Tag: RBSA

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‘Grand slam’ changes in store for Ridgewood baseball/softball Opening Day

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APRIL 17, 2015    LAST UPDATED: FRIDAY, APRIL 17, 2015, 12:31 AM
THE RIDGEWOOD NEWS

Mr. Met will be among the attractions highlighting a revamped Ridgewood Baseball and Softball Association (RBSA) Opening Day Parade and Family Fun Day Saturday at Veterans Field.

The New York Mets mascot is scheduled to march in the parade, which is expected to include more than 1,000 players from the village’s youth baseball and softball teams.

The 65th annual event begins at 9 a.m. at the Ridgewood train station and will proceed through town via East Ridgewood Avenue to Veterans Field, where the opening ceremonies will begin at 9:30 a.m. at the Kasschau Band Shell.

The New Jersey Jackals minor league team is slated to make a guest appearance alongside Grand Marshals Gary and Nora Muzio, longtime supporters and invaluable members of the RBSA.

This year’s fair features a fresh new look and will include five of the area’s top food trucks, including Pizza Vita Brick Oven Pizza, Jersey Johnny’s Grill, and Oink and Moo BBQ. A pavilion will be set up where 30 vendors will showcase a mix of unique wares and sports-related items.

Also new to the events is a 60-item Tricky Tray and Silent Auction. Participants can take a chance on winning prizes such as tickets to professional sporting events, golf outings, a Rawlings pitching machine, Easton Mako and DeMarini Vendetta bats, spa packages, dining certificates and more.

https://www.northjersey.com/community-news/community-events-and-announcements/grand-slam-changes-in-store-for-opening-day-parade-fair-1.1311150

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Ridgewood council weighs costs of turf versus grass

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file photo Boyd Loving

Ridgewood council weighs costs of turf versus grass

AUGUST 14, 2014    LAST UPDATED: THURSDAY, AUGUST 14, 2014, 3:48 PM
BY LAURA HERZOG
STAFF WRITER

Artificial turf appears to cost less to maintain than grass, at least on Maple Field.

According to Village Manager Roberta Sonenfeld, an estimated $121,500 was spent maintaining the turf on Maple Field during an eight-year period from 2006 to 2014.

– See more at: https://www.northjersey.com/news/ridgewood-council-weighs-costs-of-turf-versus-grass-1.1067710#sthash.qIgm1R3Q.dpuf

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Turf king endorses Aronsohn, Hauck and Puciarell criticizes police and firemen, attacking salary and benefits

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Turf king endorses Aronsohn, Hauck and Puciarell criticizes police and firemen, attacking salary and benefits

TAKEN FROM THE RIDGEWOOD BLOG (Archived ) You should read the whole article.

From 2009-2010 Brian Abdoo repeatedly endorsed the multi-million dollar controversial turf projects at Stadium and Stevens fields. As we all know the turf has been an unmitigated disaster resulting in Ridgewood Taxpayers incurring the burden of costly repairs

Found it! Posted May 7, 2012.

https://theridgewoodblog.net/turf-king-endorses-aronsohn-hauck-and-puciarell-criticizes-police-and-firemen-attacking-salary-and-benefits/

Turf king endorses Aronsohn, Hauck and Puciarell criticizes police and firemen, attacking salary and benefits

Moments ago, after a long day at work I sat down to review my personal emails, check school info and sports emails, kids schedule, etc. In the mix was an email from Brian Abdoo who I know from a number of sports programs my kids are involved in. I began reading the Abdoo’s endorsement of candidates, Aronsohn, Hauck and Puciarelli. The more I read the sicker I became. Abdoo has thoroughly disgusted me with his hypocritical rhetoric.

From 2009-2010 Brian Abdoo repeatedly endorsed the multi-million dollar controversial turf projects at Stadium and Stevens fields. As we all know the turf has been an unmitigated disaster resulting in Ridgewood Taxpayers incurring the burden of costly repairs.

