Every year around the start of the academic calendar, we offer parents expert advice on what to do if their children are being bullied at school.
But what if your child is the one doing the bullying?
According to Maurice Elias, a professor of psychology at Rutgers University, there’s not much information available for parents whose children are accused of being responsible for harassment, intimidation or bullying at school.
Very few parents want to think of their children as a bullies, Elias said, and may not openly seek advice on the topic.
Ridgewood NJ, the state of New Jersey along with the New Jersey Bicycle and Pedestrian Resource Center (BPRC) is pushing a plan to make your streets safer and more user friendly for ,pedestrians, cyclists and vehicles with a series of planning and design initiates .
According to there website , “Complete Streets are for everyone. They are designed and operated to enable safe access for all users… [so that] pedestrians, bicyclists, motorists, and public transportation users of all ages and ability are able to safely move along and across [the street].”
The Complete streets program is being spearheaded by the New Jersey Bicycle and Pedestrian Resource Center (BPRC) assists public officials, transportation and health professionals, and the public in creating a safer and more accessible walking and bicycling environment through primary research, education and dissemination of information about best practices in policy and design. The Center is supported by the New Jersey Department of Transportation through funds provided by the Federal Highway Administration.
The Village of Ridgewood signed a Complete Streets Resolution back in 2013 , ( https://njbikeped.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/Ridgewood-Complete-Streets-Resolution.pdf ) and while some efforts have been a success like well defined ADA compliant highly visible cross walks and curbs other attempts , like the “suicide bike lane ” and traffic easing under the trestle have been an unmitigated failure .
What are the Components of Complete Streets?
Pedestrian Component: defined as “the clear area located between the curb and the adjacent building frontage” . Key Complete Streets design elements for this component include appropriate sidewalk widths and ADA accessible curb ramps
Building and furnishing: refers to “street furniture, elements of buildings that intrude into the sidewalk, and commercial activities that occur on the sidewalk…” and includes design elements such as bicycle parking, pedestrian-scale lighting, benches/street furniture, and street trees
Bicycle: addresses “bikeways and other facilitates within the public right-of-way…” and includes design elements such as bicycle lanes (regular, buffered, contraflow, etc.), cycle tracks, share-use paths, shared lanes/sharrows, and bike route signs
Curbside Management: relates to “facilities between the cartway and the sidewalk” and includes design elements such as on-street car parking, on-street bicycle parking, loading zones, and transit shelters.
Vehicle/Cartway: describes the “portion of the public right-of-way that is intended primarily or exclusively for motor vehicle use…” [11] and includes design elements such as appropriately sized lane widths, speed humps/tables, raised medians, chicanes, and preferred/exclusive bus lanes
Urban Design: addresses “policies related to those aspects of urban form that affect Complete Streets” such as driveways, utilities, and stormwater management.
Intersection & Crossing: includes treatments that “…facilitate safe movement of all modes at intersections” [13] including high-visibility crosswalks (striped, raised, etc.), curb extensions, pedestrian refuge islands, bike boxes, and a variety of signal treatments (e.g., pedestrian countdown clocks, HAWK/RRFB signals, bicycle signals, etc.).
Ridgewood NJ, the Ridgewood Police department would like to remind you of the detours around the PSE&G work zone on East Ridgewood Ave between Pleasant Ave and Pershing for Tuesday 9/12 and Wednesday 9/13. East Bound traffic on East Ridgewood Ave will be open during school dismissal.
Ridgewood NJ, in recent years this has become a recurrent theme in town , where does privacy end and news begin ? While we do try to be sensitive to residents privacy needs we sense there is something more afoot than righteous indignation over invasions of privacy . In a recent post in a Facebook group:
“I wanted to share with you all a situation I found concerning that occurred recently to a friend and fellow member of the Ridgewood community this week. During an emergency situation that impacted one of her children, as the first responders came to assist based on a 911 call made to receive ambulatory assistance, another resident of Ridgewood came to the scene of the incident and took multiple pictures of the situation. While at the hospital, my friend began receiving text…s from other concerned friends that pictures of her, a family caregiver, and her children (thankfully with the children’s faces blurred) had been posted on the photographer’s private Facebook page as well as on The Ridgewood Blog.
