file photo by Boyd Loving
I watched this “show”.
The council seemed more focus on that dumb sycamore tree at Graydon that has no significance.
What an embarrassment watching the mayor talk about making available dainty bundles of twigs for those who miss the rotted tree.
Reader says , the Town should be sued for neglect of the Three Municipal surface Parking lots dangerous conditions in the commercial center of town. The trip and fall lawsuits must be stacking up in dark winters.
Add in the adjoining Town Garage privately owned and basically abandoned and you have an absolute mess of a town. A fire and other known hazards are there too. Used for Utility truck staging as if we were Paterson…
THESE ARE THE Facts. People riding through town are amazed as to how far we have fallen,
Sorry but I was in Glen Rock This morning .It was in fair to good shape on most fronts .Parking Lots fair to well maintained and Safe.
file photo courtesy of RAI
February 3,2018
the staff of the Ridgewood
Ridgewood NJ, The RAI 38th Annual Regional Open Juried Show will only be on view one more week. Showcasing over 100 gorgeous pieces in a variety of mediums, it would be a shame to not see this beautiful show. As the Grand Finale of this event, we will be hosting an Oil Painting Demonstration Sunday, Feb.4th at 2PM by Gregory Mortenson. Please don’t miss this unique opportunity to observe the creative process at work. This free event is worthwhile to both artists and art enthusiasts, alike. All are welcome.
The Ridgewood Art Institute is a non profit organization providing the finest instruction in Classical Realism in a variety of mediums. Classes are offered on an open enrollment basis, and can be joined at anytime. Each student is taught in direct relation to their personal skill level. Our two unique north lit studios as well as our 3 galleries are just a part of what RAI offers. We also sponsor events and workshops throughout the year, that are of interest to artists and art enthusiasts alike.
Why wait? Come see why RAI has become a treasured haven to so many, for more than 70 years.
Oil Painting Demonstration by Gregory Mortenson at the Ridgewood Art institute
Tomorrow at 2 PM – 4 PM
Ridgewood Art Institute
12 E Glen Ave, Ridgewood, New Jersey 07450
February 3,2018
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, On Thursday, February 8, the Ridgewood High School Department of Fine and Applied Arts will present the third Maroon & White Music Recital and Art Exhibit for the 2017-18 school year. The third of five such events for this year, the concert will be held in the newly renovated RHS Learning Commons beginning at 3:45PM, followed immediately by a reception and gallery opening in the Carroll Art Gallery. Admission is free and open to the public.
February 3,2018
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, if you are new to the Ridgewood Public Library Sign up at https://www.ridgewoodlibrary.org/music-movies–tv to start streaming some of the finest films available. RPL card holders can choose from classic American cinema, international films, documentaries, Great Courses videos, and more. Films can be streamed from any computer, television, mobile device or platform by downloading the Kanopy app for iOS, Android, AppleTV, Chromecast or Roku. What will you watch first?
If we don’t get SOME form of parking garage, SOME housing on the vacant sites and help prop up the high street merchants you DO know what happens next, right? The main drag gets rezoned for mixed use, a la Bogota and Closter, and our commuter town (which it is, look at the town seal) has MORE rental units developed by OUTSIDERS and the usual mix of chain stores.. the combo of reasonable housing proposals and some form of business/commuter parking will give the town a boost. I think if the current housing proposals can be negotiated further, you get some desperately needed new blood in. And the tides lift everything up as well as down.
No one on the council was against A garage, they were against THE garage as originally planned. Many pro garage residents also turned against the first iteration, based on the size of the proposed structure. Now the issue is a higher cost and the cost of money is slowly rising. a hundred bucks per basis point increase per million soon adds up over the life of the financing bond. The deputy mayor presented plan b last year, which seemed palatable and fit in the footprint.
February 3,2018
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, the Ridgewood Public Library is hosting Reading Marathon Month at the Ridgewood Library . If you donate (even a dollar!) to the Friends of the Ridgewood Library, you could design your very own smiley face for our windows. Visit us at the library or online at www.ridgewoodlibrary.org/reading-marathon for more information.
February 2,2018
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, The Ridgewood Police Department is seeking the public’s help in locating a hit and run driver who struck a Ridgewood Police Officer on Van Emburgh Avenue at around 10:37 A.M. on Monday January 29th. The Ridgewood Police Officer was concluding a motor vehicle stop on Van Emburgh Avenue near the intersection of Cathleen Terrace (near the Washington Township Boarder), when a 2014 or newer dark colored Acura TLX sedan struck the officer causing minor injuries. The vehicle was traveling south on Van Emburgh Avenue and continued southbound toward East Glen Avenue after the collision. We are asking anyone with information to contact the Ridgewood Police Department at 201-670-5519 or email Detective Peter Youngberg at [email protected].
February 2,2018
John Paquin on Vintage Ridgewood New Jersey
Ridgewood NJ, What happened in 1788? The US constitution was ratified, and this wonderful Sugar Maple was born. I brought an arborist to the site this morning, and we took measurements, used accepted norms, did some calculations, and turns out this tree is 229 years old! give or take a year at least. actually decades older than the house even. Might even be the oldest tree in Bergen County?
