Ridgewood NJ, Councilmen Ramon Hache reminds everyone to ,”Get out there and vote today, regardless of who your candidate is. You can’t complain about what’s wrong if you don’t do anything about it. And if you think your vote doesn’t count, it actually counts a lot less if you don’t vote. Voting is not just a right, it’s a privilege. If you can vote, it means you have the privilege of being a citizen of the United States. Despite all our problems, this is still the greatest country in the world. We are fortunate to live in a country where there can be an orderly transfer of power every four years. This country is still the number one destination for people all over the world who are looking for opportunities and a better way of life. Don’t throw away your privilege.”
Ridgewood NJ, A two (2) vehicle crash at the intersection of North Monroe Street and West Glen Avenue in Ridgewood on Sunday morning, 11/06 resulted in three (3) individuals being transported by ambulances to The Valley Hospital with crash related injuries. The crash was reported by members of Ridgewood FD Engine Company #31, whose fire house is located near the intersection. One (1) of the vehicles involved in the collision left the roadway and crashed into a home located at 259 West Glen Avenue. Ridgewood PD, FD, and EMS personnel responded to assist the injured parties. Engine Company #31 members attended to a crash related fluid spill. Both vehicles were removed by a flatbed tow truck. There was no apparent structural damage to the home that was hit. Ridgewood PD is investigating the cause of the crash.
Full-Day Kindergarten: Public Vote is Election Day, November 8
Ridgewood residents will see this full-day K question at the bottom of the ballot:
RESOLVED, That there shall be raised an additional $929,800 for General Funds in the 2016-17 School Year. These taxes will be used to employ additional personnel and to acquire additional equipment and supplies in order to implement the District’s full-day Kindergarten program. Approval of these taxes will result in a permanent increase in the District’s tax levy. The additional taxes authorized herein will be used exclusively for purposes described herein and to finance expenditures that are in addition to those necessary to achieve the Core Curriculum Content Standards.
Click here for a PDF of the public presentation.
Click here for Frequently Asked Questions. Click here to view all full-day Kindergarten documents
BOE Approves REA Contract
At the October 10 meeting, the Board of Education approved the three-year contract with the Ridgewood Education Association (REA) that was ratified by the REA on September 28. Click here to read a letter to the Ridgewood community from the Board.
BOE Meets on November 7, 2016 at 7:30 p.m.
The Ridgewood Board of Education will hold a Regular Public Meeting on Monday, November 7, 2016 at 7:30 p.m.The meeting will be held in the Board Room at the Education Center, 49 Cottage Place. The public is invited to attend the meeting or view it live via the district website at www.ridgewood.k12.nj.us using the “Live BOE Meeting” tab on the district website, or on Fios tv channel 33 or Optimum 77.
Click here to view the agenda for the November 7, 2016 Regular Public Meeting.
Click here to view the minutes of the October 10, 2016 Regular Public Meeting.
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Click here to view the 2016-2017 Budget presented at the May 2, 2016 Regular Public Meeting.
Click here to view the Full Day Kindergarten Recommendation presented to the Board at their March 7, 2016 Regular Public Meeting.
Ridgewood NJ, the staff of the Ridgewood blog recommends voting NO on all ballot questions.
Question #1 (Expansion of Casino Gaming) Question #1 deals with the expansion of casino gaming to northern New Jersey. CIANJ testified in support of the measure as it made its way through the legislative process. We believe any initiative that invites new investment and the creation of new private sector jobs is good for New Jersey’s economy. Casino gaming also subsidizes other New Jersey industries, such as the horse racing industry, providing nearly 7,000 jobs – including veterinarians, farmers, horse trainers, race track employees, etc.- to New Jersey residents. To view background information and the question see here.
Say NO , This is just a joke , think Xanadu the failed Meadowlands mall and Atlantic City’s bankruptcy.
Question #2 (Dedication of Motor Fuels Taxes) Question #2 asks voters to approve an amendment to our constitution which would dedicate all revenues collected from the gas tax to transportation-related projects. As of November 1, the NJ tax on gasoline is 37.5 cents/gallon (44 cents/gallon for diesel). Should the question pass, the money collected could not be used for other purposes like balancing the state budget. The CIANJ agrees with this dedication and supports approval of the question. To view background information and the question see here.
Best to say NO on this one , the key words are “amendment to our constitution” , amending the state constitution is a euphemism for a constitutional requirement to raise your taxes every year . Think Abbott school districts, a huge percentage of your property taxes goes to funding failing urban schools .Great for the NJEA not so good for you or the kids.
