Council, please tell them before they hire an architect that you will never permit this. Flood zone, serious parking issues for years already, loud stuff next to a library? The area between the buildings should never have been built on–that’s the only logical place for the entrance driveway. Aronsohn and Pucciarelli had their years to dream. It’s over and so should be this ridiculous idea. These groups meet and meet and have to come up with projects and plans. Maybe it’s time to disband every committee and board–they’re wrecking the place with their dreams.
Ridgewood NJ, Ridgewood PD and EMS personnel were dispatched to aid an adult male pedestrian who was struck by a motor vehicle as he was trying to cross Godwin Avenue in front of Whole Foods, late afternoon, Sunday, 12/11. The victim, who was transported by ambulance to The Valley Hospital, sustained a non-life threatening leg injury. Ridgewood PD issued three (3) summonses in connection with the incident.
Weather Summary for the local Tri-State Region
National Weather Service New York NY
505 AM EST Sun Dec 11 2016
Another dry and cold day today but snow coming into the picture this afternoon and tonight as a low pressure system moves into the Great Lakes. Its associated warm front will be approaching and eventually moving northward across the region late tonight into Monday morning. Likewise, we should see a transition of snow to a wintry mix of snow, sleet, and freezing rain across the far interior parts of the region while closer to the coast, this will be more of mix of snow, sleet, and rain. Eventually all precipitation changes to rain late Monday morning with warmer air moving across on an increasing southerly flow. The rain tapers off behind the cold front from west to east Monday afternoon into Monday evening. Dry and seasonably cold weather is in store for Monday night with high pressure building southwest of the area.
Ridgewood NJ, a reader and frequent commuter has mentioned this issue before and this time of year we thought it was important to remind people of the dangers. No one has a problem with people out haveing a good time ,but this excessive binge drinking at holiday parties and sporting events needs to be better monitored .
“More and more after hockey or basketball games, Friday night after work Ridgewood bound NYC trains bring holiday bingers especially the post 12 midnite train known as the Drunk train.
NJT Releases the crowd of zombies onto the Ridgewood platforms ,many incoherent and alone it is a tragedy waiting to happen. Conductors often call the situation into local police and move the train onto its next stop. With winter and darkness, there is only trouble ahead.Kids getting sick on the train create a real safety issue for local police.
Don’t want to babysit these young adults ,and reality is unless a Good Samaritan intervenes there is Risk to many young people. I have been at Penn station and witnesses co-workers putting young lady’s on the train and wishing them luck to their destination . Some can’t even tell you their name or cell number to call their Family.
This is a bigger problem than anyone lets on, excessive drinking is creating a hazard that no one including NJT NJT and local police are largely ignoring this problem hoping the Incapacitated person will just stager away so they can get on with their next stop.
Train stations are dangerous places for sick and Incapacitated people.You could freeze to death if you pass out.Especial if you miss your stop , end up in Suffern and the trains stop running after 145 am.
It’s a don’t ask don’t tell policy,Police do respond at some point but human nature is to hope the Drunk just walks away.”
The Pomander situation reminds us that All Streets Are Equal but Some Streets Are More Equal Than Others. The Pomander no parking came about based on the CSAC (which did not see the need for no parking) but residents of the street wanted no parking and the previous council made it so without any study. Sherman residents have requested safety changes (with parking remaining intact) – but the Council is requiring an expensive tax payer funded study before even allowing our qualified village staff to make these changes. Pomander had changes with no study – no consideration for how it would affect surrioundings streets. Sherman, with very obvious safety concerns and closer proximity to GW, is being left to wait FOR MONTHS for any of the issues to be simply reviewed by the council.
Some streets in Ridgewood are much more equal than others. Let’s hope you and your children live on a street that is deemed worthy of being safe.
And don’t get me started on how poorly businesses on the west of the tracks are treated. God Forbid anyone not get parking to go to one of the CBD’s high price restaurants – you can get valet! If you want to eat at a restaurant on the other side of the tracks you are just out of luck. Only our fine Mayor cares about them. No solid parking solutions are ever discussed – not at the CBDAC, not at the council meetings, not by anyone except the Mayor. I feel for her having to deal with the short-sidedness of some of the council and committees.
