touching several softball players he had coached at Nyack College.

The additional charges were revealed at Ludwigsen’s arraignment in South Nyack court on Monday evening.

More than 90 charges of forcible touching of another’s sexual/intimate parts and harassment were brought against Ludwigsen last Thursdayfollowing interviews with between 10 and 20 of his players, who ranged from 18 to 23 years old, South Nyack-Grand View Police Chief Brent Newbury said.

Newbury confirmed another victim had come forward on Monday, resulting in six more “similar charges.” Those charges were not outlined during Ludwigsen’s arraignment. However, Newbury said three were harassment related and three were related to unwanted touching.

Dressed in khaki pants with matching shoes and a purple, white, and dark green plaid shirt and carrying a black backpack,  Ludwigsen sat at the back of the court room audience, occasionally cracking his knuckles.

Before his name was called by Judge Thomas Mascola, Ludwigsen — also known as Kurt Vogner — also sent text messages and checked sports scores on his phone.

Ludwigsen approached the bench with his attorney, David Goldstein, who didn’t once remove his sunglasses.

Goldstein waived a reading of the charges against his client, and a not guilty plea was entered on his Ludwigsen’s behalf. The Ridgewood man will return to South Nyack for another hearing on May 11.

Mascola on Monday also approved a protective order sought by the most recent player to press charges against Ludwigsen.

https://www.northjersey.com/news/more-charges-for-ridgewood-man-accused-of-improper-sexual-contact-by-college-softball-players-1.1308099

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Millions facing higher premium rates for flood insurance

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file photo by Boyd Loving

APRIL 12, 2015, 11:51 AM    LAST UPDATED: SUNDAY, APRIL 12, 2015, 11:56 AM
BY FRANK ELTMAN
ASSOCIATED PRESS

MINEOLA, N.Y.  — A $24 billion sea of red ink has millions of Americans in vulnerable flood zones, including homeowners still struggling to recover from Superstorm Sandy, facing steep increases in flood insurance premiums.

New legislation that went into effect this month — the second time in two years Congress has tweaked the troubled National Flood Insurance Program — allows rate increases of up to 18 percent.

“This appears to be death by a thousand cuts,'” said Scott Primiano, an Amityville, New York, insurance broker who has been holding seminars for clients to explain the new legislation. “The concept sounds good, but no one can say what the full risk is. … They are going to take it in bits and pieces every year and it keeps going until Congress determines we’ve had enough.”

Federal Emergency Management Agency spokesman Rafael Lemaitre said the flood insurance program has for decades been paying out more than it took in, with the United States as a whole totaling more than $260 billion in flood-related damages between 1980 and 2013. He said the new legislation is “intended to improve the long-term sustainability of the program while being sensitive to needs of policyholders.”

Lemaitre noted that a previous overhaul in 2012 had socked many policyholders with even higher rate hikes — as much as 25 percent annually.

https://www.northjersey.com/news/millions-facing-higher-premium-rates-for-flood-insurance-1.1307515

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Meet the Manager – Thursday, April 23 4:30pm to 7:30pm

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Village Manager Roberta Sonenfeld will hold office hours for Ridgewood residents and business owners on Thursday, April 23 between the hours of 4:30pm to 7:30pm. This is an opportunity to share your thoughts and provide input to Roberta. These sessions will be scheduled at 15 minute intervals and will be held in the Garden Room – on the First Level of Ridgewood Village Hall. Please contact Beth Spinato at 201-670-5500, ext. 203 to make an appointment. Walk-ins are welcome but should realize that the schedule may already be booked. We will announce the schedule for these meetings on a monthly basis

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Authorities Tranquilize Black Bear Roaming Around Ridgewood, NJ

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photo courtesy of the Ridgewood Police Department

April 11, 2015 11:25 PM

RIDGEWOOD, N.J. (CBSNewYork) – A black bear reportedly roaming around Ridgewood, New Jersey, was tranquilized by authorities Saturday.

According to posts on the Ridgewood Police Department’s social media accounts, the 175-pound bear was roaming the community earlier but was removed by the New Jersey Department of Fish and Wildlife.

Ridgewood police tell WCBS 880 a call came in at about 8:10 a.m. about a bear in the area heading into town.

https://newyork.cbslocal.com/2015/04/11/authorities-tranquilize-black-bear-roaming-around-ridgewood-nj/

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Reader says All the rhetoric about wanting to hire the best available employee is B.S.

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Village Clerk, when acting VM, violated ordinance and was called out on it by resident. Same resident had applied for a Village position. Resident denied position in violation of residency requirement ordinance by same Village Clerk while Acting Manager. New Vm (R.S.) learns of violation in May, 2014 and decides to amend ordinance to support her Village Clerk. Councilwoman Knudsen got to close to discovering the truth and the V.M. and 3 amigos decided to sic their attack dog(labor attorney) on her. All the rhetoric about wanting to hire the best available employee is B.S.

That’s either a crass indictment, or a rare glimpse of truth and municipal reality that the public was not supposed to be afforded. One can’t necessarily decide between the two possibilities without more information or an alternative source, but you may be assured that at least one inquiring mind wants to know which is real, and which IS an illusion!

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Reader says Councilwoman Knudsen actions are an attempt to get to the bottom of this sordid affair

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file photo by Boyd Loving

Councilwoman Knudsen, if she really sits and thinks about it, will realize that she has the municipal equivalent of Legislative Privilege to shield her from negative repercussions from the actions she took in an attempt to get to the bottom of this sordid affair, and the public statements she made in attempting to articulate her impressions of the apparent suspicious misfeasance and unaccountable nonfeasance of many of those with whom she shares the local governmental stage. We should all pray for her that she not buckle or crumple under the combined weight of all the unfair attacks lodged against her in response to her probing questions (and they really do seem to be rolling out the big guns). If Ms. Knudsen backs off now the precedent will have been set and this set of circumstances will be repeated as necessary and ad nauseum until legitimate political opposition by the minority becomes a lost art in Ridgewood. On the other hand, if instead she stands her ground (as she absolutely should, since she has done absolutely nothing wrong, and so much that is so sweetly right) and manages to carry her point to its logical conclusion, we will be blessed with a shining, Patton-like example of courage which we can then use as a touchstone during future disputes with the sulphurous political element that has unfortunately surfaced in Ridgewood (and those disputes will come…).

BTW, there is no way a contracted labor attorney can go toe-to-toe with an elected member of the Village Council, regardless of the pure truth of the matter, when there the criticisms made against the former party has such a clear basis in publicly-confirmable fact.

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College coach from Ridgewood charged with dozens of sexual offenses involving players

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by Paul Milo | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
on April 09, 2015 at 10:24 PM, updated April 10, 2015 at 12:24 AM

A women’s college softball coach who lives in Ridgewood was charged Thursday with more than 90 counts of improper sexual contact and behavior, The Journal News of New York reported.

Kurt Ludwigsen, 43, worked as a coach at Nyack College between September and last month, when he was fired after the administration of the Christian school began to receive complaints from parents. Ludwigsen, also known as Kurt Vogner, is accused of behavior including harassment, kissing and unwanted sexual touching involving the 13 players he coached.

Ludwigsen has been charged with 44 misdemeanor counts of forcible touching, 49 misdemeanor counts of second-degree harassment, and one misdemeanor count of third-degree sexual abuse.

He was being held on $15,000 cash bail in the Rockland County jail.

https://www.nj.com/bergen/index.ssf/2015/04/college_coach_from_ridgewood_charged_with_dozens_o.html