RESOLVED, That there shall be raised an additional $929,800 for General Funds in the 2016-17 School Year. These taxes will be used to employ additional personnel and to acquire additional equipment and supplies in order to implement the District’s full-day Kindergarten program. Approval of these taxes will result in a permanent increase in the District’s tax levy. The additional taxes authorized herein will be used exclusively for purposes described herein and to finance expenditures that are in addition to those necessary to achieve the Core Curriculum Content Standards.
Just say NO ,sorry folks this makes no sense in Ridgewood , sure it’s great for parents easier schedule and teachers more hires , but no tangible upside for the kids . But you say it’s only $111 bucks per household precisely how we got to a $102 million dollar school budget ,just a couple of bucks at a time.
the staff of the Ridgewod blog
Ridgewood NJ, Bergen County’s Most Prestigious Women’s Recognition Event, Less Than a Month Away
Meet our Newest Honoree
There’s Still Time to Nominate The Women Who Have Made the Difference to You and Your Organization
November 2, 2016—YWCA Bergen County is proud to congratulate our newest Tribute to Women of Influence (TWIN) 2016 Honoree and to welcome her into a pantheon of extraordinary TWIN women. Roseanne Buscemi, Oritani Bank’s Senior Vice President and Chief Compliance Officer, is set to stand among this year’s honorees thanks to a generous sponsorship from Oritani Bank.
Among Roseanne’s many accomplishments, within Oritani Bank and beyond, she is Board of Directors President of the Center for Food Action. In fact, Rosanne gives tirelessly to other nonprofit organizations helping the region’s most vulnerable residents with basic needs. She leads Oritani’s annual summer drive to benefit multiple food banks in its coverage area. She has volunteered with Bergen Habitat for Humanity, and works with Oritani to raise funds and set up workdays for Habitat in the communities the bank serves. Roseanne is also a former instructor, a board member and current President of the North Jersey Institute of Financial Education. She serves as a deacon of the Reformed Church of Closter, and President of the Closter chapter of the American Association of University Women.
“Roseanne is a stunning example of what we mean by an empowered and an empowering woman,” said YWCA Bergen County CEO Helen Archontou. “Her contribution and willingness to help others help themselves set her apart as a woman of admirable generosity and, yes, of great influence in her community. We are so proud to honor Roseanne and our other remarkable TWIN Honorees as we continue this wonderful tradition.”
YWCA Bergen County is now accepting nominations from corporate and community leaders for its Tribute to Women of INfluence (TWIN) program. These honorees will be joining a growing list of “stand out” women, including the YW’s own honorees, founder and managing consultant of KEY HR Consulting, LLC and Mocha Moms member Tanisha Russell Day and owner and President of Belvedere Building and Contracting, Mary Anne Belvedere.
The TWIN 2016 Ceremony is set for December 1, 2016 (8 a.m. to 10 a.m.) at The Rotunda at Neiman Marcus at the Westfield Garden State Plaza in Paramus, NJ.
The keynote speaker is Joann Lublin Pulitzer-Prize winning journalist and management news editor at The Wall Street Journal and author of Earning It: Hard-Won Lessons from Trailblazing Women at the Top of the Business World
But, as always, the stars of the event are the year’s TWIN honorees! To nominate the deserving women in your life, a company or organization agrees to sponsor YWCA Bergen County TWIN. There’s still time!
For more information and to take part in this important and time-honored celebration, contact Mary Eastwood, [email protected].
Ridgewood NJ, Lifelong Ridgewood resident, and local artist E. A. Santoli has teamed up with children’s book author M. Earl Smith to publish their first work of children’s fiction. Entitled Little Karl, the story recounts a day in the life of Little Karl, who, while touring his hometown with his mother, becomes acutely aware of the many injustices in his world. Through several familiar scenarios,Karl attempts to rationalize the world and his place in it, which leads him to embrace the values of fairness and equality in direct challenge to the unhappiness he sees everyday.
Pairing up with Smith was an easy choice, the artist says. “Given the connection we share through our Alma Mater, The University of Pennsylvania, teaming up with M. Earl was a natural choice. We shared a common professor in our different times at the University, and through this contact we were able to share our ideas and visions for the book. Once the creative process began, the rest came naturally.”
Smith agrees, and, in fact, gushes about the illustrative talents of his comrade. “Quite frankly, there is not, in my view, a better illustrator in the business. I simply cannot envision working with any other artist at this juncture. The stylistic attention to detail adds more to Little Karl than my words could ever do alone. I remain forever grateful to both our shared connections and the bond we share as alums at Penn for bringing us together.”
Little Karl is due out from Michelkin Publishing on Black Friday, November 25 th , 2016, in retailers such as Barnes and Noble and Books-A- Million, as well as Amazon and local retailers nationwide. The authors have a small signing tour planned, with stops in Manhattan, the Bronx, Buffalo, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Boston, Baltimore, and in nearby Paramus, where they will spend a fun-filled day with the children at the Child Development Center at Bergen Community College, where, after a reading of the book, the children will engage in a series of fun-filled,Little Karl related activities. This event is tentatively scheduled for December 1 st .