Ridgewood NJ, at Wednesday night’s Council meeting Mayor Knudsen suggested that the missions and bylaws of boards and committees need to be reviewed. Some have cumbersome bylaws some have none, while others overstep beyond the original intent. Some, most notably the Financial Advisory Committee, border on performing management functions.
While the volunteer efforts of committee and board members is greatly appreciated and was duly acknowledged, the fact remains that these hard-working individuals need guidelines under which to function.
Interesting this obvious point resulted in an angry, nasty, vituperative outburst from Councilman Voigt, who made wild accusations about Mayor Knudsen. Were we back in the days of the 3 amigos and their consorts? One could close one’s eyes and think, for a horrifying moment, that the angry quartet of Aronsohn-Pucciarelli-Hauck-Sonenfeld had returned to the dais.
Desperately defending the worthless Financial Advisory Committee, just going on and on about it. The committee that adds nothing to the Village ,has no minutes and no defined responsibilities .The FAC was set up and used by the Aronsohn and Co. to oust former Mayor Kieth Killion and discredit Village Manager Ken Gabbert.
Paraphrasing Shakespeare…….methinks thou dost protest too much. Who is pulling your strings to protect the FAC with such venom??? (and the Jeopardy answer to that question is……).
The other four elected officials (you know, the four that are level headed and do not have people behind the scenes telling them what to do) agreed that Mayor Knudsen’s suggestion is valid and that the review of committee and board bylaws will be worthwhile…..all while Councilman Voigt continued to spew his objections. A template for committee bylaws will be developed, thus providing a framework for each group.
Well that is just not good enough, New council members were well warned about ceding power to nameless special interest run committees. It was a huge mistake not disbanding this “fake” finance committee right from the get go. FAC which only exists to push and justify special interest politics on Village Taxpayers. There is nothing they have to offer about running the Village that could not be found in the comment section of the Ridgewood blog over the last 10 years . FAC is no less of a joke than that ridiculous”civility “committee set up to squash free speech and stifle dissent .
Ridgewood NJ, Acting Village Manager Heather Mailander has announced that the portion of Glenwood Road between Upper Boulevard and the Ho-Ho-Kus train station will be designated one-way eastbound (i.e., all motor vehicle traffic down hill only; no motor vehicle traffic will be permitted to travel from the Ho-Ho-Kus train station up hill) sometime within the coming year.
This change is being mandated by the NJ Department of Transportation (NJDOT) because tractor trailers, buses, and other larger motor vehicles attempting to travel westbound on Glenwood Road from Ho-Ho-Kus are continuing to create hazardous conditions at the grade level railroad crossing just north of the Ho-Ho-Kus train station.
NJDOT gave the Village two (2) options; ban motor vehicle traffic completely between Upper Boulevard and the Ho-Ho-Kus train station, or keep the route open to eastbound traffic only. Village officials chose the later option.
The one-way change will be implemented shortly after the grade crossing itself is rehabilitated, which is scheduled to happen sometime in 2017.
Ridgewood NJ, Three (3) flatbed tow trucks were required to remove vehicles damaged in a Wednesday morning, 12/07, crash that occurred near 465 Goffle Road, Ridgewood. One (1) driver involved in the collision was transported by a Ridgewood EMS ambulance to The Valley Hospital; the victim’s injuries were reported to be non life threatening. Ridgewood FD personnel attended to a minor crash related fluid spill in addition to providing EMS support. Goffle Road was closed to through traffic in both directions between Rock Road and Ravine Avenue until the roadway was cleared of wreckage and debris. One (1) crash related summons was issued by Ridgewood PD. provided traffic control assistance at the scene.
By Susan K. Livio | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
on December 05, 2016 at 5:35 PM
TRENTON — The seven-year effort to crack down on surprise out-of-network medical bills was delayed again Monday, the same day a group of doctors urged lawmakers to consider an alternative proposal they say won’t force them out of business.
Sen. Joseph Vitale (D-Middlesex), who sponsored the leading legislation that would cap the amount out-of-network doctors and hospitals are paid for emergency treatment, announced Monday he had pulled his bill from a the committee’s agenda for the day. Vitale said is working with the New Jersey Hospital Association to make changes to the bill (A1952) and wants that work to continue.
“I remain confident that efforts of working to build consensus will result in the strongest consumer protection out-of-network bill in the country,” Vitale said in a statement.
Ridgewood NJ, The holiday season represents the perfect opportunity for anyone who’s been thinking of taking a deep dive into their family history.
