...SNOW THROUGH MID AFTERNOON...
...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 2 PM EST THIS
AFTERNOON...
* Locations...New York City Metro, Northeast New Jersey, Lower
Hudson Valley, Nassau and Western Suffolk Counties on Long
Island, and Southern Connecticut west of New London County.
* Hazard Types...Snow.
* Accumulations...Snow accumulation of 3 to 5 inches.
* Timing...Snow will develop from north to south this morning and
become heaviest during the morning commute. Across Long Island,
the heaviest snow may hold off toward the end of the commute.
* Impacts...Hazardous/slippery travel due to snow accumulations.
* Temperatures...Around freezing.
* Visibilities...One quarter to one half mile at times.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
A Winter Weather Advisory means that periods of snow...sleet...or
freezing rain will cause travel difficulties. Be prepared for
slippery roads and limited visibilities...and use caution while
driving.
Ridgewood NJ, NJ TRANSIT operations, customer service and police personnel are taking steps to minimize delays, and ensure service reliability and safety due to the anticipated winter storm. All customers are strongly advised to check njtransit.com before traveling for up-to-the-minute service information before starting their trip.
Snow is expected to arrive in the early morning hours of Friday, March 10, and the status of the system may change as the storm progresses. NJ TRANSIT will continue to monitor the weather conditions and impacts to the morning rush hour will be determined during the next several hours. Customers should continue to check our web site at www.njtransit.com where they can sign up for service alerts as well as monitor social media channels and broadcast, web, and print media for additional updates.
For the latest travel information, customers should visit njtransit.com, access NJ TRANSIT’s Twitter feed at @NJTRANSIT or listen to broadcast traffic reports. Additionally, NJ TRANSIT will provide the most current service information via the My Transit alert system (www.njtransit.com/mytransit), which delivers travel advisories for your specific trip to your phone. Service information is also available by calling (973) 275-5555.
Systemwide Cross-Honoring in Effect: To give customers additional travel options during expected winter weather conditions, NJ TRANSIT will offer full systemwide cross-honoring for the entire service day on Friday, March 10, enabling customers to use their ticket or pass on an alternate travel mode—rail, bus or light rail. For example, customers who normally take the bus from Rutherford to the Port Authority Bus Terminal may use their bus pass or ticket on the train from Rutherford to New York Penn Station. Similarly, customers who normally take the bus between Atlantic City and Lindenwold may use the Atlantic City Rail Line instead at no additional charge.
NJ TRANSIT will closely monitor the crowds at New York Penn Station, Hoboken Terminal and the Port Authority Bus Terminal and make adjustments to service as necessary.
The Corporation is preparing to minimize disruptions and delays to the extent possible, particularly in light of the potential snow that may impact portions of the area. Rail and light rail crews and equipment are on standby to quickly respond to downed trees, power outages or other issues that may arise. In addition, NJ TRANSIT will be positioning locomotives at strategic locations across the rail system to rapidly respond in the event of a disabled train.
Customers are advised of the following:
Systemwide: NJ TRANSIT plans to operate a regular weekday schedule on Friday, March 10. Depending on the impact of the storm, it may be necessary for NJ TRANSIT to modify transit service as conditions change.
Bus Service: While every effort will be made to continue operating bus service throughout the state, customers may experience delays or detours on their routes in the event of extreme winter weather conditions. Customers are advised to plan accordingly and anticipate disruptions to bus service.
Travel Advice:
For the latest travel information, visit njtransit.com or access our Twitter feed at @NJTRANSIT prior to starting your trip. In the event of delays or service adjustments, NJ TRANSIT will provide the most current service information via the My Transit alert system, which delivers travel advisories for your specific trip to your cell phone. (If you are not yet a My Transit subscriber, we encourage you to sign up at www.njtransit.com/mytransit) Service information is also available by calling (973) 275-5555 or from broadcast traffic reports.
Listen closely to public address announcements at stations for late-breaking service information.
Build additional travel time into your trip to a station, terminal or bus stop.
Stairs, flooring and platforms can be slippery, so please use caution when walking along wet surfaces or any outdoor surface exposed to the weather. Use extra care when boarding or exiting buses and trains.
