The Ridgewood Blog Brings a Free Market Laissez-faire Point of View to Local, New Jersey State and National Issues.
photo courtesy of the Unbridled Heroes Project
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Allendale NJ, The Unbridled Heroes Project has officially gotten our first Wild Mustang!! We are a non-profit in Allendale, NJ!!! www.unbridledheroes.org
photos courtesy of Boyd Loving’s Facebook page
the staff of the Ridgewood bog
Allendale NJ, Allendale Police, Allendale Fire, and Allendale EMS responded to a Monday morning, 08/13 rollover crash in the 900 block of Franklin Turnpike, Allendale. A utility pole was demolished in the mishap. At least one (1) person was transported by ambulance to a local hospital. A paramedic team from The Valley Hospital assisted Allendale EMTs. Ramsey Police assisted with traffic control. A flatbed tow truck righted and removed the wreck from the roadway. Police at the scene did not indicate if the downed utility pole caused any outages to electric power or communications services. No word either on whether any extended road closures would be in effect.
July 7,2018
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Allendale NJ, Allendale Police are continuing to get reports of bear sightings throughout the Boro. If you see a bear, remember to keep your distance and keep children and pets indoors.
It’s that time of year when bear cubs will again be passing through our area. The Allendale Police will again be monitoring the situation and encourage residents to continue reporting any sightings to the police by calling 201-825-1900.
As a general reminder, keep your distance from any wild animals, including but not limited to bears and coyotes. If you see a bear or coyote, bring pets and children inside until the animal leaves the area. Bears are attracted to neighborhoods by garbage odors. Properly securing your garbage is one of the best ways to prevent bears from becoming a nuisance in our community. For more bear safety tips, please visit the NJ DEP Fish and Wildlife website at
https://www.njfishandwildlife.com/bearfacts.htm or contact the Allendale Police.
Here’s some additional info on bear activity in Allendale:
photo courtesy of Allendale Police
June 24,2018
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Allendale NJ, Allendale police report that over the past two days several vehicles in area towns were burglarized while parked on driveways and in unlocked garages, with three being stolen Proceeds from these incidents included items such as purses, sunglasses, iPhones, and EZ passes. Allendale Police would like to offer the following tips to help reduce your chances of becoming a victim of these types of crimes:
• Every vehicle that was burglarized was unlocked. Please lock your vehicle and keep valuables (i.e. purses, wallets, etc.) either out of plain view or inside your home.
• If your vehicle is parked in a garage, keep the garage locked.
• “High-end vehicle theft” is a continuing problem in Bergen County. Every stolen car, without exception, contained a key fob inside the vehicle. Do not leave key fobs in your center console or glove box. Take them with you whenever you are not using your car.
• If you witness this crime occurring, do not confront the actor! These perpetrators work in teams and should be considered dangerous. No piece of property is worth your personal safety. Be a good witness and call 9-1-1.
If you have any questions or require further information, please contact the Allendale Policer Police Department at (201) 825-1900.
FEBRUARY 16, 2018
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Washington DC, Judicial Watch today announced that the FBI agreed to review 16,750 pages of records in response to a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request seeking the records for former FBI Director James Comey that were archived after he was dismissed. Judicial Watch came to this agreement with the FBI shortly after it filed Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) lawsuit to obtain the Comey records (Judicial Watch v. U.S. Department of Justice (No. 1:18-cv-00262)).
Judicial Watch discovered the cache of Comey records as a result of disclosures by the Justice Department in separate Judicial Watch litigation (here and here) to obtain the controversial “Comey memos” that allegedly memorialize conversations Comey had with President Trump.
There is significant public interest in Comey’s conduct and the FBI’s handling of the Clinton email and Russia collusion investigations and targeting of President (and candidate) Trump.