More information on the author-illustrator duo can be found at the Michelkin Publishing website below. Little Karl can be ordered online through Amazon and Barnes & Noble, in both print and e-book format.
Ridgewood NJ, The Ridgewood Art Institute is home to many talented artists. We welcome you to visit us and view our Annual Members’ Holiday Show and Sale, usually featuring over 150 pieces of beautiful artwork. In addition, this year we are also including a Small Works Fundraising Exhibition with pieces priced at $150, all proceeds benefit The Ridgewood Art Institute.
What better way to kick off the Holiday Season, than to meet our artists and other art enthusiasts in a festive setting? Please join us for our opening reception on Sunday, November 20, 2016 from 1-4 pm. Work will be on view daily from 11am-3pm till December 24th, 2016.
Art makes a unique gift that can be treasured for a lifetime. Also, your gift helps support this fine institution, which is a gift to so many.
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 any time. Each student is taught in direct relation to their personal skill level. For more information on class scheduling, this and future events please visit ridgewoodartinstitute.org
The Ridgewood Art Institute
12 East Glen Avenue
Ridgewood, NJ 07450 201.652.9615
They are definitely Aronsohn cronies. You should have seen them at those civility meetings Aronshon held. Some of those education people, some of the well-known ones were there, who are now pushing for full-day kindergarten, and they really catered to Aronsohm treating him like he was a favored king. I never saw anything like that before, such sycophants; such ingratiation; remember he was the mayor at the time. Yup, they want you to vote “yes” to full-day kindergarten. Well, do you really think that is best for our little kids?
Daylight savings just another excuse to work on your Golf Handicap
Ridgewood Distracted by the Election, Did you forget to Fall Back this morning at 2am
November 5,2016
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, its official this morning the time moves back one hour at 2 a.m. local time Nov. 6; unless you are out and about or have a late night rendezvous you should have reset your clocks before going to bed so you won’t arrive at appointments an hour early today .
While many question whether anyone in New Jersey really knows what time it is , Arizona and Hawaii are now the only two states that do not observe daylight saving time. During daylight saving time, parts of Arizona matchup with Pacific Time instead of the Mountain time zone that the state is in. U.S. territories where time simply does not have the same meaning like Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, American Samoa, Guam and the Northern Marianas also do not observe daylight saving time.
In 1966, President Lyndon Johnson signed the Uniform Time Act into law, making daylight savings time the law of the land . The U.S. Department of Transportation is the keeper of daylight saving time.
So why does it exist ; one argument for daylight saving time is that fewer accidents happen during daylight hours, so extending morning daylight in winter and evening daylight in summer results in a slight reduction in automobile accidents.
The idea behind daylight saving time is to take advantage of daylight hours and save energy. This theory has come under debate inn recent years ,with many “daylight deniers ” out there . In 2008 federal Department of Energy study, U.S. electricity use decreased by 0.5% for each day of extended daylight saving time, resulting in a savings of 0.03% for the year as a whole.
While the savings may seem small in percentage terms, in absolute terms, if the theory is true added up to 1.3 billion kilowatt-hours ,which is enough to power about 122,000 average U.S. homes for a year.
Others point to the time change is actually is rooted in an agricultural society. The idea of “extending” daylight was meant to provide more time to work in the fields.Remember humanity spent most of its pre-Edison existence siting around in the dark .
The staff of the Ridgewood blog would like to put forth one more theory , and that is golf . As we have witnessed through US modern history a good game of golf can not be under estimated by any administration with extended daylight adding much to handicaps .
Most pollsters will tell you that the majority finds it more a nuisance rather than a benefit but, they secretly take pleasure in their friends and coworkers who show up late or early the next day and we do too.
Ridgewood Nj, sometimes you just do not understand your millennial ? The main problem may be that words have different meaning to different generations .
Millennial vs Boomer Generation in 10 Words
1. Diversity – For Millennial’s: Blending of different backgrounds and perspectives within a team. Makes the team better verses Boomers: It’s like eating food at a buffet, getting to pick different things.. It’s just what it is, it defines people.
2. Acceptance – For Millennial’s: The want to blend in and be part of the team. Boomers: They have more confidence in their ability as an individual to change the circumstances, they don’t need to blend in.
3. Work – For Millennial’s: They don’t have confidence that working hard will give them what they want. Boomers: Through hard work you build your individuality. If you work hard you get what you want.
4. Communication -For Millennial’s: Use technology to verify who they are talking to, rather than face to face. Boomers: View it as networking, face to face interaction.
5. Inclusion – For Millennial’s: They believe in the “process” a collaborate participate environment. Boomers: Focus on the goal. They want to get the job done.