February 2,2018
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, Because there have been a significant number of reported cases of the flu in the communities we serve, The Valley Hospital has chosen to restrict visitation at this time in order to protect our patients, staff and other visitors. The flu is easily and most often spread as a result of coughs, sneezes or simply talking.
Those who will not be allowed to visit include: Children under 14 and anyone who has signs of influenza (including fever, sore throat, cough and cold). Only immediate family members (over age 14) and clergy will be allowed to visit. Valley asks you please speak with your nurse if you have extenuating circumstances.
So let me get this straight. The Borough of Glen Rock sues the Village of Ridgewood over water rates and now the Village of Ridgewood is providing free fire protection services to the Borough of Glen Rock? Huh? Free fire protection services? Free as in paid for by taxpayers from the Village of Ridgewood?
Come on, people. Surely you’ve all heard of “Mutual Aid”? If it was one of our schools in danger, Glen Rock, and others, would be there. Hackensack is not our closest hospital but they have an ambulance standing by for “our” fireworks.
This goes above and beyond “mutual Aid.” It is regular daytime response to incidents at commercial/multi unit residential buildings.
Ridgewood taxpayers need to stay alert on this issue. Look what happened when Montclair made a deal to provide fire protection services to nearby Glen Ridge. Montclair’s taxpayers got screwed big time.
February 2,2018
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, the Village received 4 proposals for the Hudson street garage project. At last Wednesdays council meeting Village Manager Heather Mailander made it clear that the Wednesday review was a quick once over with more in-depth review to follow.
Reader says , “Several months ago Councilman Hache publicly (during an open public meeting of the Village Council) voiced his strong opposition to the construction of any sized parking garage that would result in either increased parking fees, expanded metered parking hours (he cited both of the aforementioned as simply “another form of taxation), and/or an increased property tax burden for homeowners.
Now, all of a sudden, he’s Gung Ho on proceeding with the review of parking garage designs even prior to the financials being discussed. He went so far as to publicly chastise Mayor Knudsen for “stalling” when she suggested that financing arrangements should be discussed first.
WTF Ramon? What gives? Why the sudden about face?”
Many readers pointed out that Councilmen Ramon Hache seemed very focused on pushing the garage project forward for both design and financing . While we are not sure we would agree with that assessment .
The garage issue has be bandied about for the better part of 30 maybe 40 years although some would trace it back to the time when parking meters were first introduced to the Central Business District in Ridgewood making it more like 60 years .
Frankly we think the issues should be moved forward or finally put to rest once and for all .We now 4 proposals coupled with proposals for financing . Either the garage makes sense or it does not .
An anti garage reader summed it up , “Why are we still arguing every week about a garage we don’t need.It’s become the national pastime in Ridgewood. It’s been happening for over 20 years.At this rate it will happen for twenty more. We voted it down and it refuses to die.Politicians continue to ignore the voice of the people and make side deals with developers.There are much better uses of our tax dollars that can be made in our Village’s infrastructure.Is there anyone on the council with some real vision?”
file photo by Boyd Loving
February 2,2018
the staff of The Ridgewood Blog
Glen Rocj NJ, It was reported that a Ridgewood Fire Department SUV was involved in an injury-free crash while on the way to assist the Glen Rock Fire Department in the investigation of a fire alarm sounding at the Hamilton School on Harristown Road. The fender bender happened on January 31, Wednesday at the intersection of Ackerman Ave and Maple Ave, Glen Rock. A witness to the crash said that no tow trucks were needed because the damage was so minor. Several Glen Rock police officers were seen at the crash location. Warning lights and siren were said to have been activated on the fire vehicle.
February 2,2018
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, With a large cast and crew of over 150 people, RHS Jamboree has plenty of hungry mouths to feed. Procuring and managing a delightful and varied array of generous food donations from both local restaurants and home cooks takes a lot of organizing, but thanks to Roni Farfalla and her all-star team of Ridgewood High School (RHS) students, no one goes hungry. Cast and crew pay for donated meals which, in turn, helps raise money for this years 72nd Jamboree scholarship fund which last gave 40 RHS graduates in scholarships funds to pursue higher education.
Born in Hoboken, Roni and her family moved to Ridgewood 25 years ago when her oldest was just 6 months. This is her fifth year chairing the Jamboree Hospitality Committee which takes on the responsibility of overseeing meal offerings over a six and a half week period including breakfast, lunch, and dinner for approximately 24 rehearsals plus 4 performances. But that doesn’t stop Roni and her husband Frank Farfalla from staring in this years show “Jamboree Night Live” were favorite characters from TV past and present perform a “live” in studio musical experience at Benjamin Franklin School, Wednesday February 7th though to Saturday February 10th.
For Tickets to see the show and more information go to rhsjamboree.org
Bottom row from left to right Bella Salerno, Jenna Farfalla, Brooke Ward, Grace Saltamacchia,
Top row left to right Bridget Ward, Sophia Mchedlishvili, Katrina Abramenko , Roni Farfalla
Photo credit Susan Knudsen
