As New Jersey’s government workforce shrinks, some of the highest-paid insiders are reaping the windfall of hundreds of millions of dollars in new-found overtime, an Asbury Park Press investigation found. Bob Jordan and Paul D’Ambrosio, Asbury Park Press Read more
Ridgewood NJ, The New Jersey Choral Society is holding auditions for two youth choruses, treble and SATB, for students in grades 6-12. Auditions will be held Monday, June 20, 2016 and August 29, 2016 from 4-6 pm at St. Elizabeth’s Episcopal Church, 169 Fairmount Road, Ridgewood, NJ. Treble voices are accepted from grades 6-12 and SATB voices from grades 9-12. Audition requirements, including a memorized solo, and registration details are available on the New Jersey Choral Society website at www.njcs.org under “Upcoming Events”. Interested students, parents and educators can contact Festival Youth Chorus Director, Noelle Dachis, at [email protected] for more information.
This is a unique and exciting opportunity for young choral singers to perform with the New Jersey Choral Society and Maestro Eric Dale Knapp, and a rare experience to include on college applications, especially for students heading into a music study. Students selected for the chorus are expected to attend weekly rehearsals, held at St. Elizabeth’s Church on Monday evenings, and all performances. The NJCS 2016-2017 concert season features Monteverdi’s Magnificat and Vespers of 1610 as well as the music of director-choreographer, Bob Fosse. The Festival Youth Chorus also has an opportunity to perform with Teatro Grattacielo in New York City in October.
Established in 1980, the New Jersey Choral Society is one of the state’s most prestigious choral groups, well-known for presenting outstanding and unique programs. Under the direction of Eric Dale Knapp, NJCS performs three major concerts annually in Bergen and Essex counties. They have performed at Carnegie Hall and the White House and have toured internationally in Austria, the Czech Republic, Germany, China, Australia, England, and France.
I am not a Christie fan but I will give him credit for trying to reel in the unsustainable pension and medical benefits public employees receive. it has to change. I don’t think it is right that money was diverted from the teacher’s pension fund starting with Christie Whitman and that has to be repaid. For heaven’s sake, it is time to freeze pensions and move onto 401K style plans and keep medical costs in line with what private sector receives. Long gone are the days when public employee salaries were lower than the private sector so delayed remuneration in the form of pensions, etc. made up the difference. As for Ridgewood’s current travesty with the NJEA and our BOE – I’m just sick. I wish all these complaining teachers could be replaced. And, yes, I’m one of those who wears the cloak of anonymity because I have kids in school and I know the teachers retaliate. Many are not as dedicated to their students and the field of education as they profess.
“Residents will have to pay for the Mayor and Village Managers legal fees.” TRUE. Which begs the question, why would Roberta, Paul et. al do something so blatantly out of step with the law so as to cause taxpayers to spend money to fight them legally, in addition to taxpayers footing any legal bills they have? Additionally, where is Matt Rogers? The bond counsel has been providing legal advice on these matters to date…why has he not weighed in?
This is a horrible precedent to set for our Village…I would think residents would be outraged if the Village was promoting one presidential candidate over another on the website. Thank you to Gail, Lorraine and everyone else involved with these efforts. It is sad it came to this, there was no need for Paul, Roberta etc to go this far as they had a lot of support on their side, but now everything is tainted.
June 16,2016
the staff of the Ridgewood
Ridgewood NJ, An employee’s conduct is subject to the laws of the state and the regulations of the employing agency. With respect to those jurisdictions operating under Title 11A of the the New Jersey Civil Service Act, the following provisions apply: “a person holding a position in the career service or senior executive service shall not directly use or seek to use the position to control or affect the political action of another person or engage in political activity during working hours.” N.J.S.A. 11A:2-23
file photo by Boyd Loving
Am completely sickened by what people write on this blog about our elected officials. Gwenn, Paul, and Albert are some of the smartest, most devoted town leaders we have had in Ridgewood.
The electorate of Ridgewood voted FOR the parking garage by a 2-1 majority.
Why are you costing us more money with a $45,000 NEW referendum? Where were you the first time we voted? You came too late to the game, and you may win after all, but you haven’t done it by posting nasty things on this blog or with costly lawsuits and second referendums.
We need a table where people sit down together and discuss the misunderstandings here–not a social media blitz that calls information propaganda. The REAL propaganda is on this blog.
June 15, 2016
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Hackensack NJ, A group of Ridgewood residents filed a lawsuit in Superior Court today, challenging a decision by the Bergen County town to place a political propaganda video and written propaganda on the municipal website “expressly advocating a “yes” vote on a bond referendum to finance a parking deck, which is slated to go before Ridgewood voters on June 21, 2016, and have urged voters to view this one-sided presentation. This action is brought to redress these violations of law.”
The filing comes less than a week after Ridgewood officials began distributing an 11-minute political video and four-page parking referendum guide, via the Village of Ridgewood website, urging voters to support an $11.5 million bond issue to build a parking deck on Hudson Street. The town’s mayor, manager, CFO, and engineer, along with the architect and contractor hired to design the garage. All appear in the video.
Ridgewood voters will go to the polls on June 21 to decide whether or not to adopt an ordinance that would allow Ridgewood to bond 11.5 million for a parking garage at Hudson Street. The $11.5 million is associated with what is known as Design D- 325 spaces, 4 stories, 5 levels, 5 ft over the footprint of the existing lot.
Ever since a 1953 ruling issued by former U.S. Supreme Court Justice and New Jersey Supreme Court Justice William Brennan, it has been illegal for local governments in New Jersey to use public resources to influence voters on a local election. While towns are allowed to send evenhanded factual material to voters, the ruling says it is “outside the pale” and “not lawful” for towns to spend money on political materials urging voters to pass or reject referendums.
