VILLAGE OF RIDGEWOOD MAYOR’S OFFICE HOURS FOR RESIDENTS -Saturday, August 1
Mayor Paul Aronsohn holds office hours for Ridgewood residents on Saturday’s every month. Mayor Aronsohn will meet with residents on Saturday, August 1 from 9AM to Noon in the Council Chambers (Sydney V. Stoldt, Jr. Court Room) on the fourth floor of Ridgewood Village Hall.
For an appointment to meet with the Mayor, please call the Village Clerk’s Office at 201-670-5500 ext. 206. You may come to the Mayor’s office hours without an appointment, but those with appointments will be given priority.
JULY 29, 2015 LAST UPDATED: WEDNESDAY, JULY 29, 2015, 9:11 AM
BY MARK KRULISH
STAFF WRITER |
THE RIDGEWOOD NEWS
Finding a parking spot at the Village Hall lot has been tough sledding lately for some visitors to the municipal complex.
The arrival of summer means that many outdoor events are taking place at Veterans Field. The added hustle and bustle, along with regular events at the Ridgewood Public Library and day-to-day business at Village Hall, often causes the 153-space main lot to be full at various points during both the day and evening.
Earlier this month, discussion began on how the auxiliary lots on Linwood Avenue, one of which is at the other end of Veterans Field, could be better utilized in handling the parking needs of patrons attending overlapping events.
For example, on the evening of Tuesday, July 7, there was a Warren Grim tribute concert at Kasschau Shell, a baseball game, a Planning Board meeting at Village Hall and the library was hosting its knitting group, Mahjongg group and bicycle club.
Councilwoman Susan Knudsen, who was present at the municipal complex that evening as a Planning Board member, characterized the parking situation as “dangerous.” She said some motorists were bottlenecking as they drove around waiting for a spot. Other cars were sitting idle while parallel to parking spaces, blocking in other cars.
Deputy Mayor Albert Pucciarelli noted it was possible for a person to park in those spaces and then go anywhere in town, or perhaps even walk to the train station and travel to New York City. The only parking limits placed on the Village Hall lot is the presence of 36 yellow-striped spaces reserved for village employees, which expires at 4:30 p.m. each day. There are also 17 spaces reserved for staff members of the Ridgewood Library.
Currently, 89 spaces in the main lot and another 17 on North Maple Avenue are available for visitors to Village Hall and the Ridgewood Library.
Heat stroke results from an extreme elevation in body temperature (>106°F) and occurs when heat generation (via metabolism, exercise, environmental conditions, etc) exceeds the body’s ability to dissipate heat (via conduction, convection, radiation and evaporation). Severe hyperthermia affects nearly every system in the body and can lead to kidney failure, gastrointestinal bleeding, brain swelling, blood clots or coagulation problems, septicemia, liver disease, heart muscle damage/failure, fluid buildup in the lungs and shock.
Pets suffering from heat stroke, which can be a cat or a dog, may show one or more of the following clinical signs: extreme panting and respiratory distress, collapse and inability to rise, agitation, foaming at the mouth or thick, ropey saliva, vomiting, diarrhea, depression, seizures, and very red gums or pale gums. These signs indicate a true emergency and the pet should be brought to the hospital immediately. If a pet is showing the above signs…
WHAT TO DO:
– Remove the pet from the environment where the hyperthermia occurred
– Move the pet to the shade or indoors and direct a fan on him/her
– Begin cooling the pet with cool (not cold) water on the trunk and legs (a tub or garden hose works well)
– If possible, obtain and record the rectal temperature
– Call and transport to the hospital immediately after wetting the animal
WHAT NOT TO DO:
– Do NOT use cold water or ice for cooling unless under the guidance of a veterinarian (this causes peripheral vasoconstriction and shivering, both of which act to increase the body temperature)
– Do NOT delay examination of the pet by a veterinarian
– Do NOT attempt to force the animal to eat or drink
– Do NOT leave the pet unattended
– Do NOT overcool the pet
Please share this information with any friends or pet owners who may not be aware of the dangers of heat stroke!
Courtesy of your friends at the
RIDGEWOOD VETERINARY HOSPITAL
201-447-6000/201-445-0030
JULY 28, 2015, 6:57 PM LAST UPDATED: TUESDAY, JULY 28, 2015, 11:07 PM
BY CHRIS HARRIS
STAFF WRITER |
THE RECORD
Additional criminal counts have been filed against a former Ridgewood resident accused of having inappropriate sexual contact with seven of the college athletes he had coached.
A grand jury in Rockland County, N.Y., returned a 197-count indictment last month against Kurt G. Ludwigsen, the 44-year-old former coach for Nyack College’s softball team.
The indictment formalized the 190 counts of forcible touching and sexual abuse Ludwigsen was initially arrested on three months ago and added seven charges of first-degree felony coercion.
Related: More charges for Ridgewood man accused of improper sexual contact by college softball players
Ludwigsen is due back in court on Aug. 19 at 9:30 a.m. in front of Rockland County Supreme Court Judge William Kelly.
