Last year our municipal tax increase was well below the cap at under 1%. This year, the BOE is proposing an end run around the 2% cap, asking for a 3.62% increase. That’s 2/3 thirds of our property tax bills right there. So if you’re worried about taxes, you need to attend more BOE meetings and make your complaints there. The Village Council has no jurisdiction over the BOE budget unless it gets voted down. And since we voted away our right to vote on the BOE budget, that cannot happen. How much do you want to bet you don’t remember that vote? But you do know how to complain.
“Mrs. Valdes,” thank you so much for inviting me into the conversation. I am one of what you called “the 2 Knudsen-Sedon stooges.”.
I was invited to a coffee at a neighbor’s home for Ms. Harwin by a friend who received an invitation via email. Thank you for documenting the discomfort I experienced when one particular individual there accused me of recording Ms. Harwin’s remarks. It was certainly an odd accusation at a candidate’s coffee and your calling me a “stooge” now certainly punctuates how unwelcome certain people sought to make my friend and I feel there.
I did not record anything. And I didn’t realize that Ms. Harwin’s remarks were a secret, nor did I realize that attendance at her coffees was restricted. Really, her remarks were brief and contentless enough to remember, as she left rather abruptly, well before any of the residents who came to hear her and speak with her.
As a longtime member of the temple where Ms. Harwin’s husband is currently the rabbi, I looked forward to hearing firsthand what she had to say, and perhaps introduce myself and have the opportunity to speak one on one with her about some of the items from her website. My host and hostess for the evening were very welcoming. In fact, my friend (the other “stooge”) and I stayed there chatting with them and others for over an hour after Ms. Harwin left. I made a few new friends there, including my hostess and host, and am looking forward to seeing them at Mayor Knudsen and Deputy Mayor Sedon’s future coffees. These are supposed to be opportunities to meet candidates, hear what they have to say, and ask questions, not secret campaign strategy sessions.
I tried to speak with Ms. Harwin before she left, but she seemed to be avoiding me. I stood there patiently while she kept turning or walking away. Finally, when I asked if there was some other time we could speak, she suggested I contact her husband through the temple. While I have no problem doing that, I came there to speak with a Village Council candidate who apparently does not want to speak with me.
I attended a coffee for Mayor Knudsen and Deputy Mayor Sedon yesterday. What a contrast. A wealth of information and every single question raised was answered. I was one of the last to leave and the candidates were still there. You should go to one. I’m sure you will be made to feel welcome. And there is so much to be learned there about what is going on in the Village, the challenges we face, and how our municipal government is addressing those challenges.
Ridgewood NJ, Two (2) pedestrians were struck by a vehicle and injured at the intersection of North Monroe Street and West Ridgewood Avenue, Ridgewood late Monday evening, 04/16. Ridgewood PD, FD, and EMS responded to aid the victims, who appeared to have sustained non life threatening injuries. Both were transported by ambulance to The Valley Hospital. The driver involved in the incident remained at the scene and was cooperating with Ridgewood PD officers.
Photo by Gail McLaughlin McCarthy yesterday 4/16/18
April 17,2018
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, Ridgewood High School field flooded again , Readers Say Turf Fields Exacerbate Village Flooding, sounds familiar and yes it is ,from August 2,2014 ,
Is seems ever time it rains now , significance damage is done to our playing fields and Village property .We were told the turf fie;ds would drain faster , well yes they sure do but the water still needs some place to go like the Village Hall , the Ridgewood library .Since the Village Hall Rebuilding Fiasco , and the addition of turf fields along the Ho Ho Kus brook the 50 year flood has now become an almost yearly event .
Is it time to recognize the damage to the environment all this turf is doing ?The problem is not just the fields at Stevens ,Maple and the RHS Stadium but the many turf fields all along the banks of our rivers all over Bergen County . Again the water needs some place to go https://theridgewoodblog.net/readers-say-turf-fields-exacerbate-village-flooding/
Ridgewood NJ, National Weather Service issues a Flash Flood Warning!
The National Weather Service in Upton NY has issued a
* Flash Flood Warning for...
Hudson County in northeastern New Jersey...
Passaic County in northeastern New Jersey...
Union County in northeastern New Jersey...
Bergen County in northeastern New Jersey...
Essex County in northeastern New Jersey...
Orange County in southeastern New York...
Queens County in southeastern New York...
Richmond County in southeastern New York...
Bronx County in southeastern New York...
Kings County in southeastern New York...
Rockland County in southeastern New York...
New York (Manhattan) County in southeastern New York...
* Until 1115 AM EDT
* At 718 AM EDT, Doppler radar indicated heavy rain across the
warned area. Up to one inch to an inch and a half of rain has
already fallen. Flash flooding is expected to begin shortly.
Additional rainfall amounts of an inch to two inches are possible in
the warned area.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
Excessive runoff from heavy rainfall will cause flooding of small
creeks and streams, urban areas, highways, streets and underpasses as
well as other drainage areas and low lying spots.
A Flash Flood Warning means that flooding is imminent or occurring.
If you are in the warned area move to higher ground immediately.