According to the lawsuit, the video and the 4 page parking referendum guide on the village website, are “propaganda” that contains a “one-sided, slanted and unjust presentation” of the parking vote. Using “extravagant and dramatic language,” the ads argue in favor of the referendum’s passage, while disparaging the referendum’s opponents.
“The use of Ridgewood’s municipal funds to pay for political marketing is unconscionable,” said resident Gail McCarthy..
The lawsuit comes two days after Ridgewood’s mayor, Paul Aronsohn and village manager, Roberta Sonenfeld, were accused, by the New Jersey Foundation for Open Government, of state ethics law violations for their roles in the political video.“Aronsohn and Sonenfeld are certainly entitled to their own opinions about the referendum, but they are not entitled to use taxpayer dollars to aggressively promote a one sided opinion to the public,” added resident Lorraine Reynolds.
The lawsuit asks for an injunction declaring the advertising illegal, and asks for a formal accounting of all public money and time spent promoting the referendum. If the referendum succeeds, the suit also serves notice that the voters will seek to have the election set aside as being based on “payments and expenditures that are contrary to law, and not authorized by the election or other laws” of the State.
Dear Neighbor,
I’m writing about the upcoming garage election and specifically about something that has happened which now puts the whole process into question.
On June 9th, a ‘Vote yes’ video and other materials were posted on our Village website, along with an e-notice that was sent out by our Village Manager, which directed residents to this site. To use government funds to make such slanted materials and to post them on a government website goes beyond inappropriate.
NJ Fog, a government watch group, has filed a formal complaint against Mayor Aronsohn and Village Manager Sonenfeld, which can be viewed here.
It is imperative that every resident knows about the situation.
So, I am asking you to a) share this email with every resident that you know and b) contact the Ridgewood News at 201-612-5400 and ask for either Alexandra Hoey or Jaime Walters to request that this issue be given a front page article, which it deserves. Please call them this morning as they go to print shortly.
Thank you for doing your part to protect our Village.
Sincerely,
Dana
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, Glen Rock Patch calls ethics complaint , “Gadfly Files Ethics Complaint Against Ridgewood Mayor, Manager” ( https://patch.com/new-jersey/ridgewood/gadfly-files-ethics-complaint-against-ridgewood-mayor-manager ) . Interesting choir of words , once again leading to the question why is the Patch always looking to protect Mayor Aronsohn ?
While the “Patch” came under heavy criticism for its coverage lapses during the Ridgewood Village Council election ,the above headline will do nothing but add fuel to the fire that the Patch continues to chose the Village Council Majority over Village of Ridgewood residents and taxpayers .
file photo by Boyd Loving
Readers react to ethics complaint against Mayor and Village manager :
Just when you think Aronsohn cannot get any lower, well guess what he digs himself in deeper. The list of crummy things he has done to soil our village goes on and on. Such as the Mike Sedon affair, another election tampering effort by Aronsohn. Glad he is being called to task on this one and his bobble headed village manager too.
These two are so dirty, The manager and her lap dog need to go by july 1, End of the story. we are all sick of this bull shit in town, This manager staff all needs to go, what a bunch of shit heads. They don’t know how to treat people. what a joke. scam after scam.they are all in bed together.
The real kicker here is that taxpayers paid for those unlawfully produced materials and we will pay again in terms of legal fees to defend Mrs. Carroll and Mr. Aronsohn. The only justice will be when they are both walked out in cuffs.
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, Many readers over the years have often complained about petty vandalism ,and in particular the stealing of Village signs around town . From the Facebook page “it takes a village” we recently learned that the Dunham Trail sign has gone missing . According to Patricia Barnwell Pechko “My pet peeve has always been vandalism. I am so upset that one of the signs my son built for his Eagle Scout service has been stolen from the Dunham Trail entrance on Spring Street. It was multi-bolted and steel reinforced so this was no small task to steal. If anyone sees it laying around, please let me know so we can fix and remount it.”
Folks it is often more than just the signs its the effort and thought as well as the cost that goes into these things.
District Offers New Preschool Program this Fall
June 15,2016
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, The Integrated Preschool Program is a preschool program that is taught by a dually certified K-2 General Education and Special Education teacher. The program strives to engage preschoolers in learning experiences through play. Special needs students and general education children are placed together in an integrated learning environment that employs a developmental approach to learning. Children are engrossed in a variety of activities which promote language, cognitive, motor and social/emotional development. Special education children are placed in the program through an evaluation process performed by the Special Programs Department.
Click here for more information and the application form.
June 14,2016
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, Jane Clementi, Founder and Board Member of the Tyler Clementi Foundation issues a statement on the Orlando night club terror shooting:
“My heart simply breaks for the victims and their families. When will people open their eyes and see the horrific impact of their misguided teachings of bias, discrimination and hate that devalues the human spirit, whether it is in the dramatic physical actions of taking another life or in the slow and steady emotional toll of ongoing bullying. Love will win and these outrageous acts of evil will stop.” – Jane Clementi, Founder and Board Member of the Tyler Clementi Foundation (June 13, 2016)
file photo by Boyd Loving
June 13,2016
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, from the Facebook page “Take Back Ridgewood” , Mayor Aronsohn is making a case for a 5 story garage because his team can’t keep a surface lot clean.??
We just elected a new council, give the council elect a chance and please vote NO for Mayor Aronsohn’s 11.5 Million bond on Tuesday June 21st.
Can’t keep a surface lot clean? Or did they actively choose to let the Hudson St. lot fall into disrepair? from Its2Big on Vimeo.
