Ridgewood NJ, Three (3) passenger vehicles parked in the driveway of a single family home located on Richards Road in Ridgewood were literally wrecked late Thursday evening, 09/28, when a massive oak tree fell onto them. Ridgewood Police and Fire department responded to the incident. Ridgewood Fire department personnel spread absorbent material under the vehicles to contain leaking motor oil. The tree narrowly missed hitting the nearby home.
Putting aside all of the time wasted on pseudo-science feel good social engineering (bike path to nowhere, garbage tree, gay flag week, Bee City, village wide 25mph speed limit to name a few…)
.
and putting aside the obvious irony of a move to ban plastic bags (which have little to no impact in Ridgewood) to save the earth while supporting other large impact projects (like the Ginormous Garage and Multi-unit Low Income Housing) which will greatly impact Ridgewood environmentally (and otherwise)
.
it is telling that the REAC to show support for their proposed plastic bag ban quoted a Wired magazine article who’s Title is:
“Banning Plastic Bags Is Great for the World, Right? Not So Fast”
Link: https://www.wired.com/2016/06/banning-plastic-bags-great-world-right-not-fast/
This article concludes that “The larger takeaway is that no bag is free of environmental impact… stating that paper, plastic and even reusable bags all have pros and cons as it relates to the environment.
.
Wired ALSO ran another article which was PRO plastic bag “Throwing This Out Here: Plastic Bags Are Amazing and You Should Appreciate Them More”
Link: https://www.wired.com/2016/01/plastic-bags/
This article concluded that “In the grand scheme of environmental problems, ubiquitous plastic bags do not rank that high…” and “Plastic bags may be symbolic of everything bad in our consumerist culture,…”
.
SO… it looks like (AGAIN) that the REAC and the increasingly disappointing and useless Village Council is trafficking in feel good social engineering which will only harm and inconvenience Ridgewood residents while making no positive contribution to society other than having yet another hashtag cause to trumpet on social media
Ridgewood NJ, at last nights Village Council Meeting the Ridgewood Environmental Advisory Committee or REAC, for short proposed a Village wise ban on plastic bags . A seemingly noble cause if their ever was one .
According to Wire magazine , “The adverse impacts of plastic bags are undeniable: When they’re not piling up in landfills, they’re blocking storm drains, littering streets, getting stuck in trees, and contaminating oceans, where fish, seabirds, and other marine animals eat them or get tangled up in them. As longtime plastic bag adversary Ian Frazier recently reported in The New Yorker, “In 2014, plastic grocery bags were the seventh most common item collected during the Ocean Conservancy’s International Coastal Cleanup, behind smaller debris such as cigarette butts, plastic straws, and bottle caps.” The New York City Sanitation Department collects more than 1,700 tons of single-use carry-out bags every week, and has to spend $12.5 million a year to dispose of them.”https://www.wired.com/2016/06/banning-plastic-bags-great-world-right-not-fast/
But here is the rub, according again to Wire ,”advocates of these laws and journalists who cover the issue often neglect to ask what will replace plastic bags and what the environmental impact of that replacement will be. People still need bags to bring home their groceries. And the most common substitute, paper bags, may be just as bad or worse, depending on the environmental problem you’re most concerned about.”
So we are going to replace plastic bags with reusable bags , made from plastic ? Not really sure that is a good long term trade off ? And what about recycled plastic ,does it work?
Brandon Kuczenski lays out the obvious case : “It depends on what you mean by helping. And what you mean by recycling. In some cases there is a clear benefit. With metals, it almost always makes sense to recycle because mining and benefication of primary metals is energy intensive. For instance, making primary aluminum from bauxite requires tremendous electricity consumption.. the energy savings from using recycled aluminum is a factor of 10-15. slam dunk. Steel is very easy to recycle and is very commonly recycled throughout the world. Copper is in increasingly high demand for recycling because worldwide copper mining yields are bottoming out and as a result, copper mining is very expensive.
