If the the ultimate goal of those looking to build the garage is to revitalize the CBD..how does one not first realize that you need the stores/products that will actually draw customers to come shopping in this town. I don’t know about what everyone else thinks but Mango Jam and others aren’t really a big draw in the retail world. If we’re looking towards the future, larger brands with name recognition (similar to Tices Corner) is what will draw shoppers to the CBD. Building a garage in the hopes that it will miraculously cure the shopping malaise that retailers in town seem to be going through and somehow make the trinket shops in town the next new thing is a total pipe dream. Building this garage is similar to pushing for an increase in public pay phones in the early 1990s when cell phones were just picking up. If the council wants to revitalize this village, we don’t need to build this garage, simply change the retail landscape that suits 2018 not 1980, a parking garage will go empty if we continue to rely on mom and pop stores to draw shoppers in. Oh, and if anyone on the council is reading this, YOU DON’T HAVE THE MONEY TO SPEND ON THIS HORRENDOUS IDEA.
And yet another infamous blunder on the part of a previous Village Council (perhaps the BIGGEST of all):
In conjunction with the conversion to high level platforms at Ridgewood’s train station, NJ Transit initially offered to build a LARGE parking garage (not just a single level deck) AT NO COST TO THE VILLAGE. The site selected by NJ Transit was the Ken Smith property.
The sitting Village Council back then balked at the idea. The owners of Ken Smith Lincoln Mercury had no interest in selling their property and the Village Council did not want to use eminent domain and be known as the Council that forced Ken Smith out of business.
As you know, Ken Smith was subsequently forced out of business when Ford Motor pulled their franchise and the property is now being developed as mixed use retail and high density housing.
COUNCILS NEVER LISTEN TO REASON. IT’S A FACT JACK.
Enough of this economics logic stuff. Yes, the economics of this mega garage are nonsense, but no amount of logical argument is going to stop it. This is local politics at work and this is how local politics works. A small minority of people stand to gain from the project. This includes a few business owners and everyone who is involved in the project (lawyers, architects, contractors, construction workers, etc). The taxpayers are the OPM (other peoples money) who foot the bill for it all. However, these taxpayers are mostly oblivious to this whole thing, mostly focused on their kids, their jobs, their social lives, their vacations, etc. This is how it works. It’s not a Ridgewood thing, it goes on everywhere. However, what makes this work well is that towns like Ridgewood are affluent, and therefore, this kind of thing is a good place to do it. It also helps that Ridgewood is a transient town, where people move in raise kids, then move on. Ridgewood is the perfect set of circumstances for these opportunists.
Previous Village Councils failed to listen when residents said: 1. Don’t build the new fire headquarters in a flood zone (during Tropical Storm Floyd, the building was inaccessible). 2. Don’t rebuild Village Hall in a flood zone (the renovated building flooded within 30 days of its grand opening and has flooded on several occasions since). 3. Don’t approve the construction of high density housing in the Central Business District (still waiting to see what happens, but we think we know – disaster). So what makes anyone think that this Village Council is going to listen to reason. Take it to the bank, THEY WILL NOT LISTEN TO REASON. COUNCILS NEVER DO.
MAHWAH NJ, Special Properties Real Estate Services, LLC, an exclusive affiliate of Christie’s International Real Estate and the fastest growing real estate brokerage in northern New Jersey, announced today that Marron Gildea Realtors, Inc. has joined Special Properties. Marron Gildea’s agents will transition to Special Properties, bringing a total of 151 agents available to home buyers and sellers throughout Bergen and Passaic Counties and beyond.
“We are very proud to welcome the Marron Gildea family to Special Properties. With more than 35 years in business, this boutique company is a perfect match for the expansion of the Christie’s International Real Estate brand in northern New Jersey,” said Ilija Pavlovic, President and CEO of Special Properties Real Estate Services LLC. “The addition of these offices and agents strengthens our presence in the Bergen and Passaic County region, and provides access to many more qualified agents for clients throughout the region.”