Report slippery or unsafe conditions to bus operators, train crews or NJ TRANSIT staff.
If you park, ensure your car is stocked with a snow brush and ice scraper so you can clear your car upon returning to the lot.
NJ TRANSIT is prepared to handle the impending winter weather:
Snow plows and salt spreaders are ready for service and snow-removal contracts are in place with outside vendors.
NJ TRANSIT is well-stocked snow-melting supplies, and hundreds of shovels and snow blowers.
NJ TRANSIT has performed maintenance and testing on its two rail-mounted jet snow blowers in the event they are needed to help clear train tracks of snow and ice, particularly in rail yards.
Rail switches, switch heaters and overhead wires were inspected as part of NJ TRANSIT’s preventative maintenance program.
Onboard heating systems, thermostats, weather stripping and electronic components have been inspected on NJ TRANSIT railcars, light rail cars and locomotives.
Bus maintenance personnel have inspected and performed necessary maintenance on a fleet of more than 2,200 buses – from the heating and airbrake systems, to the engine fluids, tires, windshield wipers and doors.
Newark, NJ—A short video that explains New Jersey’s “last in, first out” (LIFO) teacher layoff law was released on social media today by Partnership for Educational Justice (PEJ), the nonprofit supporting six Newark parents and their pro bono legal team in a legal challenge to the constitutionality of this statute. In the lawsuit filed on November 1, 2016, the parents assert that New Jersey’s LIFO law violates students’ right to an education by unjustly requiring school districts to ignore teacher quality and retain ineffective teachers while laying off effective teachers, despite substantial research establishing that teacher quality is the most important in-school factor affecting student learning.
The video supports the plaintiff parents in their fight to end an illogical law that puts their children at risk of losing the thorough and efficient education guaranteed to them by the state constitution. By explaining the LIFO policy mandated by this law, the video also informs other New Jersey parents about the negative impact of LIFO and encourages them to follow the progress of the lawsuit. The video appears on PEJ’s website and will also be promoted on PEJ’s social media channels – Youtube and Facebook – as well as select local news platforms. The full script of the video is included at the end of this press release.
State funding for local school districts in the 2017-18 school year remains somewhat uncertain after Governor Christie’s budget address last week. But, in the 2017-18 state aid summary budget released by the State Education Department last Thursday, district allocations are projected to be flat with current funding rates. In Newark, this will result in a $60 million deficit for the public schools. Under the LIFO law, this financial situation forces the district to make a difficult decision: either lay off dozens or hundreds of teachers, many of whom are effective; or, retain ineffective teachers and make cuts to other educational expenditures. Newark Public Schools employ more than half of the state’s ineffective teachers, according to the most recent data released by the state education department. Other school districts around New Jersey are also facing significant funding deficits.
“Most parents I know have no idea about this law and how it hurts our kids,” said Wendy Soto, mother of two Newark Public School students and plaintiff in HG v. Harrington, the parent-led lawsuit challenging the state’s teacher layoff statute. “As a mother, I’m outraged that our children will be forced into classrooms with ineffective teachers while effective teachers are let go. I hope parents pay attention and join the fight to keep our best teachers in schools, especially with budget cuts on the horizon.”
“Especially as districts face significant funding deficits, it’s important that public school parents understand how the current teacher layoff law violates students’ right to a quality education,” said Ralia Polechronis, Executive Director of Partnership for Educational Justice. “Research is clear that teachers are the most critical in-school factor affecting student learning. Because of New Jersey’s LIFO law, districts like Newark, with a significant number of ineffective teachers, are forced to retain these ineffective teachers, and either lay off their more qualified colleagues or cut important educational programming. In the current funding climate, it’s more important than ever that New Jersey’s unconstitutional teacher layoff law is repealed.”
The video released by PEJ today highlights academic research showing that students with high-quality, effective teachers are more likely to graduate from high school, attend college, have higher paying jobs, and higher lifetime earnings than their peers who have ineffective teachers, even for just one year.
Newark ranked in the bottom third of twenty-five urban school districts investigated in a report released last year by the Fordham Institute looking into how difficult it is for ineffective veteran teachers to be removed. Newark Public Schools received only three out of a possible ten points awarded for degree of difficulty removing a veteran teacher who has been identified as ineffective, with ten indicating that it is easy to remove an ineffective teacher and zero indicating that it is very difficult.