Plastics are a bit more uncertain, but that is largely because of the sloppy way Americans handle their plastics than any technical limitations. Recycling HDPE (milk gallons) or PET (soda / water bottles) is well-established and mature, and there are modest energy savings to using recycled over primary materials in both cases (yes, even when including the impacts from “driving all those trucks around”). However, other plastics- even HDPE and PET from non-bottle product systems- are not presently recycled in a meaningful sense. They may be made into park benches or doorstops or things of that nature, but it is much harder to argue convincingly that they provide benefits. The reason for this is that different plastics have different chemical compositions, so plastics recycling requires a pure material stream. People who might otherwise make money from recycling plastic have decided that the waste stream generated by American consumers is too contaminated to be of value. In places where recyclables are handled more carefully, sorted by the consumer and cleaned of other materials, this may not be the case.” https://www.quora.com/Does-recycling-really-help-the-environment.
The REAC looking to conduct a study as to the impact to the Village . The Political Correct environment allows little or no dissent or questioning the status quo wisdom. But will it really impact the environment in the Village?
Councilmen Jeff Voigt was on board no questions asked. Councilmen Hach was a big concerned on the impact on merchants. The Mayor was concerned , and the REAC ladies continued to voice support for a ban .
A lot of unanswered question and a lot of unintended consequences seem just over the horizon with a bag ban . The blog would prefer the ladies at the REAC stick to more pressing local issues , like the ecological disaster a turf field presents especially when its placed in a flood zone . While obviously we need to balance recreational time and logistics perhaps more thoughtful long term solutions can be found minimizing the down side .
Ridgewood NJ,at the Village Councill session of Wednesday night Eagle Scout Tyler Hansen presented his Raptor Nest placement project to the council. The project took 85 hours of work and took 12 volunteers from troop 5. Locations around the Village were chosen because they were good for the birds. There will be 4 prime locations and some back ups, of which the nests will be 12 – 20 feet off the ground . The Eagle Scouts are working hand in hand with the Ridgewood Department of Parks and Recreation .
Locations are 20 pound, Maple field by the river, the Stable by the river, Maple field by the garden , Vets field south of the foot bridge , Stevens field by the river , and Somerville walkway .
Raptors are birds of prey and eat mice, rabbits, squirrels and other rodents .
So What’s a Raptor? Rap-tor (rap’-tər) n.
[Latin, from rapere, to seize]Any of various birds of prey, including hawks, eagles, falcons and owls, distinguished by strong hooked beaks and taloned feet.
Raptors are an important part of nature’s intricate system of checks and balances. They help maintain stability in the living world, and it is important to preserve them for their biological significance alone. Furthermore, they are beautiful and intriguing creatures, the epitome of wildness and freedom; their very existence adds quality to our lives. (https://theraptortrust.org/the-birds/whats-a-raptor/)
During a Special Public Meeting of the Ridgewood Village Council held on Wednesday, September 27, Council members approved Resolution #17-291, “Central Valet Pilot Program in Central Business District” by a 4-0 vote (Councilwoman Bernadette Walsh was absent).
Key components/highlights of the centralized “pilot” valet parking program are:
The “pilot” program will be in operation beginning on Friday, October 6, and end on Saturday, December 30.
Establishments currently operating private valet parking services (e.g., Park West Tavern) may continue to do so during the “pilot” period.
Central valet parking service will be available every Friday and Saturday evening from 6:00 PM through 1:00 AM the following morning.
Two (2) drop off/pick up locations will be in operation – 1. Van Neste Square southbound opposite the bus terminal and 2. East Ridgewood Avenue just west of North Broad Street (the “hole”).
Service charge of $5.00 per vehicle (some establishments may choose to “validate” patrons’ central valet parking charges).
Central valet parking service provider has been contracted by the Village of Ridgewood; total costs for “pilot” program, being paid for by Village taxpayers, will not exceed $36K (taxpayers’ costs will be offset by valet parking fees collected). Unofficial reports are that the central valet provider must process a minimum of 250 vehicles per evening throughout the “pilot” program in order for Village taxpayers to “break even.