Marron Gildea, with offices in Ho-Ho-Kus, Saddle River, and Ridgewood, was organized more than 35 years ago in response to client demands for customized services that met their real estate needs. “Their team of world-class agents brings deep experience and local expertise in both residential and commercial real estate, and is quite active in both land sales and residential development,” said Pavlovic.
According to Charles Gildea, President of Marron Gildea, “In this highly-competitive environment, we were looking to provide our agents and our customers with the best service and marketing available. We believe that Special Properties, Christie’s Affiliate of the Year, is the best place for us to achieve those goals.”
Peter Marron, Vice President of Marron Gildea, said “We were looking for a strong, global brand with a clear vision for the next 20 years and beyond. Christie’s 256 years of business and Special Properties’ reputation for innovation and cutting-edge technology are guarantees that our company will stay at the head of the game.”
Dan Conn, CEO of Christie’s International Real Estate, stated, “Through its acquisition of Marron Gildea, Special Properties continues to demonstrate the market leadership that earned it Christie’s International Real Estate’s Affiliate of the Year Award in 2017. Special Properties strong collaboration with Christie’s global affiliate network has distinguished them within the industry and positioned them to succeed in a growing marketplace. This exciting acquisition of a renowned firm will undoubtedly drive further success, and we are excited to be working alongside such a remarkable team.”
Special Properties Real Estate Services, LLC embraces the history and traditions of its flagship brokerage location in Saddle River, NJ, into an expanded, modern presence in Mahwah, Franklin Lakes, Ridgewood, Hoboken and Ho-Ho-Kus, NJ. With a staff of accomplished real estate agents and brokers, its clients across northern New Jersey and southern New York are provided with customized, personalized services, backed by the luxury real estate brand of Christie’s International Real Estate. Special Properties provides local expertise with global connections. For more information, call 201-934-0607 or visit www.specialpropertiesres.com.
Ridgewood NJ, Chef Daniel Montoya, whose culinary acumen has made Radicchio Pasta and Risotto Co. in Ridgewood a North Jersey favorite, bringing his enriching experience, resurrected Radicchioto again at the same space where it all started a long long time ago.Chef Montoya, himself, oversees the menu at the new restaurant and he and his team take great care in preparing classic pasta and risotto options like their hearty Spaghetti Bolognese, Penne a la Vodka, and Porcini Risotto, mindful of maintaining the same comforting emotional experience these favorites tend to evoke. For those looking for something outside their familiar tastes, will have plenty of options with hosts of signature dishes featuring bold flavors and inventive twists like the Shrimp and Leek Risotto, Black Seafood Linguine (mussels, clams, scallops, shrimp, calamari, and lobster tail) and Arrabiata Risotto.
Radicchio’s is now open on Mondays now, they deliver for free & to call the restaurant directly for reservations. First time home delivery receives 10% off. The phone number is 201-670-7311.
parlance chamber concerts presents violinist benjamin beilman & pianist orion weiss Sun, March 11, 2018 Time: 3:00 PM Location: West Side Presbyterian Church, 6 South Monroe Street, Ridgewood NJ 07450
March 4,2018
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, Parlance Chamber Concerts Presents Violinist Benjamin Beilman and Pianist Orion Weiss:
Duos From Four Centuries
Sunday, March 11, 2018
Time:3:00PM
Location: West Side Presbyterian Church, 6 Monroe Street, Ridgewood, NJ 07450
Cost: Adults: $40; Seniors: $30; Young Adults:$20;Students:$10
Our March 11 event will spotlight two of today’s fastest-rising stars, violinist Benjamin Beilman and pianist Orion Weiss. Their deeply communicative performances go far beyond technical mastery and have won them worldwide acclaim. Their far-flung musical journey will range from the 18th to the 21st centuries, including music by Mozart, Beethoven, Bartók, and a newly composed work by the renowned American composer Frederic Rzewski.
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: Sonata in G major,K. 379 (1781)
Frederic Rzewski: Demons (2017)
Ludwig van Beethoven: Sonata No.10 in G, Op. 96 (1812)
Fritz Kreisler: Viennese Rhapsodic Fantasietta (1947)
Parlance Chamber Concerts:
West Side Presbyterian Church
6 S. Monroe Street, Ridgewood, NJ
Adults $40, Seniors $30, Young Adults $20, Students $10.
for more info call 800-838-3006
https://www.parlancechamberconcerts.org/2017-2018-season/march-11-20018.
