Ridgewood Board of Education - Page 171 of 293

Posted on July 20, 2017July 20, 2017 by James — 4 Comments

NJT Weighs Disciplinary action against “No Show” Train Engineers

photo by ArtChick

July 20,2017

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, New Jersey Transit is weighing whether it can pursue disciplinary action against train engineers after a manpower shortage forced dozens of ride cancellations causing further commuter uproar this week amid the “summer of Hell” track work at New York’s Penn Station.

NJ Transit Executive Director Steve Santoro said at a joint Assembly-Senate oversight committee that there were 40 total cancellations Sunday and Monday and that he will meet later this week with union leaders.

The union contract spells out the process for discipline, Santoro said after the Democrat-led hearing. “If it’s appropriate, disciplinary action will occur consistent with the contract,” he said.

At this point it is still unclear how many of the cancellations stemmed from engineers exercising a contract provision that allows them to take two days to report for work when schedule changes are made. But vacations and the summer track work also may have been a factor, Santoro said.

James Brown, chairman of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen disputed the claim that the engineers do not want to come to work.

Republican state Sen. Joe Kyrillos got into a heated exchange, at one point asking Santoro whether it was true they were “screwing” NJ Transit customers by not working earlier this week.

Once again the hearings have made it all the more abundantly clear that Trenton has not clue what the commute is like to New York City every day and would explain the media ,obsession with “the bidgegate ” faux traffic delays.

Posted on July 20, 2017July 20, 2017 by James — 12 Comments

Reader says Major and Secondary Road Surfaces in Ridgewood are in Shambles

Major and secondary Road surfaces are a shambles even before the recent PSEG new tunneling projects on RIdgewood avenue and aside the Train station.No plan to fix our roads outside of the inadequate pothole patch and scratch crews.N.PLEASANT and Fairway are a disgrace,RIDGEWOOD Avenue won’t make it through the fall despite PSEG repave process
which we know doesn’t return the street to a normal operating surface.People are moving out.

Posted on July 20, 2017July 20, 2017 by James — 24 Comments

Ridgewood Water eyes Elks Lodge for new headquarters at cost of $1.6 million

file photo by Boyd Loving

Nicholas Katzban, Staff Writer, @NicholasKatzban

RIDGEWOOD — Last week the Village Council passed the first reading of an ordinance that would permit the appropriation of $1.6 million from the water utility capital fund for the purchase of the former Elks Lodge on Maple Avenue.

The ordinance would allow Ridgewood Water to use funds from its existing capital budget for engineering, architect fees and “modernization costs,” associated with a proposed project to develop a single administrative and operational headquarters for the utility.

https://www.northjersey.com/story/news/bergen/ridgewood/2017/07/19/ridgewood-water-eyes-elks-lodge-new-headquarters-cost-1-6-million/489249001/

Posted on July 20, 2017July 19, 2017 by James — 10 Comments

Reader says The “demand for parking” in Ridgewood is a myth put forward by the previous Council majority

file photo by Boyd Loving

The “demand for parking” in Ridgewood is a myth put forward by the previous Council majority. I drove past the site where they wanted to build a 5 story parking garage at 8:00 pm on a Saturday night and the lot was about 75% full. Plenty of parking available. For those of us that work in the CBD, we know that there are certain hours of the WEEK that are difficult to find parking but overall there are plenty of spots available.

Posted on July 20, 2017July 19, 2017 by James — 7 Comments

Reader says I don’t think Ridgewood is in decline and in some ways is better now than ever

I have only lived in the village for 40 years so maybe I lack the long term perspective. but if you net it all out I don’t think Ridgewood is in decline and in some ways is better now than ever.

1. CBD has changed–no hardware stores or cute boutiques–many more coffee shops and restaurants. I would say its about a wash.
2. Parking is if anything a bit better than it was in years past. I do not see this as a major problem as CBD has thrived for many decades without a major parking facility.
3. Major Valley Hospital expansion was thwarted–a victory for residents and a validation of grassroots democracy in action.
4. Schools generally remain solid. People move here for the schools–Do you really think they are all “deluded fools buying into over-rated hype”. I don’t think so.
5. Ridgewood is not more congested now. Population has been stable since Lawns were developed. Not a fan of the new high density housing–it was a bad decision but it won’t fundamentally alter the character of the Village as many claim.
6. Graydon is not as popular. that’s because kids today have so many more options. I still enjoy driving past it.
7. There has always been political maneuvering in the village but the Aronsohn crowd seems to have lowered the level of civility and tolerance. Maybe that’s gone forever. in Trump’s America.
8. The Duck Pond bike path, the Library, the Band Shell and Van Neste park, The beautiful tree-lined streets and homes, The many nice people–new and old. These are things that endure and I continue to be grateful for them. I will leave someday for a warmer climate but for now I’m in no hurry.