Residents living along streams and creeks should take immediate
precautions to protect life and property.
Hilarious. Harwin 3 supporters have come out of the woodwork and are as bright as she is (sarcasm)
Look. She knows nothing. Aronosoh will sell her like the pig he is. Look what they did to poor Gwenn?? Little bobble head. When Saraceno and Paul or Albert would give her the nasty head shake when her drunken ramblings went on too long. She would clam up. Harwin they think you’re a puppet. You don’t even know that. Adorable. Go away now.
There are clearly some people here that need to put forth a little effort. You cant avoid the responsibility of being informed and then complain. I attended a coffee for Harwin and one for Knudsen and Sedon. the difference is staggering. While the Knudsen/Sedon website offers a wealth of information, the Mayor and Deputy Mayor gave us all an amazing amount of information beyond that about what they are doing to address some of these complaints. For all you know, the road you’re complaining about is a county road, out of our jurisdiction to repair, and the commuter parking issue is being dealt with in a way that will serve us while saving us a lot of money.
May I suggest that a couple of you complainers drag your asses to a coffee and ask a few questions before you reach your conclusions. Knudsen and Sedon answered every single one. Harwin couldn’t get away from me fast enough. Perhaps because I had to correct her a few times. And Willett? Can’t even find a Willett coffee. Are they only for certain people?
Jane Shinozuka say , “I am indeed a VP of the League but I do NOT promise fireworks…. However I can promise unconditionally that our questions are NOT “manufactures softball questions”. I can also promise the we ARE a non-partisan organization. I believe our local league is a champion of municipal “sunshine” and our public events and outreach dutifully serve all members of the community. SO there!…
Good thing I am such a good-natured soul or I would suggest that this posting is over the top, even for you, PJ Blogger…
You are such a b-buster… and remember that is coming from a (self-proclaimed) good-natured soul. ”
Ridgewood NJ, very sad news ,Radicchio Pasta and Risotto Co., announces its closing, “Like every good thing, the end of Radicchio Pasta and Risotto Co. is also here. We tried our best (for more then a year) but, unfortunately couldn’t make it ! We will be closing our doors after dinner service on Sunday the 22nd. Chef Danny would like to thank everyone for their continued love and support over the years. Chef would continue running Radicchio as a pop up, catering to private events and pop up’s. Please feel free to contact him or Alondra if you wish to have them cater to your future events. They can be reached via the Facebook Page or email, [email protected] or [email protected]. Until next time, thanks again and see you soon. @radicchiopastaandrisotto ”
Ridgewood NJ, Click here to view the 2018-2019 Preliminary Budget presentation, given at the March 20 Board of Education meeting. The final proposed budget will have a Public Hearing and Board of Education vote on Monday, May 7 at 7:30 p.m., at the Education Center, 49 Cottage Place.
The Board of Education has set up public presentations on the 2018-2019 budget, as follows:
Monday, April 16
Benjamin Franklin Middle School Auditorium
7 p.m.
Ridgewood NJ, Ridgewood Gilbert and Sullivan Opera Company is so excited to announce that tickets are now on sale for our Spring 2018 production of Princess Ida! We will be rolling out more information on our exciting take on this work in the coming days, but for now, make sure you grab your tickets for this hilarious twist on a traditional medieval fairy tale!
A hilarious twist on a traditional medieval fairy tale, Princess Ida tells the tale of a Princess, who eschews her marriage obligations to the Prince of a neighboring kingdom (made when they both were infants) to run a women’s university. Prince Hilarion has been waiting for his wedding day for twenty years. He is about to meet Princess Ida to whom he was betrothed, as a baby. Unfortunately, Princess Ida has decided that she does not want to honor the commitment, and has, instead, gone off and started a women’s college. But Hilarion does not give up hope! In an attempt to woo her, Hilarion, dresses up as a maiden and sneaks into the women’s compound, accompanied by his friends, Cyril and Florian, who are forced to dress up, as well. Once the “maidens” are in the compound, various girls attending the college discover their secret.
Friday, May 11 at 7:30pm
Saturday, May 12 at 7:30pm
Sunday, May 13 at 3:00pm
Ridgewood United Methodist Church
(100 Dayton Street, Ridgewood, NJ)
Friday, June 1 at 7:30pm
Fair Lawn Community Center
(10-10 20th Street, Fair Lawn, NJ)
Want a preview of the show? We are performing a concert version of highlights from Princess Ida at Mahwah Public Library (100 Ridge Road) this Sunday at 2pm. Come and join in on the fun!
Emmanuel Baptist Church will hold an Italian Festival on April 28, 2018 Sat, April 28, 2018 Time: 5:30 PM Location: Heritage Hall of Emmanuel Baptist Church, 14 Hope St. Ridgewood, NJ 07450
April 15,2018
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, The Men’s Fellowship of Emmanuel will sponsor an Italian Festival Dinner on Saturday, April 28th, at 5:30 pm in Heritage Hall of Emmanuel Baptist Church, 14 Hope Street, Ridgewood, NJ.