To better understand the effect that LIFO layoffs would have on Newark’s overall teacher quality, Newark Public Schools ran the numbers in 2014 on a hypothetical teacher layoff scenario. Under the quality-blind LIFO layoff mandate, 85 percent of the teachers laid off would have been rated effective or highly effective, and only 4 percent of the teachers laid off would have been rated ineffective. Under a performance-based system, only 35 percent of teachers laid off would have been rated effective and no teachers rated highly effective would lose their jobs.
Since at least 2012, the Newark Public School district has avoided laying off effective teachers by paying millions of dollars per year to cover the salaries of ineffective – but more senior – teachers even when no school would agree to their placement in the school. This costly work-around, which cost the district $10 million dollars in 2016-17, has diverted valuable resources from educational programming and other expenses that could improve the education of Newark students.
Ridgewood Nj, in a shocking turn of events the Village Council had almost no public comments on Wednesday night.The Village Council continued to move forward on a variety of issues.
Village Manager Heather Mailander reminded everyone about the Village budget meetings;
Thursday, March 9 Senior Lounge @ 5:30pm
Wednesday, March 15 Court Room @ 5:30pm
Monday, March 27 Court Room @ 5:30pm
Councilmen Voigt said that the Financial Advisory Committee was putting together an analysis of parking garage and how to pay for it, and working on an analysis of Village fees.
Deputy Mayor Michael Sedon in what may come as a surprise to many said the Village council has been looking to advance a Garage on Hudson street for months, the Village council will roll out a 3 story garage plan with a modified conceptual design that fits on the property and takes into account all the criticism of previous Garagezilla.
Councilmen Ramon Hache said the Central business advisory committee floated the idea of a local merchant reward card, earning credits against tax liabilities
Mayor Susan Knudsen reiterated that Village boards are for people invested in the community and to represent the Village of Ridgewood.
In what can be can only be considered a major breakthrough, in parking, the restrictions have been removed from backing into spaces.
Residents will be relieved to note that the fees will remain unchanged for Graydon Pool and Ridgewood Tennis this summer.
And finally the council also passed a new ordinance regulating the “Water Irrigation Schedule and Water Emergencies”. The new ordinance limits watering of lawns for both governmental and non-governmental properties to two days per week, year-round. Irrigation by a hand-held hose or drip/micro irrigation system is allowed any day. Defines the exceptions to this ordinance as well as the hours when watering of lawns is permitted, and enforcement policies and procedures.
Ridgewood NJ, During the Ridgewood Village Council Public Meeting held on Wednesday, 03/08, Village Council members honored members of Ridgewood High School’s Cross Country Team, who were recently crowned as the “2016 Boys Cross Country North 1, Group 4 State Sectional Champions.”
2017-2018 PROPOSED PRELIMINARY BUDGET Dr. Fishbein i.
Resolution for Adoption of the 2017-2018 Preliminary Proposed Budget for Submission to the Executive County Superintendent of Schools It is recommended that the Board approve the following resolution:
BE IT RESOLVED, by the Ridgewood Board of Education, to approve the 2017-2018 school district preliminary proposed budget, as follows, for submission to the Executive County Superintendent of Schools:
Dr. Fishbein Budget Tax Levy General Fund $ 100,503,229 $ 91,519,173 Special Revenue Fund $ 1,378,767 $ 0 Debt Service Fund $ 3,683,597 $ 3,265,784 Total Budget $ 105,565,593 $ 94,784,957 The district has proposed programs and services in addition to the Core Curriculum Content Standards adopted by the State Board of Education.
Information on this budget and the programs and services it provides is available from the school district. There should be raised for the General Fund Tax Levy $91,519,173 for the ensuing School Year: (2017-2018).
By Larry Higgs | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
on March 08, 2017 at 3:12 PM, updated March 08, 2017 at 3:25 PM
For commuters navigating congested platforms at Penn Station New York, the definition of frustration is looking at four brand new sets of stairs for almost a year that they can’t use.
