If not for our grassroots involvement, a decade of massive demolition and construction would likely be underway today at Valley Hospital, doubling in size in a location that is already over-burdened.
The Fight Continues! We vitally need your donations to:
1) Finish our legal work.The flawed Master Plan Amendment of 2010 is still on the books of Ridgewood. The current or any future council could allow Valley to build to the 1.2 million square foot limits approved compared to the current building approximating 550,000 square feet. While expensive, this legal action is essential to putting a final halt to Valley’s determined drive to expand in the Village.
2) Continue public advocacy before Ridgewood’s Village Council and Land-Use Boards.The Valley Corporation has seemingly infinite resources and connections to get their way. It is imperative that we continue our grass-roots efforts to counter their efforts to put an incompatible building in our midst.
While there is much corporate and personal money being spent in support of the Valley aspirations, all the opposition is funded by our hard-earned donations.
ALL DONATIONS ARE NEEDED. BECAUSE LEGAL WORK IS COSTLY, WE ASK YOU CONSIDER $200 OR MORE. HOWEVER, ANY DONATION WILL HELP.
PayPal service is available for you convenience — or please mail your donation to
Concerned Residents of Ridgewood
P.O. Box 150 Ridgewood, NJ 07451.
Checks should be made out to Concerned Residents of Ridgewood
The group does not push that hard for money, but we cannot let them pay for this themselves. Please consider giving any amount–small is a lot better than zero. Let’s dig deep so that Valley doesn’t! Once is not enough–this has been going on for nearly a decade and is expen$$$$ive.
BY KATHLEEN LYNN AND DAVID SHEINGOLD
STAFF WRITERS |
THE RECORD
In the overheated housing market of 2005, Barbara O’Leary and Dennis Poletto bought a Bergenfield colonial for $440,000 — just five years after the previous owner had paid $175,000.
Now, they’d like to downsize into a place with no stairs. But they feel they can’t move, because real estate agents have told them their home would probably sell for about $330,000.
We need to support the BOE and the Students. Everyone’s kids has suffered due to these teachers union this year. Class trips and after school programs are suffering. The private sectors healthcare is exploding also with no relief for us. Copays of $45, for each visit, teachers and all civil servants all need to pay their fare share and understand the pain and suffering that we are all paying more for. We are not getting raises to cover these increases nor should they. While we’re talking on this subject let’s move all to 401K plans. The system can’t handle all the retirees benefits. We will collapse soon, work 25 years then collect retirement for 35 years? Use them or lose them…no more taking $100,000s of dollars in unused sick time and vacation accrued, this is absurd. I support reasonable demands and expect our BOE professionals not to cave on unrealistic demands. Don’t get me wrong I do support teachers but can’t wait for those signs to go away!
Anti-Development? What Kool-Aid are you drinking. If you changed your thought properly to Over-Development, then you’d be 100% correct. Develop reasonable housing at 18-24 units, Valley can renew in Ridgewood with minor variances (not doubling in size-Ludacris). Parking garage, should be 2 levels on Hudson, then another 2 level garage at another location (Ken Smith, behind BOE building, or Hillman? Shoving overdevelopment down our throats is the reason all these are on hold. We need logical decision making and that’s what our new council will bring. Can someone please remove that illegal wall in front of the Greek Restaurant! Can anyone explain who and why this was allowed?
Ridgewood NJ, Opening Day at Graydon Pool kick off was yesterday . Pool memberships available at CommunityPass and at the Pool Badge Office.
GRAYDON MEMBERSHIP RATES
RESIDENT MEMBERSHIPS – Village priced memberships are available to Ridgewood residents, non-residents who pay local property taxes to the Village of Ridgewood, and employees of the Village of Ridgewood and Board of Education. Proof is required.
ADULT – $120.00
CHILD – (ages 2-15, under 2 free) $110.00
SENIOR – $30.00 (62 and older)
PERMANENT DISABLED – $30.00
DAILY PASS – $10.00
BADGE REPLACEMENT – $5.00
NON-RESIDENT MEMBERSHIPS – The Village Council and the Ridgewood Department of Parks and Recreation are pleased to invite all families in the surrounding area to join the Graydon Pool facility for the 2016 summer season.
ADULT (ages 16 and up) – $200.00
CHILD (ages 2-15) – $175.00
GUEST PASSES (must be accompanied by 2016 season member)- $10.00
BADGE REPLACEMENT – $5.00
Reader says Vote NO on the big garage, Hudson lot half empty at 3:45 pm Saturday, 6/4
Please vote NO on the big garage. Once again we see the Hudson St lot with many open spaces on a busy Saturday. Everyone is in town, school is in session, the weather was great, and there is parking everywhere. Available parking in the CBR is the rule, not the exception even on a warm spring day before summer vacation.