Ludwigsen allegedly touched the buttocks and breasts of seven of the team’s players, including four freshmen, according to the indictment, and none of the women consented to the sexual contact.
The sexual abuse allegedly occurred between Sept. 1, 2014, and March 5 — just days before Ludwigsen was fired by the college, the indictment says.
RIDGEWOOD NJ, THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE and the NJ DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION HAVE ISSUED AN AIR QUALITY ALERT IN EFFECT FROM 11 AM THIS MORNING TO 11 PM EDT THIS EVENING…
THE NEW JERSEY DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION HAS ISSUED AN
AIR QUALITY ACTION DAY FOR THE FOLLOWING COUNTIES…BERGEN…ESSEX…PASSAIC…UNION…HUDSON.
IN EFFECT FROM 11 AM THIS MORNING TO 11 PM EDT THIS EVENING.
AN AIR QUALITY ACTION DAY MEANS THAT GROUND LEVEL OZONE WITHIN THE
REGION MAY APPROACH OR EXCEED UNHEALTHY STANDARDS.
FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION…PLEASE VISIT THE NEW JERSEY STATE
DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AT…HTTP://WWW.NJAQINOW.NET
Ridgewood NJ, Quick thinking on the part of an observant bank teller and an immediate response by Ridgewood PD Patrol Officer Paul Dinice saved a local resident from becoming a victim of the increasingly pervasive “IRS Scam.” Officer Dinice was dispatched to a local Chase Bank branch (84 East Ridgewood Avenue) following receipt of a 911 telephone call from a bank teller there who reported that a very distraught female patron talking on a cell phone had asked to withdraw a large sum of money.
After arriving at the bank less than 60 seconds from being dispatched, Dinice quickly located and interviewed the intended victim. He determined almost immediately that the “IRS Scam” was in play and convinced the 57-year old resident to hang up the phone. Still distraught, the resident asked to be transported to a local pharmacy, a request Dinice cheerfully honored.
Ridgewood NJ, On Tuesday July 21, 2015, a resident reported that he/she had entered into an agreement with a seller on Craigslist.com to purchase a motor vehicle. After the resident forwarded payment for the vehicle and shipping costs, the vehicle did not arrive as agreed upon. Upon further review of the transaction, the buyer realized that the advertisement was fraudulent and the seller had no intention of providing the vehicle. The matter was forwarded to the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
How to Spot Car Scams on Craigslist
Craigslist can be a great resource to find new or used car deals in your local area. In some cases, if you are looking for a specific model of car, it can be tempting to purchase a car from another region of your country or from a different country entirely. When you are browsing cars for sale on Craigslist outside of your local area, you must learn how to recognize and spot the signs that indicate potential car scams. https://www.wikihow.com/Spot-Car-Scams-on-Craigslist
the staff of the Ridgewood blogRidgewood NJ, The Ridgewood Arts Council (RAC) is placing a final call to all artists with a connection to Ridgewood to consider donating to a permanent art installation which will be housed throughout Ridgewood’s Village Hall. The intent of this installation, entitled Ridgewood Art at Village Hall, is to celebrate the wealth of talent among Ridgewood-related artists, past and present. We encourage contributors, 16 years and older, with a connection to
Ridgewood, to participate. Posthumous contributions from family members welcome. The process starts by artists e-mailing [email protected] for a short online submission form. Art can be in any medium and any size–fine art, photography, textile, mobile art and sculpture included. Deadline for submissions has been extended to August 1 so we urge all interested parties to submit ASAP. Once the installation is in place, we will be inviting our entire community to a gala launch event celebrating RAC and this new chapter of honoring the arts in Ridgewood!
JULY 26, 2015 LAST UPDATED: SUNDAY, JULY 26, 2015, 1:21 AM
BY ALICE GOMSTYN
SPECIAL TO THE RECORD |
THE RECORD
When Cindy Myer’s husband, Rob, died from a heart attack in 2005, she didn’t just have to worry about taking care of her family — she had a business to run, too.
Myer succeeded her husband as chief executive of Ridgewood Moving Services and turned the struggling company into a profitable venture, which last year had revenue of about $2.3 million.
Myer, who leads some 30 employees, said she’s proud of spearheading that turnaround as well as cementing her company’s strong community ties. She recently took time to reminisce about her journey from amateur business owner to CEO and also explained why her moving company is about more than just moving. (Edited for clarity and length.)
Q. When you and your husband originally bought Ridgewood Moving Services, what was the plan with respect to how the work would be divided between you?
Rob worked for Ridgewood Moving when he had gotten out of the military in the ’80s. We were married in 1985, when I was still in the fashion industry. In 1987, we bought the business. He ran it, and I was a vice president, just by title only.
And then in 1988 when I got pregnant and had my first daughter, I retired to raise a family. He ran the company from 1987 to 2005, when he passed away. He died of a heart attack. He was 47.
Ridgewood NJ, , Readers suggest the Ridgewood Public Library follow the same successful template as the RHS Learning Commons with a public private partnership to raise money for the desired public library renovations.
