The Ridgewood Blog Brings a Free Market Laissez-faire Point of View to Local, New Jersey State and National Issues.
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Elmwood Park NJ , the Elmwood Park community is mourning the sudden and tragic passing of Chris Woolis, a beloved longtime Little League coach, devoted husband, and father. Woolis, 47, passed away on September 16, just seven days after being diagnosed with cancer.
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ramsey NJ — With heavy hearts, the family and friends of Youssef Nissan, affectionately known as Joseph, announce his sudden and untimely passing on June 21, 2025, at the age of 25. Born in Ridgewood and raised in Ramsey, Youssef was a shining light in the lives of all who knew him — remembered for his boundless compassion, vibrant spirit, and the joy he brought to others.
Continue reading In Loving Memory: Youssef (Joseph) Nissan of Ramsey
photo courtesy of Dad’s Night
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
RIDGEWOOD, NJ — It is with profound sorrow that the Ridgewood community shares the heartbreaking news of the sudden and unexpected passing of Octavio Gonzalez, a devoted father, husband, and a cornerstone of the Dads’ Night organization. Octavio’s passing on Sunday, June 22, has left an irreplaceable void in the hearts of all who knew and loved him.
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Englewood NJ, Grace Pope, a junior at Dwight-Englewood School , joined the third cycle of the Climate Leaders Fellowship. This environmental leadership program leads high school students in researching the effects of climate change in their own communities and finding ways to combat the problem locally.
The online program is offered free of charge by the Stanford University Deliberative Democracy Lab and the Rustic Pathways Foundation.
Read Grace’s impact story below!
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, a GoFundMe account has been established in Memory of Basil Pizzuto: This fund was created to assist Basil Pizzuto’s family in the wake of his tragic passing on Wednesday, November 23, 2022. All proceeds will go to Adriana, Owen, and Aiden Pizzuto. Thank you for your donation!
Continue reading GoFundMe Account has been Established in Memory of Basil Pizzuto
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ottawa, Canada, thousands of Canadian truckers and other protesters made their way to Ottawa on January 29 as part of a so-called “Freedom Convoy” to protest vaccine mandates and other public health measures implemented during the COVID-19 pandemic. The rally originated in British Columbia the week prior and consisted of trucks and their supporters driving across the country to the nation’s capital. The original goal of the rally was to protest a mandate put in place on January 15 that required all unvaccinated cross-border truckers to quarantine upon returning home, but the message has since shifted to a general condemnation of all public health interventions. Media reported that people and vehicles clogged the streets of Ottawa making noise and bringing the city to a standstill, but the rally was “mostly peaceful”.
Continue reading “Mostly Peaceful ” Canadian Trucker Protest GoFundMe Fund Raiser Shut Down
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Jersey City NJ, WARNING – From Jersy City Police Officers Benevolent Association (@JerseyCityPOBA)
We have been alerted that there are numerous GoFundMe pages set up for Det. Joseph Seals most, if not all, are fake.
Do not donate to any GoFundMe or for Det. Seals at this time.
The @NJSPBA will coordinate with @JerseyCityPOBA on an official effort. More information to follow.
THIS IS THE OFFICIAL DONATION PAGE FOR DETECTIVE SEALS FAMILY.
IT IS SUPPORTED BY JERSEY CITY POLICE OFFICERS BENEVOLENT ASSOCIATION AND THE NEW JERSEY STATE PBA.
We had Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, and Cyber Monday. Did you know that today is Giving Tuesday? If you haven’t already, please donate to our “Heartbeat of the RCB” Percussion Fundraising Campaign!
https://www.gofundme.com/rcbpercussion
The percussion (drums) section is the heartbeat of any musical ensemble and percussion section of the Ridgewood Concert Band (RCB) is no exception. The percussionists of the RCB keep the pulse of the music and add color and texture to the music that we play each season.
The Ridgewood Concert Band is committed to making a substantial contribution to the music and artistic life of our community by providing audiences with the highest level of wind music performances. In order to perform at the highest level our musicians need the highest level quality instruments. Most band members provide their own personal instruments because they play just one instrument (eg. clarinet, trombone). However, the percussion music includes such a wide variety of instruments (marimba, xylophone, timpani, bass drum, cymbals, snare drum….just to name a basic few!) that a percussionist may play three, four, or five instruments in the course of just one piece! Because a percussionist simply cannot own, store, and transport EVERY percussion instrument, the RCB has a selection of percussion equipment that it owns for its members to use. However, after 33 seasons the equipment being used is showing its age and it is time to provide instruments that match the quality of the percussionists playing them.
This Percussion Fundraiser is being spearheaded by the Ridgewood Concert Band Society (RCBS), which is a group of donors and members that are committed to supporting the creative endeavors of the ensemble and insuring that the RCB can be financially sound both today and in the future. The RCBS has created this Percussion Fundraiser in order to purchase items off of the “Percussion Section Wishlist”, including a vibraphone and a set of timpani.
Please consider putting your support behind this endeavor to make sure the heartbeat of the RCB remains strong!