Now, this same Brian Abdoo wants to express concern over taxes? He attempts to peddle Paul Aronsohn’s gimmicky zero based budgeting. Even my 6th grader understands built-in inherent cost increases. Abdoo states he wants more transparency and Village Council should “open the books”. The fact that Brian Abdoo is ignorant should not persuade anyone to his argument. Brian, the books are open. They are a matter of public record and are available for anyone to review. Brian, feel free to visit APP DataUniverse if there is anything you need to know. However, Mr. Abdoo, while doing your research you likely will not find the value of your candidate Aronsohn’s health care costs, at village taxpayer expense, for the past four years. Mr. Abdoo, while Mr. Aronsohn is busy telling you he wants to help Ridgewood Taxpayers, he has been busy helping himself for four years
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Brian Abdoo proceeds to attack our police and firemen, attacking their salary and benefits. If this is such a concern why on earth would he support Aronsohn who voted for each and every raise, and contract , pertaining to the police & fire department. Maybe he prefers regionalized police and fire departments like Hauck and Puciarelli. Hauck announced the savings for each village taxpayer during the debate: a whopping $ 285 each! For that money I will sleep better at night with Village police and firemen.

Abdoo professes the revitalization of Ridgewood downtown and how committed each of his threesome is to this goal. Mr. Abdoo, Paul Aronsohn is the Council liaison to the Chamber of Commerce. What has he been doing for the past four years? Shopping at the mall? And Hauck and Puciarelli prefer a more urbanized Ridgewood. If they want urbanization let them move to Hoboken.

Best for last, Abdoo states each of these candidates is committed to helping Valley and residents to negotiate a compromise to allow for expansion. For goodness sake, Brian, where has Al Puciarelli been? He has been a member of the planning board forever. Hauck didn’t speak of compromise when she endorsed the massive expansion, as is, over and over again. Valley Hospital is not interested in compromise. The only time that was suggested by Valley was at the last Village Council hearing. Audrey Meyers, seeing the writing on the wall, begged council to hold off their vote so Valley could develop a compromise. Seriously, where was the compromise for six years?

Mr. Abdoo, reconsider and bullet for Killion and Shinizuka before we are in another turf-like drowning mess attributable to the likes of you.

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Reader says it only fair that the Sports Groups step up and contribute to maintenance and depreciation of the turf fields

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file photo Boyd Loving

Reader says it only fair that the Sports Groups step up and contribute to maintenance and depreciation of the turf fields 

If the sports clubs have gotten so much value out of the fields, I would think it only fair that they step up and contribute to maintenance and depreciation. It shouldn’t always be the VC or BOE (the rest of us). Given that maintenance seems to be running about $100K year and depreciation another $200K for $1.5M to replace the carpets after a flood-shortened 7 year life, the sports clubs should be contributing on the order of $100K.

Raise dues if you have to — it’s part of the true cost of doing business.

And did they ever contribute everything they had promised for the lights?

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Post storm conditions at artificial turf fields, Ridgewood

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Post storm conditions at artificial turf fields, Ridgewood

Ridgewood Nj , Photos taken at Maple Field, Stevens Field, and the Ridgewood High School Stadium on08/03/2014.

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Photo credit: Boyd A. Loving

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Maple Park flooded over into Meadowbrook on Aug. 1

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photo by Boyd Loving

Maple Park flooded over into Meadowbrook on Aug. 1.

Police had to direct traffic. I was part of the directed traffic on my way home from the library. It was scary and dangerous driving through the flooded street. That’s why the police had to be called out.

I was coming home from the library where my shoes and socks and pants had gotten soaking wet as I had to wade to my car, in leg deep water. Note: Not ankle deep; leg deep, above the ankles.

Before Maple Field was turned artificial, REAC had done a report stating that artificial turf is safe for Maple field and good for the environment.

If the rains had continued the new village hall and new library would have been flooded.

Flooding was not supposed to occur there. Supposedly Ridgewood engineering experts had designed the buildings to prevent flooding.

You know what, the members of REAC should pay to have the artificial truf (grass) removed from Maple Field and real, mother nature’s grass
replanted.

Trust me as they say: The kids will profit by playing on real grass.

I don’t trust you, experts.

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Ridgewood 12U Little Leaguers capture district baseball championship

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Ridgewood 12U Little Leaguers capture district baseball championship

July 18, 2014    Last updated: Friday, July 18, 2014, 12:31 AM
By Matthew Birchenough
ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR

If it’s possible for a group of 11- and 12-year-olds to be a bunch of experienced, battle-hardened competitors, the Ridgewood American 12-and-under baseball team would certainly fit that description.