As many remember Learning Commons project organizers believed a state facilities grant, would supply the last additional needed funds for the community-driven project, even though grants had been awarded across the state, including $434,220 to Ridgewood to finance other work at the high school, the Learning Commons did not fall within the parameters of the grant requirements.
In September 2012 The Ridgewood High School (RHS) Home and School Association (HSA) launched an aggressive fall fundraising campaign to pay for the transformation of the RHS library into a space better suited for 21st century learners. At the time it was thought that the renovation would potentially cost $850,000.The new RHS Learning Commons was needed to replace a library that has not been renovated since it was originally designed in 1963. After a little debate the Village embraced the idea and the needed funds were raised .
The same principles could be applied to the Ridgewood Public Library to attain the desired result and would create a more inclusive comunity based solution.
Before anything is done they need to research this. This is not about wanting a light and airy library and it is not about the director wanting a renovation, this is taxpayer money. They have clubs meeting there and tutoring taking place. Is this what we want in the library or should the focus be on access to books and information?
Who are the current visitors to the library
How often do they visit
What do they use it for
For residents who do not go to the library
What do they want in a library
Is there something missing that keeps them from using the library
For all residents – how many times a week/month/year do they visit the library
Is the library serving the needs of all residents
JULY 24, 2015 LAST UPDATED: FRIDAY, JULY 24, 2015, 1:14 PM
BY MATTHEW SCHNEIDER
STAFF WRITER |
THE RIDGEWOOD NEWS
The Park West Tavern Loft will host a special event for developmentally disabled people Friday night.
The event, titled “Club LOU ’15 Summer Blast,” will feature dancing and fun as the participants are taken out for a “night on the town.”
Life Opportunities Unlimited, a Ridgewood-based charity, is the driving force behind the occasion.
“Life Opportunities Unlimited is a human service agency that provides residential and day program services to adults that have developmental disabilities,” said Gail Tamirian-Mandeli, head of the organization.
The charity, founded in 1995, has a number of homes throughout area towns and a day program in Ridgewood.
People from all over will be coming to the event, giving the participants an opportunity to meet new friends.
“From living in our group and other agencies’ group homes, to living in the community with their parents, to living on their own in Orchard Commons in Allendale, people come from every place,” Tamirian-Mandeli said.
Summer Sidewalk Sale Days
Thu, August 06, 2015 – Sat, August 08, 2015
Time: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Location: Downtown Ridgewood, E Ridgewood Ave., Ridgewood, NJ 07450
Event Description
Participating Stores:
Alex and Ani 134 E. Ridgewood Ave
Anik 119 E. Ridgewood Ave
Beauty Plus Salon 25 E. Ridgewood Ave
Bookends 211 E. Ridgewood Ave
Brain Balance Allendale
B Witching 130 1/2 E. Ridgewood Ave
DoubleTake Consignment 189 E. Ridgewood Ave
Duxiana 63 E. Ridgewood Ave
Femmebot 203 E. Ridgewood Ave
Fusion Academy Englewood-In front of the Park
Goldfish Swim School
Gypsy Warrior 125 E. Ridgewood Ave
Huntington Learning Center- In front of Park
Just Our Shoes/Mephisto 16 N. Walnut St
kate spade 202 E. Ridgewood Ave
Learning Express 111 E. Ridgewood Ave
Loft 41 Jewelry Studio 41 E. Ridgewood Ave
Orange Leaf Frozen Yogurt 171 E. Ridgewood Ave
Panico Salon & Spa 144 E. Ridgewood Ave
P. Smith & Co. 65 E. Ridgewood Ave
Park West Tavern
Pink Bungalow 185 E. Ridgewood Ave
RACEFASTER 211 E. Ridgewood Ave
Red Velvet Luxe 59 E Ridgewood Ave
Ridgewood Bootery 200 E. Ridgewood Ave
Storm Guard Restoration
Town & Country Apothecary 60 E. Ridgewood Ave
VINYASA YOGA BY EQUINOX
Equinox Paramus, the leaders in luxury fitness, bring you Vinyasa yoga with one of our renowned instructors before you hit the Ridgewood Sidewalk Sale. Participate in a more athletic approach to yoga characterized by flowing poses and sequences that are linked to the breath. Mats will be provided and all levels are welcome.
Van Neste Square
August 8
10 a.m. to 11 a.m.
RSVP to [email protected]
For more details, please call us at 201-445-2600 or email [email protected] www.experienceridgewood.com
file photo by Boyd Loving
There are two questions. 1. Was an HR director necessary when the Village Manager is supposed to manage this function as part of her $150K salary? 2. Did the Village Council violate the Village Code by hiring Matthews prior to creating the position.
The answer to (1) is open for debate. Some agree. Others don’t.
The answer to (2) is unequivocal – the code was violated, and the VC was well aware that they barreled ahead without following the letter of the law.
Yes, Paul, the system is broken. And you deliberately broke it.
The question is WHY? What was the big hurry? Why not get things straight before hiring someone? Why all the subterfuge?
Thank you Mike Sedon and Susan Knudsen for standing up to your law-breaking colleagues on the Council. At least we can be proud that 40% of our elected officials follow the laws they were hired to observe.