Ridgewood NJ, In recent days there have been many heated arguments on social media in regards to the lack of a teacher contract. We parents have been accused of not reacting sooner to the stalled contract negotiations. We have placed our faith in the elected officials of the Board of Education (BOE). The BOE officials are educated professionals who are expected to formulate opinions and make decisions regarding contract negotiations. They have access to information which is readily available. As parents our days are filled with work, sports and other activities. We don’t have the time to research and review this information ourselves.
The teachers think we ignore their protests. We witness their protests but we choose to ignore them because their actions are offensive. With every protest our indignation grows: with every field trip the teachers have elected to miss, with the Halloween parade where the chosen costume was a red shirt, with all the school events where the teachers were absent, with the recommendation letters the teachers have either refused to write or have written the bare minimum , with all the mornings we have watched the teachers stand outside the school and march in together, with every mass exodus at the end of the day and with the countless other signs we noticed.
Now they are threatening to take our clubs away from our children. They want us to react and so we will. We will educate ourselves so that we as parents can make a decision. The following facts collected from public sources should help us parents better understand the issues behind the contract negotiations:
It is being said that by not giving the teachers what they want, we will force them to retire and we will lose good teachers. It seems that some of the teachers who are paid well are very vocal yet they are the ones pushing the median up. It also implies that the young teachers are not as good as the older ones because if the seasoned teachers leave we will be left with poor educators.
When compared to the private sector, the teachers’ salaries are competitive.
The private sector has a 40-hour work week for 48 weeks. Teachers work 37.5 hours 37.5 weeks a year.
The teachers are guaranteed some type of a raise. Private sector positions have received few to no raises over the past several years.
The argument that the raises don’t cover the increase the teachers have to contribute into health care is the same across all industries.
Private sector positions are paying the same if not more into their healthcare and get fewer benefits.
Teachers have a union that they pay $840 a year to fight for them.
https://www.njea.org/members/about-membership/njea%20membership%20categories
If the private sector employee is not in agreement with what they are receiving, they have to accept it or move on.
With all of this being said, we try to raise our children by example. There are many good teachers in this community. We want to support our teachers. We all want what is fair, but the arguments that they are not treated fairly and are overworked and underpaid are no longer valid.
Many of these teachers are our friends and neighbors. As parents we should be able to express our opinions. The reason many people are afraid to speak up is due to the fact that we are put down and made to feel that our jobs are less important than that of a teacher’s. Just because we entrust you with our children does not mean that you should be treated any better than the rest of us.
We try to teach our children by example. What example are you teaching them- that if I don’t get what I want, I will make sure I will use all my sick days; that if I don’t get paid to start work until a certain time, I will stand outside until I am required to enter the building. The fact is that we will be sending our children into the world soon. Our children will not survive in the private sector if they choose to follow the example set by their teachers.
Shame on you teachers for saying that you care about our children because if you did, you would have attended the field trips, you would have incorporated your red shirts into Halloween costumes, you would have put effort into the letters of recommendation and you would have continued to do what make you happy- teach. Your recent actions, however, say otherwise.
To the parents- please read the information provided. The teachers will get a contract, they will get their raises, they will contribute to their health care and we will all be back in the same situation in three years.
Ridgewood NJ, National Association of Railroad Passengers (NARP) President and Chief Executive Officer Jim Mathews on Tuesday urged federal leaders to fast-track necessary approvals to replace the Hudson River rail tunnels.
If the tunnels aren’t replaced in time, the New York City region could face a “transportation meltdown,” Mathews wrote in a letter to the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) and New Jersey Transit.
Each day, the aging tunnels accommodate 100 trains carrying 24,000 Amtrak riders. Additionally, NJ Transit trains move 90,000 weekday passengers through the tunnels, which run between New York and New Jersey.
“Given the importance of these tunnels to the entire East Coast transportation system and to passenger rail, NARP strongly urges the government to proceed as expeditiously as possible, within the confines of applicable law, to begin desperately needed and long-overdue construction of new tunnels,” Mathews wrote.
He also advocated separating the Hudson tunnels project from Amtrak’s larger Gateway Program, which calls for a number of upgrades to improve capacity between New York City’s Penn Station and Newark, N.J. Separating the two projects would help ease the funding burden, simplify permitting and design, and “secure the widest possible agreement to proceed from elected and appointed officials throughout the region,” Mathews said.
Currently, Amtrak removes one of the tunnels from service each weekend for continuing maintenance, which results in slow, single-tracking operations. Until new ones are built, this will continue indefinitely, according to Mathews.