The new staircases and a new West End Concourse were built as part of the $148 million first phase of a project to convert the Farley Post Office on Eighth Avenue into Moynihan Station. The Moynihan annex was supposed to have a fall 2016 opening date. The stairwells connect the concourse to platforms 3,4,5 and 6 which serve two tracks each.
While NJ Transit commuters are stuck in pedestrian gridlock on the platform, Long Island Rail Road commuters have been able to use a section of the new West End Concourse. That section of the new concourse is open during the morning and afternoon commuter rush and closed for work during midday.
Ridgewood NJ, the regular public meeting of the Ridgewood Village council will feature Graydon Pool Fees,Ridgewood Water irrigation policies, sewer discharge fees, parking, the Stable rental and Recognition to 2016 Boys Cross Country!
VILLAGE COUNCIL REGULAR PUBLIC MEETING
VILLAGE OF RIDGEWOOD
VILLAGE COUNCIL REGULAR PUBLIC MEETING
MARCH 8, 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
Declare March Red Cross Month
Declare March Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month
C. Declare March as DeMolay Month
8. Presentation of Certificates of Recognition to 2016 Boys Cross Country North 1, Group 4 State Sectional Champions
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
3588 – Amend Chapter 269 – Water Irrigation Schedule and Water Emergencies – Limits watering of lawns for both governmental and non-governmental properties to two days per week, year-round. Irrigation by a hand-held hose or drip/micro irrigation system is allowed any day. Defines the exceptions to this ordinance as well as the hours when watering of lawns is permitted, and enforcement policies and procedures.
13. ORDINANCES – PUBLIC HEARING – RIDGEWOOD WATER
NONE
14. RESOLUTIONS – RIDGEWOOD WATER
THE FOLLOWING RESOLUTIONS, NUMBERED 17-68 THROUGH 17-70 ARE TO BE ADOPTED BY A CONSENT AGENDA, WITH ONE VOTE BY THE VILLAGE COUNCIL. THERE IS A BRIEF DESCRIPTION BESIDE EACH RESOLUTION TO BE CONSIDERED ON THE CONSENT AGENDA. EACH RESOLUTION WILL BE READ BY TITLE ONLY:
17-68 Title 59 Approval – Water Billing and Data Collection/Processing Services –Approves the specifications for Water Billing and Data Collection/Processing Services prepared by Ridgewood Water, pursuant to Title 59
17-69 Award Contract – Water Billing and Data Collection/Processing Services (NTE $237,395) – Awards the second year of a two-year contract to the sole responsible bidder, Computil, Inc., 30 Controls Drive, Shelton, CT
17-70 Authorize Agreement for GIS Data Exchange from Ridgewood Water to Bergen County for Use by Public Safety – Authorizes a GIS Data Sharing Agreement between the Village and Bergen County for the GIS Data Exchange from Ridgewood Water to Bergen County. This GIS data will be used by Bergen County and other Municipal public safety agencies in order to deliver emergency services.
15. ORDINANCES – INTRODUCTION
3589 – Establish Rules and Regulations for Rental of Rooms in The Stable – Establishes rules and regulations for rental of rooms at The Stable, including an application form, Hold Harmless Agreement, and Certificate of Insurance. Also establishes Class Usages, based on the group’s affiliation with the Village; whether or not they are charitable and/or civic in nature; and the size of the groups.