“Vehicles entrusted to the central valet provider will be parked at one of three Village owned properties – 1. Van Neste Square northbound (immediately adjacent to Van Neste Memoral Park), @. The “hole” (far west end of East Ridgewood Avenue immediately adjacent to the train station), and 3. North Walnut Street Municipal Parking Lot (portion of lot immediately adjacent to the former Town Garage).
NOTE: A total of approximately 90 metered parking spaces (currently providing free parking beginning at 6:00 PM, Monday through Saturday) will be removed from the “self parking” inventory” every Friday and Saturday evening to facilitate the central valet service (see locations above). Police will be instructed to prohibit self parking in the three (3) aforementioned central valet parking areas beginning at 4:30 PM on Fridays and Saturdays during the “pilot” program period. Violators will be ticketed and towed.
Despite viral email, there is no new cell phone Do Not Call database.
September 28,2017
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, According to the Ridgewood Police department ,consumers may place their cell phone number on the National Do Not Call Registry to notify marketers that they don’t want to get unsolicited telemarketing calls.
The truth about cell phones and the Do Not Call Registry is:
The government is not releasing cell phone numbers to telemarketers.
There is no deadline for registering a cell phone number on the Do Not Call Registry.
Federal Communications Commission (FCC) regulations prohibit telemarketers from using automated dialers to call cell phone numbers without prior consent. Automated dialers are standard in the industry, so most telemarketers are barred from calling consumers’ cell phones without their consent.
There is only one Do Not Call Registry, operated by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), with information available at donotcall.gov. There is no separate registry for cell phones.
The Do Not Call Registry accepts registrations from both cell phones and land lines. To register by telephone, call 1-888-382-1222 (TTY: 1-866-290-4236). You must call from the phone number that you want to register. To register online (donotcall.gov), you will have to respond to a confirmation email.
If you have registered a mobile or other telephone number already, you don’t need to re-register. Once registered, a telephone number stays on the Do Not Call Registry until the registration is canceled or service for the number is discontinued.
Ridgewood NJ, A large tree fell and blocked the main roadway leading to the Village of Ridgewood’s Water Pollution Control and Signal Bureau facilities located at 561 Prospect Street, Glen Rock, on Wednesday morning, 09/27. Primary and secondary electric lines were taken down to the ground when the tree dropped. Glen Rock PD Patrol Officer James McGill was dispatched to the incident and requested PSE&G technicians be summoned. Crews from the Village’s Shade Tree Division responded to cut, chip, and remove the debris. Smaller vehicles were able to use an alternate entrance/exit to the facility while the main roadway was blocked.
Hahahaha, the “pompous anonymous” poster wants everyone else’s anonymity revealed. Maybe old Halaby can coin a phrase for such a person….POMPANYMOUS. Guess what, you can’t know who all the anonymous posters are, even though we have pretty much figured out who YOU are. hahaha
Ridgewood News only covers one Council member, Jeff Voight. That ought to tell you something. JV is front and center in every video, photo and news story. It’s very apparent that they are no longer a newspaper. The Ridgewood News is a public relations platform catering to a select group who share the same personal agendas. The same applies to the highly censored Facebook page, Ridgewood Mom and Dads. ————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————- Thank Good for this blog and two worthy community Facebook pages, It takes a Ridgewood Village and Ridgewood Moms and Dads with FREE SPEECH.
Ridgewood NJ, Three (3) gallons of liquid chlorine spilled inside of a utility building at the Ridgewood Water Company facility, 205 East Glen Avenue, Ridgewood on Tuesday morning, 09/26. An adult male who sustained serious injuries related to the spill was rushed to The Valley Hospital by a Ridgewood EMS ambulance. Paramedics from The Valley Hospital assisted Ridgewood EMTs. Ridgewood Police and Fire Department also responded.
Ridgewood NJ, PSE&G will be moving their gas line upgrade project to Doremus Ave beginning Wednesday September 27th. Through Friday September 29th. East Ridgewood Ave will be open to traffic in both directions the remainder of the week.