6. Career – For Millennial’s: Multiple tracks because they don’t feel confident in the system, so they like to keep their options wide spread Boomers: Would focus on the career goal and will do anything to conquer opticals to meet their goals with confidence.
7. Commitment – For Millennial’s: Idea of commitment doesn’t exist. They don’t have goal focus or feel confident in the process. Boomers: You have to put in an effort be it a relationship or career, and it takes time.
8. Global – For Millennial’s: View the whole world with its big issues such as global warming. If there is pain anywhere and everywhere. If one guy in India is hungry, then we are all hungry. It’s everyone’s problem. Boomers: “global” is a playground, an adventure. Is part of your journey. If there’s a problem in one place of the world it’s not in another, not my problem.
9. Language For Millennial’s: They don’t feel the need to articulate themselves fully. They use acronyms. They don’t assume anything will change. They take things as face value. What you see is what you get. Boomers: More expressive with language and express more of the grey area. Everything is not black and white.
10. Transparency For Millennial’s: There should be an openness all the time. All decisions are group decisions. Boomers: There are somethings better left unsaid. Just a requirement to fill the job.
Am I seeing things? Or did I just receive an email from my school essentially TELLING me to vote in favor of full day kindergarten?
My tax dollars PAID for an email influencing a vote? That I was already told at back to school night that if it does not pass, mandatory tuition based full day K would be implemented. Which is false last I checked.
Last I checked sending emails like this is actually a violation. It is unethical at LEAST. Our school administration should not have any influence, sway, or opinion on election matters and I will be bringing this to the attention of the state board of elections and any ethics board that could possibly be interested. And NOW I’ll be using my voice to make sure that anyone and everyone I can reach knows I will be voting NO to full day K, and I have a list of reasons why they should as well.
I unequivocally demand an follow-up email be sent to the parents informing them that this is a CHOICE and a tax increase is attached. And that we have already got one of the most expensive school budgets in the state. Find room in THAT budget, or take it off the table. Enough is enough.
This has gone far enough. When my high schooler can attend a full day of classes with all of his teachers in attendance and not one single “free period” because there is not a sub to be found, ask me for more money a school budget.
You all are educated, intelligent, well-paid individuals. I suspect you are qualified to implement and work within a budget. With all the free time you have now that the teacher contracts have been “settled”, go back to the drawing board, take a serious look at your astronomical budget, and find the solution you want.
Sincerely,
Melanie McWilliams
Re: “Planning Board lawsuit dismissed,” The Ridgewood News, October 28, Page A-2.
Former Ridgewood Mayor Paul Aronsohn’s contention that both his and former Deputy Mayor Albert Pucciarelli’s acceptance of gratis tickets to a political fundraiser, and subsequent attendance at the event, was entirely appropriate based on who else was in attendance, is simply preposterous.
Of those attendees referenced by Mr. Aronsohn (“all five Council members at that time,” “the Village Manager, County Executive, and multiple Freeholders”) only he and Mr. Pucciarelli were full voting members of the Planning Board at that time. As such, only he and Mr. Pucciarelli were in positions to cast votes on a then pending amendment to the Village’s Master Plan that could have favorably impacted the local real estate developer who provided the gratis tickets. Neither Mr. Aronsohn nor Mr. Pucciarelli should have set foot in that event venue for any reason whatsoever.
And with respect to Mr. Aronsohn’s claim that Village Attorney Matt Rogers previously advised that “it was both fine and appropriate that we attended as a courtesy to the visiting governor,” you and your reporter should have treated this statement as nothing more than hearsay unless Mr. Aronsohn was willing and able to produce a piece of correspondence or official transcript verifying its authenticity.
It was brought to our attention that many landscapers operating in the Village are doing so without the requisite permits and vehicle decals required under Village of Ridgewood Code 186.
When we started asking some landscapers why they did not have Village of Ridgewood issued permits and decals, several told us that the Village has no authority to regulate their respective operations; the NJDEP is the sole authority with respect to regulating landscaper contractors.
We don’t know if this is true or not. Can anyone help us understand if Village Code 186 (excerpt noted below) is lawful or unlawful?
All landscapers and landscaping firms depositing yard waste in the street for customers within the Village of Ridgewood shall display an annual decal as evidence of a current annual permit as required by the provisions of this chapter. Proof of being permitted pursuant to this chapter shall be demonstrated by the display of a decal, which will be issued to each permit holder. The decal shall be displayed by the permit holder on each vehicle the permit holder owns or operates within the Village of Ridgewood in connection with the permit holder’s landscaping business.
The sole exception to the above permitting requirement will apply only to landscapers who do not utilize a motor vehicle to transport equipment used to provide landscaping services.
