Tag: Ridgewood Board of Education

Posted on by — 4 Comments

Police respond to disturbing Ridgewood High School incident

Ridgewood Police at RHS

November 4,2016

The Staff of The Ridgewood Blog

Ridgewood NJ, Shortly after 4 PM on Thursday, November 3, the North West Bergen Central Dispatch Center received a telephone call from a female requesting a police response to Ridgewood High School, located at 627 East Ridgewood Avenue, Ridgewood.  The caller informed the dispatch center that she was either sexually assaulted, or was the victim of unwanted sexual contact at the high school (a language barrier hindered communication).

DSCF5573

Two (2) Ridgewood PD uniformed Patrol Officers and a uniformed supervisor were immediately directed to the high school and all arrived on scene within 3-5 minutes of being dispatched.  The officers and their supervisor were observed interviewing two (2) females and two (2) males outside of the school’s main entrance.  It is not known whether the female caller was one of those being interviewed, nor is it known whether the alleged perpetrator was one of those being interviewed.

Within 15 minutes after the arrival of officers, the civilians who were being interviewed were all observed entering the same vehicle, leaving the parking lot, and driving westbound on East Ridgewood Avenue.  They were followed by the Patrol Officers and their supervisor, who had arrived in 3 separate marked police vehicles.  Their destination was unknown.

What we DO know:

What the caller reportedly told the 911 operator

That police were dispatched and responded immediately

That no ambulance was observed arriving at the scene or attending to a victim

That no one was observed being placed in handcuffs at the scene

What we DON’T know:

Exactly what the caller said to the 911 operator

What was said to arriving police officers by those being interviewed

Whether the victim or the alleged perpetrator(s) were among those being interviewed

Where the civilians and police officers were going after they left the RHS parking lot

Whether or not a crime of any sort was committed

Whether RHS administration was informed of the incident and what action, if any, was taken by them

As more details of this incident become available, if they are made public, The Ridgewood Blog will report them to you.

Posted on by — Leave a comment

Majority of North Jersey schools improve PARCC test scores

standardized-testing

BY HANNAN ADELY AND DAVE SHEINGOLD
STAFF WRITERS |
THE RECORD

The majority of schools across North Jersey improved their scores in the second year of new state exams, according to state figures released Wednesday, a trend that officials expect to continue as more students take the tests and get used to them.

Of the 367 regular public schools in Passaic and Bergen counties, about 83 percent showed gains in the tests known as PARCC that were given in math and English in Grades 3 to 11.

https://www.northjersey.com/news/majority-of-north-jersey-schools-improve-parcc-test-scores-1.1686453?utm_content=New+Campaign&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Observer_NJ_Politics&utm_source=Sailthru&utm_term=New+Jersey+Politics

Posted on by — 9 Comments

Ridgewood Council Meeting , Halaby blames New Council for Past Failures , Guild President says he is uninformed , Master plan for trees , Uber moves forward and Cubs win!

village Council
file photo by Boyd Loving
November 3,2016

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, We had the rare treat at last night’s council meeting , hearing from Rurik Halaby not once but twice in one evening.  In opening comments he expressed dismay with all the legal fees this council is incurring (thank you Paul Aronsohn), the “secret” search for a new manager who will most likely be a friend of a current council member (as opposed to a friend of Paul Aronsohn ) and that too much is being done in closed session.

Cathy Quinn spoke in defense of maintaining the no parking on Pomander Walk. lo and behold she is an Episcopal minister at Gwenn Hauck’s church, St. Elizabeth in Ridgewood.  Many remember that Gwenn pushed and pushed for the “no parking” zone on Pomander and now we know why.

Later in the evening, Mr Halaby was in fine form as he praised former mayor Paul Aronsohn for his lovely column in The Ridgewood News and then said that Susan should be doing the same as the “public” (the six people who still like Paul Aronsohn)  is in the dark with this new council.

Thankfully, Anne Loving stepped up to the mic to say that Paul’s self-serving column gave little information and The Ridgewood News was doing a great job with weekly articles dedicated to the council meetings.

Rurik went on to make some muddled comments about a puppet council who in some ways was like or not like Donald Trump based on some notion of over regulation. He also blamed the recent vacancies on some of the boards and committees on the community’s dissatisfaction with the council ( not the removal of incompetent political hacks hired by Paul Aronsohn).  Thankfully, his 5 minutes were up.

His wife, the acerbic Cynthia Halaby of daffodil fame, had admonished the council earlier for the condition of the trees and for making references to Summit, NJ in the Uber discussion when Summit is nothing like Ridgewood.

Mike Sedon gave a praise worthy report on the new Five Year Forestry Management Plan which will allow for numerous grant opportunities and training for village employees and Shade Tree Commission volunteers to address our dwindling stock.