Posted on July 19, 2017July 19, 2017 by James — 7 Comments

Reader asks why No Passive Park Space in Ridgewood ?

I have driven by there many times and have seen even the passive field being used for sports. Why can’t there ever be a place that is passive around here. I feel for those folks who live there. Soccer, baseball, lacrosse on the passive side all the while a for profit business with camps, fueled trips and busses!!! I had to pass a chartered bus once parked hillcrest rd!! These folks don’t get a break. Why can’t there be a place for us seniors or childless people to sit in a park and relax. I thought passive meant passive. Especially when there are sport fields 100 feet away. Wake up Ridgewood. That’s why us seniors are moving away!!!!

Posted on July 19, 2017July 19, 2017 by James — Leave a comment

Reader asks why Americans have such a propensity to abuse drugs?

A lot more research should be done to figure out why Americans have such a propensity to abuse drugs. In most countries, people have access to prescription drugs without needing a prescription. I was recently in Mexico and you can walk into any drug store and buy oxy and Percocet easily. Yet, Mexico is not facing an epidemic like we are. The problem here is and always has been a demand problem, not a supply problem. Why is that? Is life so terrible here that we need to numb ourselves? Or have we been coddled to the point of ignoring the notion of personal responsibilit?. How many bulimics are there in the third world?

Posted on July 19, 2017January 21, 2019 by James — 7 Comments

Reader says You need metered parking because we have so much demand for parking

Disagree with both. There’s no disconnect. You need metered parking because we have so much demand for parking. Without limits and enforcement, the businesses will suffer. Might seem counterintuitive but it’s a matter of supply and demand. We can’t find parking today with 3 hour limits and meter rates….imagine how much parking you’ll find if it was free! Glen Rock has like two delis and a couple of shops. They don’t have nearly the same amount of retail stores or restaurants that we have. Same goes for Midland Park, HoHoKus, Waldwick, Wyckoff, Allendale. Should I go on? So no, we don’t have any competition. Route 17 and Garden State Plaza are not substitutes for a Downtown like ours.
And to suggest that people here live in a bubble, and that they don’t know what else is out there, is simply ridiculous. We have a very educated consumer who chooses to live here for the very reasons people trip over themselves to come here. And by the way, taxes in Glen Rock are actually higher than in Ridgewood. But somehow, people in Ridgewood think that their taxes are higher than any other place on earth. It’s just a high class brag that gives some people the justification for being an asshole. So stay home, order from Amazon, home-school your children and become a hermit. Just make sure to Amazon Prime some Vitamin D supplements.

Posted on July 19, 2017July 19, 2017 by James — 7 Comments

Reader says Ridgewood’s CBD has become the largest open air food court in Bergen County

photo by ArtChick

Ridgewood’s CBD has become the largest open air food court in Bergen County. We should embrace that and close Ridgewood Ave between Broad and Maple and make it a walking mall like Washington Street in Cape May, Main Street Charlottesville, Pearl Street Boulder, 4th Street Louisville, the list goes on. Sure NJ Transit bus people may complain, but fix that with a one-way (west obviously) Dayton Street. Changes like this would drive improvements on Franklin (while simplifying the intersections at Chestnut, Oak, Walnut and Cottage Place). It would push parking (or at least parking access) to the perimeter of that space and allow for a real walking village with diverse shops and restaurants to flourish. It would also make The Greek’s planters a non-issue! Who’s with me?

Posted on July 19, 2017July 18, 2017 by James — 2 Comments

OPRA : Anyone has the right to ask for public documents to determine if government officials are doing their job

The open public records act is designed for a transparent government. Transparency so the public has access to otherwise hidden information. Anyone has the right to ask for public documents to determine if government officials are doing their job.

You ignored Voigts criminal and immoral act and decided to attack members of the public for doing something legal. Are you seriously blaming victims for the illegal act of a crazy elected official? If the village attorney is defending Voigt then it’s costing us money. Is the village attorney defending voigt? Residents should demand our tax dollars not be used for voigt criminal defense.