“The FBI has a terrible record of playing shell games with records – whether it be texts or memos by its disgraced former director James Comey,” said Judicial Watch President Tom Fitton. “Our lawsuit, we hope, will force the FBI to expedite the review and the release of the 16,750 pages of Comey documents. Open the files.”
photos courtesy of Boyd Loving’s Facebook Page
February 17,2018
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Allendale NJ, Members of the Allendale Volunteer Ambulance Corps evaluated two (2) individuals in connection with a Thursday morning, 02/15, motor vehicle crash into a building at 111 West Allendale Avenue, Allendale. Two (2) adult females, the vehicle’s driver and an employee of the insurance office located in the building, appeared uninjured and both refused transportation to a local hospital for any treatment. The building sustained moderate damage but was rendered safe for occupancy. The SUV involved in the crash was removed from the scene by a flatbed tow truck.
February 13,2018
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Allendale NJ, according to Judicial Watch , “the more we learn about the FBI under Allendale native James Comey’s supervision the more we have reason to question the activities of the fired FBI Director. Because he has left a trail of suspicious activities in is wake, Comey now stands out as key figure in the Deep State’s illicit attempts to target President Trump.”
And it looks like the Deep State is protecting Comey still. We were forced to file a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) lawsuit for FBI records about former Director Comey’s book, which he signed to write in August 2017 and is set for publication in April 2018 (Judicial Watch v. U.S. Department of Justice, (No. 1:18-cv-00220)).
Our suit also seeks records of communications between Comey and the FBI prior to and regarding Comey’s controversial June 2017 testimony before the Senate Intelligence Committee.
Judicial Watch filed on January 31 in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia after the Justice Department failed to respond to our August 14, 2017, FOIA request for:
All records of communications between the FBI and Comey prior to and regarding Comey’s testimony before the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence on June 8, 2017.
All records of communications between the FBI and Comey relating to an upcoming book to be authored by Comey and published.
All records, including but not limited to forms completed by Comey, relating to the requirement for prepublication review by the FBI of any book to be authored by Comey with the intent to be published or otherwise publicly available.
Comey reportedly received an advance in excess of $2 million for his book, Higher Loyalty: Truth, Lies, and Leadership, reportedly set for publication on April 17th. Former FBI agents and officials intending to write books concerning their tenure are customarily required to submit the entire transcript for pre-publication review.
A month after President Trump fired Comey on May 9, 2017, Comey provided highly controversial testimony before the U.S. Senate Select Committee on Intelligence about the circumstances that led to his dismissal, the ongoing investigation into alleged Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election and his handling of the investigation into Hillary Clinton’s illicit email server. During that testimony, Comey admitted he leaked information about his conversations with President Donald Trump in order to get a special prosecutor appointed. (In November, we filed a separate FOIA lawsuit against the Justice Department for its records about Comey’s testimony.)
Comey seems to have protected status for any misconduct, and we want to know if he had a special deal for his book from his friends in the FBI. The Deep State is in cover-up mode. The FBI, DOJ, and the Special Counsel are stonewalling our requests for Comey documents.
We have several other lawsuits pending for Comey-related records:
Two lawsuits (hereand here) seek specifically the “Comey memos” ((Judicial Watch v. U.S. Department of Justice(No. 1:17-cv-01189)) and (Daily Caller News Foundation v. U.S. Department Justice (No. 1:17-cv-01830));
Onelawsuit seeks metadata of the “Comey memos” and related records-management information ((Judicial Watch, Inc., v. U.S. Department of Justice(No. 17-cv-01520));
And anotherlawsuit seeks non-disclosure agreements pertaining to the handling, storage, protection, dissemination, and/or return of classified information signed by Comey ((Judicial Watch v. U.S. Department of Justice (No. 1:17-cv-01624)).
On January 11, U.S. District Judge James E. Boasberg the FBI to turn over the “Comey memos” for in camera review by the court. In doing so, the court rejected arguments by the Sessions Justice Department to dismiss the lawsuits seeking the Comey information.