Additionally, the existing tubes will be removed from service for a full year for complete rehabilitation after the new ones are built.
“There is a real danger that if one of the current bores becomes permanently damaged or disabled, the throughput of trains would fall some 75 percent,” noted Mathews.
Ridgewood NJ, Join Ridgewood Crew/Maroon Blades in Van Neste Square from 10-2 to experience the thrill and learn the benefits of rowing. National Learn to Row Day is today Saturday, June 4.
According to Ridgewood Crew the Top 10 Benefits of Rowing:
Promotes healthy body composition: Rowing can help maintain a healthy balance of fat mass and fat-free mass in your body. If an analysis of your body composition indicates that your body fat is high, rowing can be a good way to burn off fat, as it is predominantly an aerobic sport. In fact, you can easily burn up to 600 calories per hour.
Enhances cardio-respiratory system: Rowing enhances your lung’s ability to provide oxygen to the blood, heart and the rest of your body. A lack of cardio-respiratory fitness is closely linked to heart disease. The good news is that improving your aerobic fitness can be done in short intervals, so it does not take too much time out of your day. All you need is 30 minutes of steady state exercise – or 10 minutes of high intensity intervals – in the boat or on the rowing machine.
Offers low impact exercise with high results: Both competitive and recreational rowing are unique in comparison to most sports because they exercise all of your major muscle groups. Everything from your legs, back and arms are engaged while rowing. In addition, rowing is a low-impact sport. When executed properly, the rowing stroke is a fairly safe motion, providing little room for the serious injury often found in contact and high-impact sports.
Promotes weight loss: Competitive rowers expend almost twice the number of calories on a 2,000-meter course as a runner in a 3,000-meter steeplechase. However, since rowing is low impact, you will not experience the same wear and tear on your body and joints as you would if you were a runner. Plus, you build strength in your upper body and core.
Helps the heart: Cardiovascular training involves any activity that requires the use of the large muscle groups of the body in a regular and uninterrupted manner. Rowing is one of the few non-weight bearing sports that exercises all the major muscle groups.
Builds muscle strength: The primary muscles that rowers work are the quadriceps, the large muscles in front of your thighs. These muscles are necessary for extending the knee, and they also serve as hip flexors, which allow you to make powerful leg movements. As your quadriceps become stronger, activities and exercises such as walking, jogging, lunges and squats can be done more efficiently and with greater strength.
Reduces stress: The consistent and rhythmic activity associated with rowing, combined with being outdoors on the water, has an unparalleled impact on reducing stress.
Stabilizes the body: Rowing in a boat requires the stabilizer and neutralizer muscles to fire up. Those same muscles might help to avoid a fall or help keep you from hurting your back when lifting a child or a heavy box awkwardly. Your core, or trunk, becomes stronger and better prepared to handle off-balanced movement.
Improves muscle and joint mobility: Rowing conditions many different muscles and joints without straining them, making this exercise ideal for those with arthritis or osteoporosis. The muscles and joints experience a wide range of movement during rowing, which will eventually minimize stiffness and increase flexibility. If you live a sedentary lifestyle or become stiff after long periods of inactivity, loosen your muscles and joints by rowing at a moderate pace for 20 to 30 minutes.
Offers a full-body exercise: A rowing machine works the lower and middle back, hamstrings, calves, gluteal muscles and biceps. Rowing works more body parts than most cardiovascular machines, and it provides a low-impact exercise that people of various fitness levels can complete comfortably.
Come take a spin on an erg and get THE BEST WORKOUT of your life!
When: Today, June 4
Stop in anytime between 10-2
Where: Van Neste Square
See you there!!!
Sponsored by Ridgewood Crew/Maroon Blades
MAYOR’S OFFICE HOURS – SATURDAY, JUNE 4 – 9AM TO NOON
June 4,2016
the staff of the Ridgewood
Ridgewood Nj, this may be your last chance to say your goodbyes . Mayor Paul Aronsohn will hold his monthly office hours in the Village Hall Court Room, Saturday, June 4 from 9am to Noon. All residents are invited to meet with the mayor. Residents are encouraged to make an appointment through the Clerk’s Office (201/670-5500 x205) or to stop by during the hours of 9am to Noon.
Ridgewood NJ, On 5/31/2016 at 4:25pm the Ridgewood Police Department responded to the TD Bank at 133 Franklin Avenue for a report of a Panic/Holdup alarm. Once on scene, the employees reported a robbery and that a suspect passed a note demanding money. The suspect was described as a middle aged white male, approximately 5’8”, medium build, wearing a black hat and glasses, yellowish V neck T-Shirt, and jeans. No weapons were involved. The Bergen County Sheriff’s Crime Scene Unit and the FBI were on scene assisting in the investigation.