The Uber discussion actually went quite well and it looks as though we will do a 6-month pilot program starting in January.  A resolution is on the table for next week’s meeting and the village CFO will run some projections on expected revenues taking into consideration subsidies and the gain or loss of premium parking passes.

Ridgewood Guild president and town whiner, Tony Damiano spoke way too long on why isn’t he being informed on a regular basis about every project sanctioned by the village.  Susan tried to address his concerns but he was too busy complaining to hear her.Perhaps the Ridgewood Guild needs better more informed leadership?

Boyd Loving once again was great addressing leaf issues with very good suggestions about how we should inform the landscapers of changes in our policies, Village regulation changes and pick up schedule . He also suggested a listing on the village website of the registered landscapers so that residents can make more informed choices , The registered list would also make enforcement easier.

Posted on by — 2 Comments

Accident Blocks southbound Travel on East Saddle River Road in Ridgewood

Accident Blocks southbound Travel on East Saddle River Road in Ridgewood
photos courtesy of Boyd Loving’s Facebook page
November 3,2016
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, An adult female driver lost control of her Toyota SUV while traveling southbound on East Saddle River Road in Ridgewood on Wednesday afternoon, 11/02, causing the vehicle to leave the roadway and mount a protective steel guardrail. The incident occurred near the intersection of Bingham Road. A hydraulic lift tow truck was summoned to recover the SUV from its predicament. Ridgewood FD personnel contained a crash related fluid spill. The driver was the sole vehicle occupant and she was uninjured. Ridgewood PD provided traffic control during the spill containment and vehicle recovery process, and also investigated the crash.
14940043 595450333974337 5794749020387309328 o
14889942 595450537307650 8353565158731283565 o
14882379 595450607307643 426108173657101769 o
Posted on by — 21 Comments

Rurik Halaby‎ alleges that Ridgewood Mayor and Deputy Mayor intend to impede your right to vote

VOTE_theridgewoodblog

November 2,2016

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, Rurik Halaby‎ alleges that Mayor Susan Knudsen and Deputy Mayor Mike Sedon intend to impede your right to vote and intimidate you at the voting both.

On the Facebook group “It Takes a Ridgewood Village”

Rurik Halaby‎ posted ,“Remember Ridgewood Citizens, we live in Ridgewood, NJ, and not Birmingham-in-Bergen. As a naturalized American Citizen I value my right to vote above every other right I have, and I will be damned if I am letting anyone impede that! Our Mayor and Deputy Mayor supposedly are registered as “Challengers.” What in the world does that mean, if you are not out to intimidate.”

While the Glen Rock Patch called it an, ” ‘Unprecedented’ Situation As Challengers Register To Be At Ridgewood Polling Locations” . Some of you should really vote more often ,challengers have been used at almost every election ,yes even in Ridgewood since I first voted in 1980 .

As a voter Mr. Halaby and others should familiarize with NJ Statute Title 19: ELECTIONS.

A “Challenger” is there to assure the integrity of the election . Challengers (AKA poll watchers) defend voter’s rights and their only interest is the conduct of a fair and honest election.

What a Challenger Can Do

Challengers must be seated near the board workers so that they may hear the names of the voters being processed.
Challengers can write down the names and address of voters.
Challengers can challenge a voter. This process must be done in accordance with state and federal laws.
Challengers may request the public counter numbers on the voting machine from the board workers. The board workers can give this information to the challengers provided they are not busy with voters or their other duties.
Challengers can be present at the close of the polls to witness the opening of the voting machines and hear the unofficial vote totals.

 
What a Challenger Cannot Do

Challengers cannot address the voters. They must inform the board workers when they wish to initiate a challenge.
Challengers cannot challenge a voter based on:

Their race, sex, creed, ethnic origin.
How they think they might vote.
The fact they live in a particular ward, housing complex or section of a municipality or county.

Challengers cannot stand behind the election tables or go near the voting machines.
Challengers cannot look over the shoulders of or sit with the board workers.
Challengers cannot touch the voting machines or registration books.
Challengers cannot use cellphones, blackberries, iPhones, laptops or any other electronic/wireless communicating device while in the polling location.
Challengers cannot wear any partisan/political buttons, pins, hats, clothing, signs, etc while in the polling location. They can only be identified by the county-issued badge and permit.
Challengers cannot campaign in the polling location.
Challengers cannot disturb the quiet and business-like atmosphere of the polling location.
Challengers cannot harass or intimidate any voters.

Perhaps Mr.Halaby could get some info from the League of Women Voters , after all,it has been recently infected by a whole host of former Mayor Paul Aronsohn supporters clearing looking to still hold some sway over Village of Ridgewood politics.