The squad will attempt to continue to live up to that reputation in the state sectional tournament after defeating Ramsey, 14-3, last Saturday at Dumont to take home the District 4 Little League championship, just a day after falling to the same team in the double-elimination tournament.

Ridgewood has grown accustomed to performing in the playoff spotlight and, in particular, the District 4 tournament after winning the 10U and 11U titles the previous two seasons.

“As 10-year-olds, we went to the state championship,” manager Matt Sullivan said Monday. “They know what the Little League tournament is all about, and they recognize the significance of it. You always have those peaks and valleys throughout the season, but come Little League [tournament] time, they’re always ready to play.”

Ridgewood certainly showed it was ready for tournament play this year, going 5-1 in the district bracket while outscoring its opponents, 57-11.

– See more at: https://www.northjersey.com/news/second-chance-is-a-charm-for-12u-team-1.1053665#sthash.LeYlIgEV.dpuf

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These election results send a clear message to special interest groups like Valley, the developers and sad to say now, the sports lobby

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These election results send a clear message to special interest groups like Valley, the developers and sad to say now, the sports lobby

These election results send a clear message to special interest groups like Valley, the developers and sad to say now, the sports lobby. What a disaster for youth sports in this town to have been dragged down by a handful of agenda driven zealots who somehow felt that the only way to get a new field was to get one of their own on the Council. And then there’s our opportunistic Mayor who thought that he could parlay that zeal into getting another inexperienced one issue candidate to vote with him.

Great work by the CRR and CBR to shine a light on the issues and get the vote out. I hope they continue to work together to shut down the current Master Plan Amendment processes. Now it’s time to get the 2007 Ordinance off the books before the next wave of special interests come along to amend the Master Plan for their own gain.

Good luck to Mrs. Knudson and Mr. Sedon.

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Reader says The IRS sent the RBSA a loss of tax exempt status in 2011

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Reader says The IRS sent the RBSA a loss of tax exempt status in 2011

According to the IRS website, a letter went to every organization that had lost its tax-exempt status due to failure to file forms. This letter was sent in 2011. Somebody at the RBSA received it…and filed it.

When the treasurer took off some years ago, wouldn’t the president have been expected to find somebody to review the books and make sure everything was in good shape?

This didn’t happen yesterday, either.

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YOUR 501(C)(3) STATUS HAS BEEN REVOKED – WHAT NOW?

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RBSA website

YOUR 501(C)(3) STATUS HAS BEEN REVOKED – WHAT NOW?
April 16, 2014


Many nonprofit corporations are exempt from federal income tax pursuant to Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Until relatively recently, many of those tax-exempt nonprofits were not required to file annual Form 990 series returns. That all changed with the Pension Protection Act of 2006. Now, all tax-exempt nonprofits are required to file an annual Form 990 series return. If a tax-exempt organization fails to do so for three consecutive years, then its federal income tax exemption is automatically revoked – – no questions asked.

HOW DO YOU KNOW IF YOUR TAX-EXEMPT ORGANIZATION HAS LOST ITS
501(C)(3) STATUS?

The IRS maintains a list of organizations that have had their 501(c)(3) status revoked. Use thisLINK to search for specific organizations.

WHAT ARE THE CONSEQUENCES?

The Organization Will Have Tax Liability. If your nonprofit has its 501(c)(3) status revoked, then it will no longer be exempt from federal income tax. As a result, the nonprofit may be subject to corporate income tax and required to file IRS Form 1120 (U.S. Corporation Income Tax Return).
Donations Will Not Be Tax Deductible. Any donations received after the official notification of the revocation will not be tax deductible. This can be a major issue for donors who made donations and claimed tax deductions based on the belief that your organization was a valid 501(c)(3) organization.

https://www.michigantaxblog.com/501c3-Status-Revoked-What-Now

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Reader says Allowing people and companies to continue to deduct their donations allowed them to commit fraud for years without realizing it

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Reader says Allowing people and companies to continue to deduct their donations allowed them to commit fraud for years without realizing it

The IRS site says that as of March 15, 2011, it revoked the tax-exempt status of organizations that had not filed for AT LEAST 3 consecutive years. Since taxes are not due until April, that means 2010 didn’t count. The three years would have been 2007-09. But there is no way of knowing when they last filed properly. Even RBSA may not know, since the CPA who fled without warning was apparently the only accountant in the state.