3590 – Amend Chapter 145 – Fees – Establish Rental Fees – The Stable – Establishes various fees for the use of rooms in The Stable, depending on the group’s affiliation with the Village; whether or not they are charitable and/or civic in nature; the size of the groups; and the hours the rooms are rented
3591 – Repeal Chapter 29, Historic Preservation Commission, Amend Chapter 190, Land Use and Development, and Repeal Chapter 251, Swimming Pools – This ordinance deletes duplicative or obsolete provisions in the Village Code; clarifies the meaning and application of existing regulations; reconciles conflicting and/or inconsistent provisions in the Village Code; addresses various omissions in the Village Code; and provides for more reasonable and more rational development standards
16. ORDINANCES – PUBLIC HEARING
3581 – Amend Chapter 265 – Vehicles and Traffic – Prohibit Parking – Sections of Sherman Place 3582 – Amend Chapter 265 – Vehicles and Traffic – Angle Parking
3583 – Amend Chapter 238 – Sewers and Sewage Disposal – Addition of Masticated Food Waste
3584 – Amend Chapter 145 – Fees – Sewers and Sewage Disposal – Liquid Waste Acceptance Program Fees 3585 – Amend Chapter 265 – Vehicles and Traffic – Bus Stops
THE FOLLOWING RESOLUTIONS, NUMBERED 17-71 THROUGH 17-82 ARE TO BE ADOPTED BY A CONSENT AGENDA, WITH ONE VOTE BY THE VILLAGE COUNCIL. THERE IS A BRIEF DESCRIPTION BESIDE EACH RESOLUTION TO BE CONSIDERED ON THE CONSENT AGENDA. EACH RESOLUTION WILL BE READ BY TITLE ONLY:
17-71 Endorse Submission of Recycling Tonnage Grant – Annual resolution which endorses the submission of the Municipal Recycling Tonnage Grant Application to the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection and designates John R. Spano, Recycling Coordinator, to ensure that the application is properly filed
17-72 Approve Budget Reserve Transfers – Annual resolution which transfers money in the 2016 budget from departments which have excess funds to those departments which do not have adequate funds
17-73 Award Contract Under State Contract – Purchase of Parts and Related Services – Fleet Services – Awards a contract under State contract for various parts and related services used by the Village’s Fleet Services Division
17-74 Title 59 Approval – Horticultural Supplies – Approves the plans and specifications for Horticultural Supplies for the Years 2017 and 2018 prepared by the Parks and Recreation Department, pursuant to Title 59
17-75 Award Contract – Horticultural Supplies (NTE $45,000) – Awards a contract to the low bidder, SiteOne Landscape Supply, 100 Weyerhauser Road, Mahwah, NJ. The Parks Department budget will pay $35,500 and the Project Pride budget will pay $9,500.
17-76 Title 59 Approval – Coach Bus Transportation Services – Approves the plans and specifications for Supply of Coach Bus Transportation Services prepared by the Department of Parks and Recreation, pursuant to Title 59
17-77 Award Contract – Coach Bus Transportation Services – H.I.L.T. (NTE $9,000) –Awards a contract to the low bidder, Vanderhoof Transportation Co., Inc., 18 Wilfred Street, West Orange, NJ
17-78 Title 59 Approval – Concession Refreshment Services – Graydon Pool – Approves the plans and specifications for Concession Refreshment Services – 2017, 2018, The Water’s Edge Café, Graydon Pool
17-79 Award Contract – Concession Refreshment Services – Graydon Pool –Awards a contract to the sole proposal by Michael Sims, Mellsworth Foods, Inc., 102 East Main Street, Ramsey, NJ which will pay the Village $9,300 for the summer season
17-80 Authorize Payment for Settlement of Property Damage – PSE&G Pole ($6,643.95) – Authorizes the payment for settlement of property damage to be paid to PSE&G for damage sustained to their pole which was caused by a Village vehicle
17-81 Award Professional Services Contract – Professional Appraiser –Appoints Ernest Del Guercio, SCGREA, CDA and Darren Raymond, MAI, of Associated Appraisal Group, 266 Harristown Road, Glen Rock, NJ to provide professional appraisals of several properties
17-82 Appoint Member to Green Team Advisory Committee – Appoints Christopher Rutishauser as the staff member of the Village of Ridgewood for a term which expires on 12/31/17 and Emily Shovlin as a resident member for a term which expires on 12/31/19
18. Comments from the Public (Not to Exceed 5 minutes per person)
James, something doesn’t make sense here: When the Ridgewood teacher contract was approved last October, it put the district $2.5 million over the 2% property tax cap during the life of the three-year contract for teacher salaries alone which grow over 2.7% in year two and three of the contract and over 2.13% for the life of the contract. At the time Sheila Brogan explained that the amount was still above the 2% cap, necessitating certain cuts to be made to programs and personnel to make the district cap compliant and that the challenge of funding the contract “will require budgetary reductions next year that will result in changes to staffing and programming.” So what happened? This budget is a $4 million YoY INCREASE in spending. How is that a sign that the BOE has worked closely with Superintendent Fishbein to identify reductions that will have the least impact on the instructional programs and extra-curricular offerings? Looks like this budget adds to the budget above and beyond the $2.5 million three year excess just for teacher salaries under the new contract, how does this make any sense? Let’s hope this budget is voted down. It’s all about teacher salaries, not about our kids.