All those grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins gathering to feast on turkey or exchange gifts possess a treasure trove of genealogical information and family stories.
All you need to do is ask – and perhaps turn on a recording device – and soon you may be learning about great-great grandfather’s treacherous journey across the Atlantic or Uncle Phil’s courageous actions during World War II.
“Interviewing family members is one of the best places to start when you want to learn about or write about your family’s story,” says Ceil Lucas, a sociolinguist, amateur genealogist and author of How I Got Here: A Memoir.
“Older relatives especially may have wonderful tales from decades ago involving people you never heard about. If you’re lucky, you may even learn that they have stashed away somewhere letters, diaries or photographs that belonged to those long dead ancestors.”
But be warned, Lucas says. While people dream about learning they descended from royalty or happen to be distantly related to Benjamin Franklin, genealogical research is just as likely to turn up horse thieves, drifters and scandals of every sort.
“You’re going to find stuff you might not want to know,” Lucas says. “But who knows, those might be your most fascinating finds.”
Lucas began working on her family history three decades ago, about the same time she began making notes on what would become a memoir of her childhood in Guatemala City and Rome, Italy. This upbringing left her with a sense of “I’m not from here” – “here” being the U.S., where she was born.
But her genealogical research, which revealed her first ancestors coming to the U.S. from Scotland in 1654 and England in 1679, showed her just how “from here” she is. Lucas realized that the stories of her ancestors needed to be included in her memoir and the result was a genealogical memoir.
“The thing is, once the genealogical story is learned, it simply can’t be unlearned,” she says.
Interviewing relatives between sips of eggnog is just the beginning. Lucas has other suggestions for those who want to explore their family histories:
• Check census records. Every 10 years since 1790 the census has taken a snapshot of who’s living in the United States. Valuable information can be found in census records, and you might even discover relatives you never heard about. • Sign up for a genealogy class. Many community colleges offer non-credit courses in genealogy that will help you understand how to research your family and interpret what you find. • Consider DNA testing. People often think they know their ethnic lineage, but discover surprises when they have a DNA test. Lucas’ DNA test revealed that she is descended not only from people who hailed from England and Scotland, but also the Iberian Peninsula.
In Ridgewood we have a unique option you can visit the Bolger Heritage Center, Ridgewood Public Library. They offer genealogy help for moments like this. Stop by the Heritage Center during our genealogy consultation hours to get assistance with your research: 12/6 from 11-2pm 12/7 from 7-9pm 12/14 from 10-2pm 12/16 from 1-3pm 12/28 from 10-12pm Questions? Contact Sarah Kiefer at 201-670-5600×135 or [email protected] — at Ridgewood Public Library.
“It also probably doesn’t hurt if you are a nerd about these things like me,” Lucas says. “I found an ancestor who was involved in the Oklahoma Land Rush, so I researched that and found newspaper articles about the land rush. I think it’s important to put your family story in the historical context, especially if you plan to write a memoir.”
About Ceil Lucas
Ceil Lucas, author of How I Got Here: A Memoir, is a sociolinguist. She holds a bachelor’s degree in French and Art History, a master’s degree in French and Italian, and a doctorate in Linguistics. She spent 40 years as a university professor and researcher. She began teaching Italian in 1973 and continues to do so. She is the editor and co-author of 22 books.