Apparently you do not understand the word ANONYMOUS. The entire success of The Blog is that it enables people (like YOU) to post ANONYMOUSLY. Clearly you do not want to be identified, you just want to send out anonymous snarky comments. But you are reading the blog, you are posting on the blog, so obviously you enjoy the blog. You have heard the old expression that you cannot have your cake and eat it too. Well, you cannot post anonymously and expect everyone else to be identified. There is a word for people like you, In fact there are are a few words for people like you. At the risk of being impolite while I post anonymously, let me just say that you are apparently not a rocket scientist.
Statement of Compliance with the Open Public Meeting Act
MAYOR: “Adequate notice of this meeting has been provided
by a posting on the bulletin board in Village Hall,
by mail to the Ridgewood News, The Record, and by submission to all persons entitled to same as provided by law of a schedule including the date and time of this meeting.”
Roll Call
RESOLUTIONS
17-285 Award Contract Under State Contract – 2 Chevrolet Tahoes – Police Department (NTE $73,000)
17-286 Award Contract Under State Contract – Emergency Equipment for 2 Tahoes (NTE $27,000)
17-287 Award Contract – Radar System for Police Vehicles (NTE $3,300)
17-288 Award Contract Under State Contract – VHF/UHF Radios for Police Vehicles ($17,000)
17-289 Award Contract – Striping of Police Vehicles (NTE $3,000)
17-290 Approve Central Valet Pilot Program in Central Business District
Adjournment
Village Council’s Public Workshop
THE RIDGEWOOD VILLAGE COUNCIL’S
PUBLIC WORKSHOP AGENDA
SEPTEMBER 27, 2017 7:30 P.M.
1. 7:30 pm – Call to Order – Mayor
2. Statement of Compliance with Open Public Meeting Act Mayor: “Adequate notice of this meeting has been provided by a posting on the bulletin board in Village Hall, by mail to the Ridgewood News, The Record, and by submission to all persons entitled to same as provided by law of a schedule including the date and time of this meeting.”
3. Roll Call – Village Clerk
4. Flag Salute/Moment of Silence
5. Public Comments (Not to Exceed 3 Minutes per Person – 40 Minutes in Total)
6. Discussion
b. Budget
1. Award of Contract – Two 2017 SUVs and Vehicle Equipment
7. Motion to Suspend Work Session and Convene Special Public Meeting
8. Special Public Meeting – See Attached Agenda
9. Motion to Adjourn Special Public Meeting and Reconvene Work Session
10. Presentation
a. Eagle Scout Project
b. Historic Presentation – Bergen County Clerk
c. REAC – Ban Plastic Bags
11. Discussion (continued)
a. Ridgewood Water
1. Award of Change Order – Professional Services for Glen Tank Rehabilitation
2. Authorizing Lease of Co-Location of Wireless Telecommunication Antennas – Glen Avenue Tank
b. Budget (continued)
2. Award Contract – Recapped Tires
3. Award Partial Contract – Tree Planting
4. Award State Contract – Ford F250 Pickup with Plow – Engineering Department
5. Award Professional Services Contract – Professional Engineering Services – Improvement to HVAC System in Village Hall
12. Manager’s Report
13. Council Reports
14. Public Comments (Not to Exceed 5 Minutes per Person)
15. Resolution to go into Closed Session
16. Closed Session
A. Legal – COAH
B. Personnel/Contract Negotiations – Supervisors Union Contract
Ridgewood NJ, Ridgewood Police report that on September 15, a North Pleasant Avenue resident responded to Ridgewood Police headquarters to report a fraud. The reporting party advised she had responded to job opportunity on the internet and provided personal information.
Shortly thereafter she received a check in the mail with instructions to deposit the check. The reporting party determined this was suspicious and reported the incident.
All I know is certain individuals in Village hall are so concerned about certain posts on this blog, we find it extremely funny These certain individuals watch the blog more than any of the press in the area. They know they cannot control the blog like they did with other newspapers. In the old days the woman’s club, the ridgewood realtors, and a few others controlled everything. Nowadays people trust The blog more than the press. why because people can speak from there Gut , not from their ass. And the powers to be don’t like it. We the people saying too damn bad.