This is worse than sloppiness. Allowing people and companies to continue to deduct their donations allowed them to commit fraud for years without realizing it. A group too busy “helping the kids have fun” to control its finances should not be sitting on giant nest eggs.

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Reader troubled by RBSA letter refering to citizens opposed to a 90-foot baseball diamond on the Schedler property as the “anti sports forces.”

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Reader troubled by RBSA letter refering to citizens opposed to a 90-foot baseball diamond on the Schedler property as the “anti sports forces.” 

MAY 9, 2014    LAST UPDATED: FRIDAY, MAY 9, 2014, 12:31 AM

Writer troubled by letter
Linda McNamara

To the Editor:

A letter from a member of the Ridgewood Baseball and Softball Association to its constituents has been circulated about town. Two things are bothersome about the letter: 1) A 501(c)3 tax-exemption status prohibits electioneering, and the letter appears to be just that; 2) the letter also refers to citizens opposed to a 90-foot baseball diamond on the Schedler property as the “anti sports forces.” This is blatantly untrue.

Most of us opposed to the field are pushing for a balanced approach to the development of the property that would include accommodations for passive and active recreation as well as preserving the house. The Habernickel property was treated in this manner and has proven to be a great success and endorsed by its neighbors. The Schedler acreage is a smaller parcel of land and borders Route 17. The homeowners have very legitimate concerns regarding the integrity and safety of their neighborhood, which include direct access from Route 17 and the loss of four acres of trees that serve as a sound and pollution buffer for the area. The neighbors have been left out of the process. Compromise is not a dirty word. It is how we as a people deal with conflicting desires. In Ridgewood, this could be the answer to most of our immediate concerns: the proposed Valley expansion, development of the Central Business District and Schedler

– See more at: https://www.northjersey.com/opinion/opinion-letters-to-the-editor/letter-reader-troubled-by-letter-1.1012814#sthash.U6xvZTmN.dpuf

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RIDGEWOOD NEWS : Controversial issue should have been covered

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RIDGEWOOD NEWS : Controversial issue should have been covered

MAY 9, 2014    LAST UPDATED: FRIDAY, MAY 9, 2014, 12:31 AM

Controversial issue should have been covered
Boyd A. Loving


To the Editor:

I am somewhat mystified as to why The Ridgewood News’ Friday, May 2 edition made no mention of the recent admission by current Ridgewood Baseball and Softball Association (RBSA) President James Albano that the RBSA’s 501(c)(3) Federal Income Tax Exemption status was revoked on March 15, 2011.

This information was made public, and confirmed by Mr. Albano, during the League of Women Voters – Ridgewood Chapter “Candidates’ Night,” which was held on Tuesday, April 29.

A reporter employed by The Ridgewood News was present at the aforementioned event throughout the debate/discussion of the tax exemption status issue. Certainly both you and your reporter understand the significance of such a revelation, particularly in light of Mr. Albano’s active candidacy for Ridgewood Village Council.

Despite having ample time to direct your reporter to undertake further investigation/research of the matter and prepare an article prior to your publication’s May 1 deadline, you apparently chose not to do so.

Whether The Ridgewood News’ “failure to publish” was simply an oversight on your part, or an deliberate attempt to avoid broad exposure of a controversial issue during an already heated election campaign, the absence of even a brief mention about this issue was shamefully disgraceful and a disservice to all of your readers.

Boyd A. Loving

– See more at: https://www.northjersey.com/opinion/opinion-letters-to-the-editor/letter-controversial-issue-should-have-been-covered-1.1012917#sthash.bo9bS7Gg.dpuf

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RBSA Financial Practices Questioned

RBSA Financial Practices Questioned

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The letter was sent to the Ridgewood News by email on Sunday afternoon, May 4. On Monday morning the paper called to confirm that I had sent it and wanted it published. I said yes.

Late Wednesday morning, the three candidates for council received an email message from Ed Virgin, editor of the paper, stating that the volume of letters this week had been so great that the usual noon (Wed.) deadline had had to be cut off a little early. However, he added, anything received before late Wednesday morning (May 7) would be published.