She asked me to help her get the pictures taken down as she was focused on handling the matter they were dealing with. I reached out to the photographer and to the Ridgewood Blog who had posted some of the photgrapher’s pictures, respectfully asking for any of the pictures of the incident that included my friend or her family members be removed (there were other pictures that were not an issue). The Ridgewood Blog immediately removed the concerning pictures, which we greatly appreciate. The private photographer refused to due so stating it was his legal right to share the images.
Although I understand the desire to report on the use of municipal services within Ridgewood, I don’t understand his unwillingness to be compassionate at a time when a member of our community needed it and comply with a request to remove personal identifiers of a family in crisis. I tell this story because I have since learned that others in our community have dealt with the same issue. If I ever find myself in an emergent situation that requires a call to 911, do I need to be in fear of my picture being posted all around town? Based on this situation, if a person calls for emergency services and doesn’t want their moments of crisis publicized for all to see, do they need someone on hand to intercede with pictures being taken? I would love to know from someone with any expertise in this area, if there is anything that can be done in situations like this to protect the right to privacy.”
Unfortunately in our view what we need is a lot more local news not less . So we have a few suggestions we have assembled over the last 10 plus years we have run the Ridgewood blog . While accidents happen and accidents with children are particularly difficult , most readers are very sympathetic to the child and only wish the warmest sympathies and a speedy recovery. Most people are very supportive of their neighbors. If it is being suggested otherwise by anyone , you need new friends .
Years of reporting on accidents in the Village has taught us a few things . Most accidents on Village streets are totally avoidable and usually caused by distracted driving or impaired judgment .
No one wants to be caught in and embarrassing situation as a news item so we would suggest residents follow theses rules;
Don’t text and drive
Don’t use your cell phone while you drive
don’t drink till after 5 pm
Keep your speed within 30 mph of the posted speed limit
Shade trees are a precious resource try not to hit them
Boyd Loving does and excellent job covering local events and the Village is lucky to have him . If you do something reckless and stupid , it is still reckless and stupid if it makes news or not . Remember the next kid you hit may be your own . Looking for scape goats and blaming others for ones failings never solves the problem and only works for politicians . In real life its best to accept responsibility .
VILLAGE OF RIDGEWOOD
VILLAGE COUNCIL
REGULAR PUBLIC MEETING
SEPTEMBER 13, 2017 8:00 P.M.
1. Call to Order – Mayor
2. Statement of Compliance with the Open Public Meetings Act
3. Roll Call – Village Clerk
4. Flag Salute and Moment of Silence
5. Acceptance of Financial Reports
6. Approval of Minutes
7. Proclamations
A. Fire Prevention Week
B. Gold Star Mother’s Day
C. National Breast Cancer Awareness Week
D. Walktoberfest
9. Comments from the Public (Not to exceed 3 minutes per person – 40 minutes in total)
10. Village Manager’s Report
11. Village Council Reports
12. ORDINANCES – INTRODUCTION – RIDGEWOOD WATER
NONE
13. ORDINANCES – PUBLIC HEARING – RIDGEWOOD WATER
NONE
14. RESOLUTIONS – RIDGEWOOD WATER
17- Award Contract – Chlorine Analyzers
15. ORDINANCES – INTRODUCTION
3613 – Amend Chapter 265 – Vehicles and Traffic – Parking for Municipal Complex
3614 – Amend Chapter 265 – Vehicles and Traffic – Maltbie Avenue – 2-hour Parking
3615 – Amend Chapter 265 – Vehicles and Traffic – Establish Bus Stop on Goffle Road
3616 – Amend Chapter 265 – Vehicles and Traffic – CBD Employee Parking Spaces – North Walnut Street Parking Lot
3617 – Amend Chapter 145 Fees – Emergency Medical Services Third-party Billing Plan Fees
16. ORDINANCES – PUBLIC HEARING
NONE
17. RESOLUTIONS
17- Title 59 Approval – Renovation of Somerville Tennis Courts
17- Award Contract – Renovation of Somerville Tennis Courts
17- Title 59 Approval – Furnishing and Delivering of Polymer – Water Pollution Control Facility