Ridgewood NJ, on Saturday Ridgewood ‘s favorite ice cream shop Van Dyk’s opened for the season. Daylight savings time is near and spring can’t be far behind.
In 2012 Van Dyk’s was named by CBS as one of New Jersey’s 4 best homemade Ice Cream shops. In 2014 New Jersey family magazine also picked Van Dyk’s as one of the Garden States best ice cream shops.
Don’t be surprised if you have never heard of Van Dyk’s.Unless you’re a long time Ridgewood native or heard about it via word of mouth, you probably don’t know about Van Dyke’s.Van Dyke makes all its own ice cream right on premises. The shop is located on the intersection of Ackerman Avenue and Spencer Place in Ridgewood. There’s a wooden sign in the parking lot which isn’t lit up at night, they don’t advertise and the shop basically looks like a residential house with a somewhat bigger parking lot than some of the other houses in the neighborhood.
Van Dyk’s It’s located at 145 Ackerman Ave and open 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. seven days a week,(201) 444-1429.
2017-2018 PROPOSED PRELIMINARY BUDGET Dr. Fishbein i.
Resolution for Adoption of the 2017-2018 Preliminary Proposed Budget for Submission to the Executive County Superintendent of Schools It is recommended that the Board approve the following resolution:
BE IT RESOLVED, by the Ridgewood Board of Education, to approve the 2017-2018 school district preliminary proposed budget, as follows, for submission to the Executive County Superintendent of Schools:
Dr. Fishbein Budget Tax Levy General Fund $ 100,503,229 $ 91,519,173 Special Revenue Fund $ 1,378,767 $ 0 Debt Service Fund $ 3,683,597 $ 3,265,784 Total Budget $ 105,565,593 $ 94,784,957 The district has proposed programs and services in addition to the Core Curriculum Content Standards adopted by the State Board of Education.
Information on this budget and the programs and services it provides is available from the school district. There should be raised for the General Fund Tax Levy $91,519,173 for the ensuing School Year: (2017-2018).
Ridgewood Nj, Ridgewood PD Patrol Officer Salvatore D’Amico assists Detectives Douglas Henky and Steven Shortway in the investigation of a Swastika found etched in a sidewalk at the intersection of Northern Parkway and Overbrook Road, Ridgewood on Monday morning, 03/06. Ridgewood PD had learned of the Swastika via posts on numerous Ridgewood based Facebook groups.
Ridgewood Village staff quickly jumped into action and “Erased the Hatred” from the sidewalk.
Photo courtesy of Village of Ridgewood Mayor Susan Knudsen
Location Ed Center, 49 Cottage Place, Ridgewood, NJ
DescriptionThe public is invited to attend the meeting, or watch it live on Fios channel 33, Optimum channel 77, or on the “Link in Live” tab of the district website at www.ridgewood.k12.nj.us.
Teacher and Education Services Professional Recognition
March 6,2017
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, The Teacher Recognition Committee is accepting nominations for the 2016-2017 school year. Pleaseclick here for more information and nomination forms. Completed nominations can be mailed to Human Resources at the Education Center or emailed to [email protected].
Ridgewood NJ, this was shared on Facebook by Ridgewood resident Dana Glazer ; the discovery of this swastika at the intersection of Northern Parkway and Overbrook Road. It has evidently been here a while.
If you think that our village is immune to hatred, think again. Dana asks everyone to “Please be vigilant. Thank you.”
Mayor Susan Traina Knudsen is on top of the situation and prompt removal will occur today.
Bergen County Prosecutor Gurbir S. Grewal reminds us of law enforcement efforts to investigate and prosecute bias incidents/crimes, including the need to report such events and the $10K reward offered by the New Jersey Attorney General’s Office for information leading to a bias crime conviction.