Well, mine wasn’t. Gee.

Too late now.

I called Ed but his phone message said he was out until Monday and not listening to voice mail. Thanks for your objectivity, local newspaper!

Here’s the letter:

RBSA Financial Practices Questioned

Ridgewood News readers deserve to know about an important issue raised at the League of Women Voters Candidates’ Debate on April 29 but omitted from last week’s article on that event (“Race for Two Seats Heats Up,” May 2).

According to public records, the Ridgewood Baseball and Softball Association failed to file federal tax returns for at least 3 consecutive years during Village Council candidate James Albano’s long and continuing tenure as RBSA president. As a result, the group’s tax-exempt status was revoked by the Internal Revenue Service on March 15, 2011.

This suggests that appropriate papers have not been filed for at least 7 or 8 years and that contributions have not been legally tax deductible for several years.

Questions emerge:

Why did this happen? Was it deliberate, or sloppy bookkeeping?

In either case, how might RBSA’s financial practices reflect on Mr. Albano’s ability to serve on the Village Council, which oversees a vastly larger budget?

How much money does the RBSA have and where does it go?

Since RBSA activities heavily use tax-supported fields owned by the Village and Board of Education, might an audit of RBSA’s financial records by the Village be warranted?

Were corporate and individual donors to RBSA informed in a timely way in 2011 and every year since that they could no longer deduct donations from their taxes without violating federal law?

Do any individuals profit from RBSA’s summer baseball clinics conducted on taxpayer-owned property? Might an expansion of the summer clinics be one reason RBSA has pushed so hard to flatten the Schedler property in exchange for a 90-foot baseball field that its neighbors and countless other residents adamantly do not want?

At the debate, Mr. Albano denied being “the sports candidate,” a term no one but him had used that night. Interestingly, a message sent to the RBSA email list last month under the subject line “Albano for Council!” by Gary Muzio, RBSA’s “2014 Commissioner” and a leader of the summer clinics, stated: “While he [Mr. Albano] is not just the ‘sports candidate,’ the issue of the badly needed 90′ field, along with an all purpose field (read: soccer & lax) at Schedler is certainly a timely issue here.”

The assumption that RBSA had tax-exempt status and was therefore prohibited from any political activity, including endorsing candidates for local elections, led to a simple search for confirmation on the excellent IRS website, which quickly revealed the March 2011 revocation.

Might RBSA therefore use its email list for political activity, after all? Consider another factor beyond IRS regulations. The Village and Board of Education, recognizing the RBSA as a nonprofit entity (is it so registered?), have granted it the privilege of being cosponsored by the Village Parks and Recreation Department and Community School. Is it appropriate for a Village/Board of Education-cosponsored athletic organization (given priority in the use of tax-supported fields) to endorse a candidate for public office?

Marcia Ringel
Ridgewood

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RBSA addressing tax status

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RBSA addressing tax status

MAY 9, 2014    LAST UPDATED: FRIDAY, MAY 9, 2014, 12:31 AM
BY DARIUS AMOS
STAFF WRITER

Officers within Ridgewood’s largest youth sports organization said corrective measures are already underway for the reinstatement of their federal tax-exempt status from the Internal Revenue Service.

The tax-exempt standing of the Ridgewood Baseball and Softball Association (RBSA) recently came into the spotlight following the revelation that the group did not file federal taxes for at least three consecutive years. As a result of that oversight, the RBSA was stripped of its tax-exempt status with the IRS more than three years ago.

Public records available on the IRS website, which is regularly updated, confirm that the federal government revoked RBSA’s tax-exempt classification on March 15, 2011. The IRS imposes an automatic revocation on organizations that fail to submit tax returns for three straight years.

Under federal law, a tax-exempt organization in the United States is required to file 990 series returns with the IRS each year. Some groups are excused from the 990 federal tax filings under the Internal Revenue Code, though most falling under that category are religious institutions, select political groups and those with low annual gross receipts, according to the IRS website.

– See more at: https://www.northjersey.com/community-news/clubs-and-service-organizations/group-correcting-tax-status-1.1012773#sthash.HJHg6O5G.dpuf