17- Award Contract – Furnishing and Delivering of Polymer – Water Pollution Control Facility
17- Title 59 Approval – Sodium Bisulfite and Sodium Hypochlorite Solutions – Water Pollution Control Facility
17- Award Contract – Sodium Bisulfite and Sodium Hypochlorite Solutions – Water Pollution Control Facility
17- Title 59 Approval – Laboratory Analysis Services – Water Pollution Control Facility and Graydon Pool
17- Award Contract – Laboratory Analysis Services – Water Pollution Control Facility and Graydon Pool
17- Title 59 Approval – Phase I Cleanup – Schedler Property
17- Award Contract – Phase I Cleanup – Schedler Property
17- Title 59 Approval – Snowplowing Services
17- Award Contract – Snowplowing Services
17- Title 59 Approval – Pickup, Removal, and Hauling of Leaves
17- Award Contract – Pickup, Removal, and Hauling of Leaves
17- Title 59 Approval – Central Valet Parking Services
17- Award Contract – Central Valet Parking Services
17- Award Contract Under State Contract – Electronic Equipment and Computer Upgrades (NTE $200,000)- Dell
17- Award Contract Under State Contract – Electronic Equipment and Computer Upgrades (NTE $200,000)- SHI
17- Award Contract Under State Contract – 2018 Chevy Tahoe – Fire Department
17- Accept Bergen County Historic Preservation Grant – Schedler House – Phase 1
17- Authorize Partial Release of Escrow Funds – 309 Mastin Place, LLC
17- Establish Annual Service Charge and Payment for Guarantee Bond for Ridgewood Senior Citizen Housing Corporation and Guaranty of Payment of Revenue Bonds
17- Authorize Tax Collector to Charge for Mailing of Tax Sale Notices
17- Authorize Cleaning of Grove Park Area by the Ridgewood Wildscape Association and Partners
17- Establish Village of Ridgewood as Bee City USA
17- Refer Study of Hudson Street as Area of Redevelopment to Planning Board
17- Authorize Ridgewood Wildscape Association to Distribute Door Hangers
17- Dedication by Rider – Cultural Arts Purposes
17- Rescind Resolution #13-88 – Establishing a Financial Advisory Committee
18. Comments from the Public (Not to Exceed 5 minutes per person)
How is locking cars the solution to thieves walking around the village unchallenged?
If anything, I would rather they collect loose change and other nonsense from my car in the driveway instead of trying break into my house. That is the next step once easy money from unlocked cars disappears.
Thieves will steal. If the easiest type of theft is restricted, they will move onto the next level (much as deterring car thefts through electronic keys has led to a surge in carjackings).
Once again, the problem is not unlocked cars or people leaving handbags in cars. The problem is thieves roaming around unchallenged. What – if anything – is being done about that?
The village of Ridgewood has hired a consultant to recalculate water utility rates for 2010 through 2012, under the terms of a ruling in a lawsuit brought by other municipalites.
In July, Superior Court Judge Lisa Perez Friscia in Bergen County ruled in favor of Wyckoff, Midland Park and Glen Rock, which are served by Ridgewood Water and had sued the village over several rate increases they alleged were improper. The municipalities argued that Ridgewood Water was overcharging and using the excess fees to cover unrelated operating costs for the village.
Ridgewood NJ,Emmanuel Baptist Church offers Pet Blessings on September 17th.Calling all animal lovers and pet owners! Emmanuel Baptist Church partnered with Ridgewood Veterinary Hospital’s annual Adopt a Pet Day to offer complimentary pet blessings on Sunday, September 17th 12:00 noon-4:00pm rain or shine at Emmanuel on 14 Hope Street, next to Ridgewood Veterinary Hospital. Pet blessings will take place in the front of the church in the inside foyer. Pastor Ken Gill will oversee the blessings and a complimentary certificate will be included with the pet blessing. For more information, email [email protected] or visit www.emmanuelridgewood.org
Ridgewood NJ, Ridgewood Karate Academy is hosting a Back to School Party & Movie Night on Saturday, September 16th, from 5pm -9pm. The event is open to the community and geared to ages 6 years old and up.
Children will be taught valuable safety tips as they start the new school year. The event will also include exciting games and competitions, along with awarded prizes. Lastly, children will gather for fun filled movie night, to allow the parents free time for themselves.