Unfortunately, on February 2, Boasberg ruled that the “Comey memos” would not be made public. Judicial Watch and the Daily Caller News Foundation almost immediately appealed the ruling. We don’t intend to let up in our pursuit of the truth about the egregious conduct of the FBI’s former director.
photos courtesy of Boyd Loving’s Facebook
July 15,2017
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ramsey NJ, Ramsey Police, Fire , EMS, Rescue Squad and OEM personnel rushed to 62 Mardis Avenue, Ramsey on Saturday afternoon, 07/15, in response to a 911 telephone call reporting an adult male unconscious in the home’s driveway after being stung multiple times by a swarm of bees. It was several minutes before Ramsey PD and FD members could advance to the driveway area and remove him to a waiting ambulance. Multiple ambulances were subsequently called to the scene after at least two (2) other neighborhood residents were stung. A beekeeper was called to address the issue, but the area remained off limits to pedestrians for approximately three (3) hours until the bees calmed down. Allendale PD and EMS assisted at the scene, as did an ambulance from The Valley Hospital. A uniformed Ramsey PD officer was also among those stung; he was observed entering a ambulance for examination and treatment.
Mike Kelly , Record Columnist, @MikeKellyColumn
Ed O’Connell, a contractor and loyal Republican, dropped by the Allendale Bar and Grill just before noon on Thursday to check on one of his town’s favorite sons.
It wasn’t that James Comey, the recently fired FBI director, had suddenly returned in person to the intimately connected North Jersey community where he grew up. But Comey’s presence was hard to miss.
As O’Connell sat on a barstool, sipping a ginger ale and munching on chicken tenders, Comey’s face peered down from two TV screens. And as Comey testified before the Senate Intelligence Committee in Washington, his calm, methodical voice seemed to fill every corner of the restaurant that he occasionally visits when he returns to Allendale.
photo courtesy of AVAC
Homeowners Evacuated
February 17,2017
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Allendale NJ, At this time, emergency repair on the gas main is still ongoing. Schools are closed and detours are still in place. Please continue to avoid the area.
USRVAC 926 is operating on scene of a natural gas leak in Allendale in the area of W. Crescent and Hillside. USRVAC is supporting AllendaleOffice of Emergency Management, AVAC, AFD and fire units from Ramsey, Waldwick, Wyckoff and Saddle River. Additionally Upper Saddle PD is on scene for support to APD. ,AVAC 208 is operating on scene of a natural gas leak in the area of W. Crescent and Hillside. AVAC is supporting Allendale Office of Emergency Management, AFD and fire units from Ramsey, Waldwick, Wyckoff and Saddle River. Additionally Upper Saddle River EMS is on scene along with THV EMS. Also on scene is PSE&G.
Franklin Lakes Volunteer Fire Department Crews were standing by at Allendale Fire HQ to assist their town on a major gas leak
Due to gas leak and road repairs, Allendale schools will be closed today February 17th. Archer Cooperative Nursery School is also closed today due to a gas leak in Allendale.
Residents ,as the process of repairing the gas leak is completed there may be residual gas odor in areas around town. Please be patient as may roads have been closed off in an abundance of caution.
The gas leak emergency repair is still ongoing, but good news, if you were evacuated as a result of this, you MAY return to your residence at this time!
I go to Glen Rock to eat, get a haircut, etc., I park, I pay nothing. I go to Midland Park to the hardware store or the shoe repair shop or others or to eat, I park, I pay nothing. I go to Wyckoff to shop or eat or go to the bakery, I park, I pay nothing. I go to Allendale to shop or eat, I park, I pay nothing. I go to Hawthorne for whatever (including, most often, the movie theater, but also restaurants and shops), I park, I pay nothing, and I don’t worry that the meter will expire before the movie is over, because there isn’t one. I go to Waldwick to the hardware store or to shop or eat, I park, I pay nothing. I go to Ramsey to shop or eat or go to the movies (two different ones), I park, I pay nothing, ditto re: worrying about meter expiring because there isn’t one. That’s not to mention free parking at Route 17 stores, strip malls, and bigger malls, and we won’t even mention the internet (can’t eat lunch or get a haircut there).
What is wrong with this picture? Ridgewood, my own town, is not so special that it’s worth paying so much to park and (more important) looking at my watch and worrying about risking a ticket, which we’ve been assured will soon be increased in price and monitored intensely.
Just no. Sorry. I am frankly embarrassed by this entire thing. We don’t need a garage and we are already paying too much to park. Entire project was a waste of time and resources and will only get worse. Even more distressing is that it’s not going to work. Could end up ripping the whole thing out just as the one-lane underpass road/suicide bike lane will eventually be replaced by the two lanes we had before.