The menu will feature a variety of traditional Italian dishes and desserts. Tickets are $15 for adults and $8 for children and can be purchased by calling the Church office at 201-444-7300 on or before April 24th. All funds raised will be used to support Mission Projects of the Men’s Fellowship including Good Shepherd Mission in Paterson, Center for Food Action, and Social Services of Ridgewood and Vicinity.
Emmanuel Baptist Church, founded in 1891, is celebrating its 126th Anniversary Year and continues to maintain a tradition of community outreach. Emmanuel is located at 14 Hope Street, at the corner of Hope Street and East Ridgewood Avenue, Ridgewood, NJ. The building is ADA accessible and all are invited to attend. For more information, visit www.emmanuelridgewood.org or https://www.facebook.com/EmmanuelRidgewood/.
Ridgewood NJ, the Ridgewood League of Women’s Voters will hold a Village Council Candidate Forum on Monday April 30 at Village Hall at 131 N Maple Ave, in Ridgewood in the Ridgewood Village Hall Court Room.
There are four candidates for Village Council vying for two seats ; challengers Alexander Harwin and Janice Willett face off against Mayor Susan Knudsen and Deputy Mayor Mike Sedon.
According to the league the candidates will read a back ground statement and then answer questions submitted by the League of Women Voters and members of the community .
While the league continues to bill itself as a ‘non partisan” organization with Crystal Matsibekker, President , Jane Shinozuka, Vice President, Ellie Gruber, Membership Chair , most outsiders view the league as another far leftists agenda driven organization with former Mayor Paul Aronsohn as the puppet master.
The league currently supports leftist causes such as “climate change “, illegals voting , claims there is no voter fraud (lol) , the Dream act, gun confiscation, illegal immigration, and Obamacare .
It will be interesting to watch if the league manufactures softball questions for Alexandra Harwin an Aronsohn protégé or it actually asks relevant questions about issues facing the Village of Ridgewood .
Observers say watch carefully for a stacked audience looking to attack the mayor with the usual litany of “nepotism, and wasteful spending “, while waving the rainbow flag and promoting over development and destruction of the Village of Ridgewood.
The forum will be broadcast on cable 77,fios 34 and streamed live on YouTube .
Ridgewood NJ, according to the Tax Foundation ,Tax Freedom Day is the day when the nation as a whole has earned enough money to pay its total tax bill for the year. In 2018, Tax Freedom Day falls on April 19th, 109 days into the year, three days earlier than last year. Tax Freedom Day is significant because Americans will collectively spend more on taxes in 2018 than they will on food, clothing, and housing combined. If you include annual federal borrowing, which represents future taxes owed, Tax Freedom Day would occur 17 days later, on May 6th.
This year Tax Freedom Day will be three days earlier than it was in 2017, in large part due to the recent federal tax law, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, which significantly lowered federal individual and corporate income taxes.
The Tax Foundation defines Tax Freedom Day® as the day when the nation as a whole has earned enough money to pay its total tax bill for the year. Tax Freedom Day takes all federal, state, and local taxes and divides them by the nation’s income. In 2018, Americans will pay $3.39 trillion in federal taxes and $1.80 trillion in state and local taxes, for a total tax bill of $5.19 trillion, or 30 percent of national income. This year, Tax Freedom Day falls on April 19th, 109 days into 2018.
This year, Americans again will work the longest to pay federal, state, and local individual income taxes (44 days). Payroll taxes will take 26 days to pay, followed by sales and excise taxes (15 days), corporate income taxes (seven days), and property taxes (11 days). The remaining six days are spent paying estate and inheritance taxes, customs duties, and other taxes.
The total tax burden borne by residents of different states varies considerably due to differing state tax policies and the progressivity of the federal tax system. This means that states with higher incomes and higher taxes celebrate Tax Freedom Day later: New York (May 14), New Jersey (May 3), and Connecticut (May 3). Residents of Louisiana and Alaska bear the lowest average tax burden in 2018, with Tax Freedom Day having arrived on April 4. Also early were Tennessee, Oklahoma, and Alabama, all on April 5.
Ridgewood NJ, According to Councilman Ramon M Hache in his April newsletter, “The month of March brought some severe weather. We saw a significant amount of snowfall accompanied with hazardous road conditions. The March 21 Budget Meeting was rescheduled due to the nor’easter that made its way to our area the night before. Despite the scheduling setback, we managed to conclude our budget hearings before the end of the month.
2018 Municipal Budget”
Hache goes on , “The budget process is never easy, especially in an age of budget caps that are below the rate of inflation. Basically we have to, at a minimum, deliver the same level of services every year with a limited capacity of raising revenues to meet the increased cost of delivering those services. Changes to federal income tax laws at the end of 2017 have adversely impacted many of our residents by sharply reducing the amount of state and local income taxes (“SALT”) they can deduct in determining taxable income. Mindful of this, we worked very hard with our department heads to come up with a budget that would not place an additional undue burden on our residents. On April 11, the Village Council will introduce a municipal budget with a property tax increase of 0.99% over 2017.Please note this is just the municipal budget and does not include the Board of Education or the county.”