Ridgewood NJ, Calling all actors. The Ridgewood Library is seeking professional (and former professional) volunteer actors for a group that meet meets regularly to read plays. We are currently casting for the Library’s April 28 “On Book Play Reading Series” (play tba) which will feature a 90-minute staged reading followed by a talkback between the actors/actresses and audience. Please send a recent photo, resume and/or a few sentences about your professional acting career to Roberta: [email protected]
Here’s some other “simple economics”
Parking deck can’t possibly pay for itself.
Will require subsidy from taxpayers for years and years.
Meter rates will rise and infuriate shoppers and store owners.
Meter times will expand and infuriate shoppers and store owners.
None of that seems to matter. The garage is going to be built.
If there are empty spots in the deck, which will almost certainly be the case, they should be rented to commuters for the highest amount the market will bear. Then if parking in the deck becomes a problem, cut back on the out-of-towners permits.
Until then, out-of-towners permits will mitigate the pending financial disaster..
Ridgewood NJ, The next Regular Public Meeting of the Ridgewood Board of Education will be held on Monday, March 5, 2018 at the Education Center, 49 Cottage Place, Floor 3 at 7:30 p.m. The meeting will be aired live on television, FiOS channel 33 and Optimum channel 77, and streamed via the “Link in Live” tab on the district website at www.ridgewood.k12.nj.us. Meeting webcasts are generally posted to the district website within 48 hours.
Calendar update: Due to the snow day used on January 4, Ridgewood Public Schools will be open on Friday, May 25.
March 5 2018 7:30 PM to 10:00 PM
Location Board Room, 3rd Floor, Education Center
Ridgewood NJ, from time to time over the years the Ridgewood blog has been criticized for providing a forum for anonymous free speech. Over the years some of the criticism has admittedly been valid ,but most of the time its part of a which hunt looking to punish and take out the poster .
The experience and fate of the Ridgewood “Math Moms “, having their children attacked and being almost driven from their homes , is one of the more egregious examples in semi recent Ridgewood history . While maligned in Ridgewood , the so called “Math Moms: who where not good enough to discuss education policy in the Village , but were invited to meet the President of the United States in the White House to discuss domestic education policy .
In recent history this blog has documented time and time again peoples businesses being targeted or bulled by coward and low life politicians who think that bullying the public is a legitimate political option .
Fact is “anonymous free speech” protects many who challenge the orthodox view in town , and lends airs to ideas that would otherwise often be suppressed because the person who mentions them is not considered “important enough” by the powers that be.
But more importantly Anonymous speech was a frequent feature of Founding father Alexander Hamilton’s life , and of the very founding America it self. Arguably the single most influential piece leading to American independence was signed simply “Common Sense,” Thomas Paine’s pen name. Just over a decade later, Hamilton, James Madison and John Jay co-wrote the Federalist Papers as “Publius.”…
Anonymous free speech was also used heavily in the deep south during the civil rights struggles and was integral in keeping supporters of civil rights from being lynched .
Ridgewood NJ, Ridgewood Police, Fire Department, and EMS personnel rushed to aid an adult female who was entrapped under a large fallen tree at the intersection of Heights Road and Woodland Avenue on Saturday morning, 03/03. The women was out walking her dog when the huge tree fell on her.
Heavy rescue equipment and hand tools were used by several Ridgewood firefighters who worked feverishly to free the severely injured woman. Once removed, the victim was transported by ambulance to Hackensack University Center’s main campus. A paramedic team from The Valley Hospital assisted Ridgewood EMTs.
Ridgewood NJ, Former New York Yankees Pitcher, Bob Tewksbury, will sign his new book: Ninety Percent Mental , at Bookends in Ridgewood Monday, April 9 at 7 PM – 8 PM
Books available: March 20th at Bookends in Ridgewood .