Posted on by — Leave a comment

The Valley Hospital Earns “A” Grade for Patient Safety in Fall 2016 Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade

Bike_Valley_theridgewoodblog

November 2,2016

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, The Valley Hospital is proud to have been recognized with an “A” grade in patient safety for the ninth time.  Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grades, which rate how well hospitals protect patients from preventable medical errors, injuries and infections within the hospital, were announced today by The Leapfrog Group, a national patient safety watchdog. Valley was one of 844 hospitals to receive an “A”, ranking it among the safest hospitals in the United States.

“We are pleased and proud to once again receive an ‘A’ for patient safety,” said Audrey Meyers, President and CEO of The Valley Hospital and Valley Health System. “This top grade is a reflection and a result of our longstanding focus on and commitment to patient safety and quality care.”

“Protecting patients from harm is the most important charge for any hospital,” said Leah Binder, president and CEO of The Leapfrog Group. “We recognize and appreciate ‘A’ hospitals’ vigilance and continued dedication to keeping their patients safe.”

Developed under the guidance of an Expert Panel, the Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade uses 30 measures of publicly available hospital safety data to assign A, B, C, D and F grades to more than 2,600 U.S. hospitals twice per year. It is calculated by top patient safety experts, peer-reviewed, fully transparent and free to the public.

To see Valley’s full grade, and to access consumer-friendly patient tips for staying safe in the hospital, visit www.hospitalsafetygrade.org or follow The Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade on Twitter or Facebook. Consumers can also download the free Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade mobile app for Apple and Android devices.

About The Leapfrog Group
Founded in 2000 by large employers and other purchasers, The Leapfrog Group is a national nonprofit organization driving a movement for giant leaps forward in the quality and safety of American health care. The flagship Leapfrog Hospital Survey collects and transparently reports hospital performance, empowering purchasers to find the highest-value care and giving consumers the lifesaving information they need to make informed decisions. The Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade, Leapfrog’s other main initiative, assigns letter grades to hospitals based on their record of patient safety, helping consumers protect themselves and their families from errors, injuries, accidents, and infections.

Posted on by — 1 Comment

New Jersey it’s all about Taxes and More Taxes

money-down-the-toilet
November 2,2016
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, As of Tuesday, New Jersey can no longer claim to have the second-lowest gasoline tax in the country.As the 23-cent-per-gallon increase hit pumps across the state, boosting the 14.5 cents the state charges per gallon to 37.5 cents giving New Jersey the seventh-highest in the U.S.

On top of that the real estate website Zillow looked at median property taxes across the U.S. last year and found that seven of the 10 counties with the highest property taxes ; Bergen, Essex, Passaic, Union, Morris, Hudson and Hunterdon are all in New Jersey. The remaining three were in New York State.

New Jersey has one of the most progressive income tax structures in the entire country. Income taxes start at 1.4 percent on earnings less than $20,000 and the top marginal tax rate hits 8.97 percent on income over $500,000.

Sales tax rate in New Jersey is 7 percent, which ties with Indiana, Mississippi, Rhode Island and Tennessee as the second highest in the USA.

Then there is corporate taxes according to the Tax Foundation, “New Jersey … is hampered by some of the highest property tax burdens in the country, is one of just two states to levy both an inheritance tax and an estate tax, and maintains some of the worst structured individual income taxes in the country,”

In state by state comparisons of state corporation income taxes collected per capita, New Jersey came in seventh highest at $265 per person.

Posted on by — Leave a comment

Call for Entries and Save the Date: Annual RHS Alumni Art Show

120229-Finger-Painting

Call for Entries and Save the Date: Annual RHS Alumni Art Show
12th Annual Alumni Art Show
Exhibit Dates:  December 12, 2016 – January 5, 2017
Location:  RHS, Carroll Art Gallery – Room 137
Reception:  January 5, 2017 at 7 p.m.

Alumni Artists:  We will be collecting your current, ready-to-hang creative works the week of December 5.  Please consider sharing your talent! Please forward to you alumni friends….help spread the word!

Posted on by — 4 Comments

Reader says Plenty of Dedicated Teachers ,the Ridgewood Board of Education not so Much

BOE theridgewoodblog.net

I have been so lucky to find dedicated and interested and motivated teachers for my kids from k all the way through the high school. There have been one or 2 who are absolutely apathetic or just plain bad at their jobs. 99% have gone way above and beyond for my kids.
At every turn I am disappointed with the majority of the administration, the BOE and their never ending ability to pass the buck. Nothing changes. Nothing gets done. Spend more give less. Just playing in to the business side of education. No one I can locate in the BOE or main offices of the Ridgewood schools takes ANY responsibility for Ridgewood schools or seems to give a leap about children or education.
That stumps me and THAT never had changed. Ever.

Posted on by — 1 Comment

To early Bergen settlers November was‘Apple time’ and that meant Apple Cider!