The school is located at:
30 Cottage Place, Ridgewood, NJ , (behind Starbucks)
For details call (201)447-2272 or visit at
Ridgewoodkarate.com
Yeah, yeah, yeah, all I know is that when things go wrong on the sports field parents kill each other and attack the coaches on the field, and their kids if their kids don’t win get hell at home, insane amount of pressure on kids nowadays that lead to taking drugs, not avoiding drugs but taking drugs. It’s a myth that it is so great for character.
What about organized music, bands and orchestras?
Listen, most kids enjoy a natural spontaneous pick-up sports game, in the street or on an empty field, without adults managing them, THAT is how they learn socialization.That is the way it used to be before kids were over scheduled. Sometimes I see it on a school playground during a time when school is closed and fields not in formal use.
What about organized music, bands , orchestras, chorus, what about organized theater, putting on plays, what about living in a family where you have to share and CARE and learn limits and boundaries, even having a pet, dog or cat will do to teach socialization and sensitivity to others. ORGANIZED SPORT DOES NOT TEACH SENSITIVITY TO OTHERS ANY MORE THAN AN ARMY BEING ATTACKED BY THE ENEMY ARMY. Students both girls and boys too, should be required to take ballet or modern dance. That is how one can learn team cooperation, physical emotional , good health and eating habits. Comraderie, bodily expression, understanding body language that can’t be put into words . TRUE interpersonal SENSITIVITY.
Organized sports are over rated. Way over rated. Dare I say; they are bad. Dance dance dance. Ballroom, ballet , modern, not dancing with the stars , but dancing at school, a public school dance program in the gyms.
Ridgewood NJ, A mass in remembrance for the victims of 9/11 will take place Monday September 11th at Mt. Carmel Church at 7 p.m
Remembrance Exhibit of 9/11 Portraits during the month of September for the “Ridgewood’s Twelve”. During the entire month of September an exhibit of “Portraits” will be displayed in the Belcher Auditorium at the Ridgewood Public Library. The Library is open 7 days a week. The exhibit of pictures honors the memory of each of “Ridgewood’s Twelve” and offers a quiet place for reflection.
A ceremony honoring the 147 Bergen County residents who died in the 9/11 terrorist attacks will be held Sunday in Overpeck County Park in Leonia.
Stop wasting my tax money on this shit. Do you realize in 12 years now we spent 2 1/2 million dollars on this field do you remember all the floods we have there do you know much paving we can do for a half million dollars. My street was just paved , the last time that was repaved was over 25 years ago. I would rather see my tax money going towards replacing curbs and sidewalks then fake grass if anything you could use clean fill dirt and put down sod in with an a lot cheaper waste waste waste
Ridgewood NJ, Emmanuel Baptist Church is offering a non-fundraising Community Pasta Dinner on Tuesday, September 19th, at 6 p.m. as part of their outreach program. Dinners are offered the third Tuesday of each month. Dinner of pasta, meatballs, sausage, salad, dessert and coffee will be served at 6 p.m. in Heritage Hall, which is on the Lower Level at Emmanuel. The suggested donation is $4 per adult and $2 per child.
Since there is limited space, it is suggested that you reserve your seat by calling the church office at 201-444-7300. If you are unable to reach the church office, please contact Marilyn Clark at 201-391-4720.
Emmanuel, founded in 1891, is celebrating its 125th Anniversary Year and maintains a tradition of community outreach. Emmanuel is located at 14 Hope Street, at the corner of Hope Street and East Ridgewood Avenue, Ridgewood, NJ. The building is ADA accessible and all are invited to attend.
Ridgewood NJ, The Valley Hospital is holding their Fourth Annual Teddy Bear Clinic on Saturday, October 7, for children to learn about the hospital and medical field in a fun and engaging manner. Valley doctors, nurses, and staff will interact and play with children and their families using real and pretend medical equipment.
Children ages 2 to 10 years and their teddy bears will visit medical-play stations set up in the Terrace Room at the hospital. Each stuffed animal will receive a hospital bracelet before visiting each station as part of their check-up.
This event features an ambulance tour and interactive stations, including Pediatric and Pediatric Emergency Care, Diagnostic Imaging, Respiratory Care, Pet Therapy and more!
What: Teddy Bear Clinic
When: Saturday, October 7, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Where: The Valley Hospital Terrace
Who: Children between ages 2 to 10 years. Parents and grandparents welcome!