Tewksbury was drafted by them out of Saint Leo University in the 19th round of the 1981 Major League Baseball draft. He played for the Yankees for two years, before being sent to the Chicago Cubs. As a free agent in 1988, he signed with the St. Louis Cardinals, where he would stay until 1994. Again a free agent, he went to the Texas Rangers for a year. In 1996, he signed with the San Diego Padres for one more year. In December 1996, he signed with the Minnesota Twins and played for two years with the team,[3] but shoulder problems effectively ended his baseball career after that.
Due to the shoulder and arm problems he faced over the course of his playing career, Tewksbury became known as an excellent control pitcher. His best year was 1992, in which he went 16-5 on the season and had a 2.16 ERA in 233 innings pitched. He appeared in the All-Star game[5] and was third in the Cy Young Award voting that year.[6] His injury problems marred his success from that point forward, with his best post-Cardinals year being in San Diego, where he helped the Padres capture the NL West division title.
In 1992 Tewksbury walked only 20 batters in 233 innings, the best ratio in the major leagues in over half a century. The next season Tewksbury came very close to ending the season with more wins than bases on balls allowed, an elusive feat only accomplished 4 times by 3 different starting pitchers in MLB history. He had 17 wins with only 18 walks allowed late in the season but gave up a walk apiece in his last two starts and did not achieve a win in either game, ending the season with 17 wins on 20 walks.
In 1997, the ever-crafty Tewksbury threw an Eephus pitch, joining an elite few who have thrown the “junkiest pitch in baseball.” He threw it to power-hitter Mark McGwire in an interleague play game at the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome and McGwire grounded out on the pitch – twice.Tewksbury’s son has been quoted as calling this pitch “The Dominator.”
During and after his baseball career, he became well known for his philanthropy. He has done a lot of work for the Boys and Girls Club of America,[10] as well as hospital visits for sick children.
Appearing authors will only autograph books purchased at Bookends and must have valid Bookends Receipt.
Availability & pricing for all autographed books subject to change.
First In Line Certificate use is the the discretion of Bookends. Blackout dates may apply.
Bookends cannot guarantee that the books that are Autographed will always be First Printings.
Autographed books purchased at Bookends are non-returnable.
While we try to ensure that all customers coming to Bookends’ signings will meet authors and get their books signed, we cannot guarantee that all attendees will meet the author or that all books will be signed. We cannot control inclement weather, author travel schedules or authors who leave prematurely.
Bookends, 211 E. Ridgewood Avenue, Ridgewood, NJ 07450 201-445-0726
Ridgewood NJ, If you have yet to hear, starting January 2018, bat standards for Little League (14 and younger) will change to a more restrictive bat. The barrels on the bats can be 2 5/8—just larger than the 2 1/4 of previous years. The rule change will only affect those who play in leagues governed by Little League International, and of course, RBSA IS LITTLE LEAGUE COMPLIANT. RBSA ADHERES TO ALL LL REGULATIONS. 2018 Compliant bats will have a logo, similar to the images below.
The new USA Baseball bat standard, or USABat, will allow youth baseball organizations to reach their goal of wood-like bat performance in order to preserve the long-term integrity of the game, as well as instill a sense of uniformity among leagues. To identify officially sanctioned youth bats, look for the “USA Baseball” licensing mark, located on the taper.
On Saturday, March 3 rd , RBSA is offering purchase discounts in conjunction with DICK’S Sporting Goods in Paramus, located on Route 17 North.
USE THE ATTACHED COUPON FOR BIG SAVINGS in purchasing 2018 baseball bats.
A decision to go with resident only parking is not elitist. It is based in simple economics. If Ridgewood taxpayer funds are used for the parking structures and for the lots and on-street parking, why shouldn’t the people who pay those taxes have preferential access to that parking? They have already contributed to the costs. I commuted by train for a while. Parking in Ridgewood anywhere near the station was almost impossible, but it was very easy to park in the HHK lot (not so easy now). Why would we give preference to non-residents? If they pay the same parking fee but do not pay Ridgewood taxes that support the parking, then they pay less for the same usage. That would be unfair to residents.