Posted on July 19, 2017July 18, 2017 by James — 7 Comments

NJ Transit bus slammed into vehicle’s open driver’s side door on East Ridgewood Avenue

photo courtesy of Boyd Loving’s Facebook page

July 19,2017

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, The adult female driver of a black colored Chevrolet Traverse escaped injury when a NJ Transit bus slammed into her vehicle’s open driver’s side door in front of 144 East Ridgewood Avenue, Ridgewood on Tuesday afternoon, 07/18. Damage done prevented the door from being closed, so the Chevy had to be towed from the scene. The bus, with two (2) uninjured passengers on board, sustained glass damage, but was able to continue on its route after Ridgewood PD obtained all necessary information to process a crash report.

Posted on July 18, 2017July 17, 2017 by James — Leave a comment

Ridgewood Mindfulness Meditation Class For Teens & Young Adults

Tue, July 18, 2017
Time: 4:00 PM – 4:45 PM
Evolved Medicine, 1250 E Ridgewood Ave, Ridgewood, NJ 07450

Ridgewood NJ, This month’s Mindfulness Meditation Class for Teens & Young Adults on next Tuesday July 18th from 4:00–4:45pm. I am offering the class at Evolved Medicine’s offices in Ridgewood located at 1250 E. Ridgewood Ave. Evolved Medicine is one of the only functional medicine practices in the country to focus on adolescents & young adults and Dr. Stephanie Strozuk is a big advocate of meditation for her clients, so it is naturally a great fit! The class will be inclusive and suitable for everyone, especially youthful beginners in high school, college, or early adulthood.
Mindfulness meditation is simply “exercise for the mind.” A few of the benefits include being more relaxed, less stressed, and more mindfulness around eating habits & emotions.
RSVP HERE (by link), or you can reach me at this email or by phone 201-657-4420.

Posted on July 18, 2017July 18, 2017 by James — 8 Comments

Born and raised in New Jersey — Now get me out of here

for sale Ridgewood_Real_Estate_theRodgewopodblog

file photo by Boyd Loving

By Dino Flammia July 17, 2017 4:23 PM

On day two of our three-part series about different generations’ views about the state in which they live, we hear from a couple of families who still have more than two generations living in New Jersey.

While the oldest members stuck it out in New Jersey for most or all of their lives, there’s no shortage of folks heading toward retirement who say they want out.

Part 1: What senior citizens think about living in New Jersey

In the aftermath of World War II, Camilla Pankewytch (Moog before marriage) came to New Jersey from Germany at age 20. She had been “hungry for six years” overseas and was immediately fascinated by New Jersey and the new life it would offer.

“You could get everything here. It was a relief,” she said.

That new life included a marriage, a child and two stepchildren.

The 88-year-old has been here ever since. She bounced around between Newark and Irvington, then lived in Lakewood for 27 years, and most recently moved in with her son, daughter-in-law and grandson in the Ramtown section of Howell.

Both George, 60, and Patricia, 58, were born and raised in Newark — a very different Newark than what exists today, they noted.

Read More: Born and raised in New Jersey — Now get me out of here | https://nj1015.com/born-and-raised-in-new-jersey-now-get-me-out-of-here/?trackback=tsmclip

Posted on July 18, 2017July 17, 2017 by James — 9 Comments

Reader says Its the mindset here that we have no competition by other towns that is a huge disconnect

parking_ticket_Ridgewood_theridgewoodblog

Attorneys first ? now that’s a big surprise….while all this is going down every day ,Glen Rock and 20 miles of route 17 stores offers 3 hours of free unmetered parking because they appreciate the business and don’t take their taxpayers to court because they were on line in the third store supporting a local small business in RIDGEWOOD just to grab some prescriptions and items that the family need to function every week,..Its the mindset here that we have no competition by other towns that is a huge disconnect..do you think that person last in line in parking court will ever come to shop again..unlikely..

Posted on July 18, 2017July 17, 2017 by James — 15 Comments

Mayor Susan Knudsen will be available to meet with residents on Saturday

MEET THE MAYOR – SATURDAY, JULY 22

July 18,2017

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, Mayor Susan Knudsen will be available to meet with residents on Saturday, July 22 from 9:30am to 11:00am in the Village Hall Caucus Room, 4th Floor.

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