Apples
November 1,2016

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, November was an important month for early North Jersey families. It was “apple time” – And apples meant cider! Water wasn’t always drinkable, so cider became the popular beverage for early American families. During apple time, families would drink fresh ‘in-season’ cider. More importantly, these early settlers expanded the life of the cider by producing what we call hard cider – or “Jersey Lightning”. It was the beverage served at meals – children included!

By the 1850’s, the average Massachusetts resident was consuming 35 gallons of cider a year. But producing this cider was a labor-intensive, manual task. Then, in the late 1800s, the hand-cranked cider press was invented (see photo above). It quickly became a common household appliance that not only supplied fresh cider in season but made it possible to produce more “hard cider.”

To see a cider press and learn more about about life in the 1800’s including Lenape implements, early Dutch artifacts, farm tools, home furnishings, textiles and quilts, early cookbooks, and kitchenware come to the Schoolhouse Museum’s ‘Farm and Home’ exhibit.

To learn more about cider, apples and locally produced fruits and vegetables, and to get ready for your Thanksgiving holiday, stop by Demarest Farms in Hillsdale. Serving Bergen County residents since 1886, if you bring this article with you on November 19, Demarest Farms will donate 20% of coupon sales to the Ridgewood Historical.

Open to the public, the Schoolhouse Museum is located at 650 E. Glen Ave., Ridgewood, NJ. Museum’s hours are Thursdays and Saturdays; 1 to 3 p.m. and Sundays; 2 to 4 p.m.

To contact the Museum: 201-447 3242 or [email protected]t Demarest Farms is located at 244 Wiermus Rd, in Hillsdale, NJ.

Posted on by — 5 Comments

Reader says I am completely disappointed and disillusioned with many of Ridgewood teachers

REA, ridgewoood teachers

I am completely disappointed and disillusioned with many of our teachers. I agree ,it goes to the problem with tenure. It protects hacks earning good salaries when we have enthusiastic, energetic and able bodied folks working in retail or Starbucks because they can’t find teaching jobs. I wish all those teachers with the signs and smirks would move on but they won’t because despite their protests they know they have a great deal in the Ridgewood School System.

Posted on by — 6 Comments

Ridgewood Board of Education Pushes Hard for Full-Day Kindergarten

home alone

from the desk of Superintendent’s Office

It’s time to have your say on Full-day K

Public Vote on Full-day Kindergarten
Tuesday, November 8
Regular polling locations
6 a.m. – 8 p.m.

This full-day Kindergarten question is located 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.
Posted on by — 6 Comments

Is the Village of Ridgewood blaming “Global warming” ie “Climate change” on poor maintenance of shade trees ?

abominable-snowman-520169
November 1,2016
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ,ok so now the Village is blaming “Global warming” ie “Climate change” on poor maintenance  of Village shade trees ? Be it poor planning or lack of budget the fact is Village shade trees have not been maintained ,time to focus and plan ,excuse making or excuse implying will not fix anything.
CLIMATE CHANGE AND URBAN/SUBURBAN TREES – NOV. 9 – RIDGEWOOD LIBRARY

Native Plant Society of New Jersey

November 9, 2016 at 7PM  Lecture at Ridgewood Public Library

Climate Change and Urban/Suburban Trees

Dr. Jason Grabosky, professor at Rutgers University’s School of environmental and Biological Seiences, will address Climate change and Urban/Suburban Trees.

Dr. Grabosky will discuss the implications of climate change on plant selection and management, how trees occupy spaces which change over time, and how that affects other species such as insects.

There will be time for general discussion and questions and answers.

Posted on by — 7 Comments

Reader says I completely agree the teacher at BF posting all over Facebook about Ridgewood Full-day Kindergarten is Inappropriate

REA Members come out to greet our Board of Ed

I completely agree with the comment regarding the teacher at BF posting all over Facebook. Inappropriate, to say the least. You don’t want her for a teacher anyway. There is a reason why she teaches electives……..

I will also be voting “NO”. Work within the budget. If we are going to spend money anywhere it should be at the high school. Can’t imagine the horror of these toddler parents when their kids get to RHS and they discover their kids coming home with xeroxed copies of books, no subs, and no place for their kids to eat lunch other than the hallways or gym bleachers. They will then understand why their pleas have been met with such resistance.

Posted on by — Leave a comment

PARCC test results explained

standardized-testing

BY MATTHEW SCHNEIDER

STAFF WRITER |
THE RIDGEWOOD NEWS
During Monday’s Board of Education (BOE) meeting, Assistant Superintendent Stacie Poelstra made a presentation about the performances of Ridgewood students in the Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers (PARCC) tests.

She noted that Ridgewood did very well, explaining that the district’s students “far exceeded the cross state (the eight states that still partake in PARCC testing) and New Jersey’s passing grades.”

https://www.northjersey.com/news/education/asst-superintendent-explains-parcc-results-1.1684115