The information on the robbery was disseminated to all regional law enforcement agencies. On 6/2/2016 the Bensalem, PA Police department was contacted by the suspect, Jeffrey A. Morgan, of Woodcliff Lake, NJ who arranged to turn himself in to their custody for the robbery of the TD Bank in Ridgewood. The suspect was charged with one count of 2nd Degree Robbery by the Ridgewood Police Detective Bureau and one count of being a Fugitive From Justice by the Bensalem, PA Police Department. The suspect is currently housed in the Bucks County, PA Jail awaiting extradition to New Jersey
Ridgewood NJ, Graydon Pool season opens Saturday, June 4th at 10AM. Pool memberships available at CommunityPass and at the Pool Badge Office.
Water’s Edge Cafe will open for business at Noon.
Come relax and enjoy!
GRAYDON POOL SURVEY
We value your opinion. Please take a few moments to complete our survey found in the following link: Graydon Pool Survey
2016 SEASON Regular Season
Saturday, June 4 through August 14, 2016
Daily, 10 am to 7:30 pm
**Holiday** – July 4th, close 4 pm Late Season
Monday, August 15 through Labor Day, September 5, 2016 Weekdays – 12 noon to 7:30 pm
Weekends/Holiday – 10 am to 7:30 pm
CONTACTS
Pool Manager’s Office – 201-670-5500, ext 7002 (in season)
Badge Office – 201-670-5500, ext 7003 (in season only)
Recreation Office at The Stable- 201-670-5560 [email protected]
GRAYDON MEMBERSHIP RATES
RESIDENT MEMBERSHIPS – Village priced memberships are available to Ridgewood residents, non-residents who pay local property taxes to the Village of Ridgewood, and employees of the Village of Ridgewood and Board of Education. Proof is required.
ADULT – $120.00
CHILD – (ages 2-15, under 2 free) $110.00
SENIOR – $30.00 (62 and older)
PERMANENT DISABLED – $30.00
DAILY PASS – $10.00
BADGE REPLACEMENT – $5.00
NON-RESIDENT MEMBERSHIPS – The Village Council and the Ridgewood Department of Parks and Recreation are pleased to invite all families in the surrounding area to join the Graydon Pool facility for the 2016 summer season.
ADULT (ages 16 and up) – $200.00
CHILD (ages 2-15) – $175.00
GUEST PASSES (must be accompanied by 2016 season member)- $10.00
BADGE REPLACEMENT – $5.00
Ridgewood NJ, With Memorial Day marking the “unofficial” start of the summer recreational season, this weekend is a great time for customers to take advantage of NJ TRANSIT’s discounted travel packages to destinations including the Jersey Shore, Six Flags, Monmouth Park and Liberty Science Center:
Beach Packages: Save up to $5.00 on admission to one of five beaches— Long Branch, Asbury Park, Ocean Grove, Bradley Beach and Belmar—by purchasing round-trip train fare and a discounted beach pass for one price at NJ TRANSIT ticket vending machines (choose “Beach/Monmouth Park Packages” and select “Beach Package”) or at ticket windows. Customers can purchase the package at all NJ TRANSIT rail stations, excluding stations on the Atlantic City Rail Line. Beach Packages go on sale on the following four Fridays: May 27, June 3, 10 and 17 at 7 a.m. and are valid throughout the weekend and on holidays. Beach Packages will be available daily starting Saturday, June 18 and continuing through Labor Day, Monday, September 5.
Six Flags Great Adventure and Safari or Hurricane Harbor: Save up to $30 by purchasing round-trip bus transportation and park admission together. NJ TRANSIT provides express bus service to Six Flags from the Port Authority Bus Terminal in New York and Newark Penn Station.
Monmouth Park: Board a train anywhere on NJ TRANSIT’s rail system, excluding Atlantic City Rail Line stations, and save $5.50 when you travel to Monmouth Park Racetrack. Simply purchase a package to Monmouth Park from NJ TRANSIT ticket vending machines (choose “Beach/Monmouth Park Packages” and select “Monmouth Park”) or at ticket windows, and receive round-trip transportation, Grandstand Admission and an official track program for $3.50 plus the regular cost of a round-trip rail ticket.
Liberty Science Center: Beginning June 1, save $5 per person for up to four general admission, combo ticket and/or all-access passes when you travel on NJ TRANSIT and show your ticket, pass or fare receipt at Liberty Science Center. General admission passes include live science demonstrations, hands-on labs, and a variety of daily activities. Combo and all-access passes provide options for films and premium exhibits.