THE RIDGEWOOD VILLAGE COUNCIL’S PUBLIC WORKSHOP AGENDA
DECEMBER 7, 2016
REVISED
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. Public Hearing
a. Brownfield Grant – N. Walnut Street Parking Lot
7. Presentation
a. ITN – Senior Transportation
8. Discussion
a. Ridgewood Water
1. Award Contract – Line Stop and Valve Insertion Services
2. Award Contract – Laboratory Analysis Services
3. Award Contract – Water System Divestiture Study
4. Award Contract – Vance Tank Rehabilitation
5. Award EUS – Repairs to Air Stripping Tower – Main Treatment Facility
6. Award Change Order – Water Main Stream Crossings
7. Rejection of Bid – Glen Tank Rehabilitation
b. Parking
1. CBD Parking Improvements
2. Central Valet
3. Parking Garage
4. Amend Valet Parking Fee Ordinance
5. Amend CBD Parking Permit Ordinance – Parking Permit for All Parking Lots
6. Free Last Minute Shopping Parking – December 22nd
7. Rental of Parking Spaces on N. Broad Street – Taxi Stand
8. Discussion (cont’d)
c. Budget
1. Award Contract – Purchase of Ammunition
2. Award Contract – Purchase of Bullet Proof Vests
3. Award Contract – Electronic Ticketing Software
4. Authorize Shared Services Agreement – Child Health Clinic
5. Award Contract – Professional Services – 2017 Child Health Conference Physician
6. Award Contract – Two Kenworth Sanitation Trucks
7. Award Change Order – Disposal and Recycling of Vegetative Waste
8. Award Contract – Sanitary Sludge Hauling – Water Pollution Control
9. Award Contract – Edmunds Service Contract
10. Award Contract – 2017 Employee Assistance Program Services
11. Award Contract – 2017 Recreational Program Instruction
12. Award Contract – Preparation of 2017 Village Council Meeting Minutes
13. Budget Transfers
14. 2017 Temporary Budgets
15. 2017 Cash Management Plan
16. Cancellation of Grant Receivables and Grant Reserves
17. Approve RFP for Pilot Program for Ridgewood Resident Commuter
Transportation To and From Ridgewood Train Station
18. Approve RFP for Grant Writer
19. Authorize Application for Brownfield Grant
20. Authorize Application for Bergen County Municipal Alliance Grant
21. Surplus Fire Equipment
d. Policy
1. ITN – Senior Transportation
2. Civility and Sports
3. Establish Regulations for Bird Feeders and Bird Food
4. Short Term Rentals of Private Homes
5. Boards and Committees – FAC, RAC and Planning Board
6. Vacation of Portion of Barrington Road – Paper Street
e. Operations
1. Recycling of Electronics Legislation
2. No Left Turn – Van Neste Square
3. Glenwood Road Railroad Crossing
4. Donation of Generator for Traffic & Signal Building
5. Ridge School Traffic Study
6. Sherman Place, Pomander Walk and Washington Place Traffic Study
7. New Master Plan Budgeting
9. Review of December 14, 2016 Regular Public Meeting Agenda
10. Manager’s Report
11. Council Reports
12. Public Comments (Not to Exceed 5 Minutes per Person)
Ridgewood NJ, Ridgewood Police, Fire, and EMS personnel responded to aid a pedestrian who was struck at the intersection of East Ridgewood Avenue and Oak Street on Tuesday night, 12/06. The victim, who appeared to have sustained non-life threatening injuries, was transported by ambulance to The Valley Hospital. The driver of the vehicle involved was driving westbound on East Ridgewood Avenue at the time of the incident, and remained at the scene to cooperate with police officers assigned to investigate the collision.
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, Ad’s targeting Ridgewood Water on Facebook has some residents rattled . A resident recently asked ,”Is it ‘over the top’ / ‘misleading’ or our kids who drink unfiltered water at school are really at risk?”
While the risks of Chromium 6 have been well documented .Chromium 6 is the same suspected carcinogen that made Erin Brockovich famous and was found in Ridgewood Water. The levels, however are well within EPA, guidelines.
Some residents are concerned whiles others think the current risk is overblown and the Brockovich comparison is without merit at this time.
from Ridgewood Waters website:
Chromium 6
The Environmental Working Group (EWG) recently released a report raising concerns about the presence of chromium 6 – also known as hexavalent chromium – in public water supplies. Hexavalent chromium, a suspected carcinogen, is the contaminant made famous by the 2000 movie “Erin Brockovich.”
Ridgewood Water shares the EWG’s concern for water quality and public health protection. Water utilities currently monitor for “total” chromium, of which hexavalent chromium is a component. Most public water utilities, including Ridgewood Water, are in compliance with the existing standard.
The Safe Drinking Water Act, which was established to protect the quality of drinking water, requires a rigorous scientific approach for evaluating contaminants for regulation. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has been looking at health effects data on hexavalent chromium. Ridgewood Water has been testing for this substance as part of the unregulated contaminant sampling program which provides data to EPA for scientific evaluation.
It’s important to remember that detecting a substance in water does not always imply a health risk. The key question that researchers seek to answer is whether the substance presents health concerns at the level it is detected. That’s why the federal regulatory process requires EPA to examine potential health impacts of the substance, paths of exposure and occurrence data. A thorough evaluation of all this data increases the likelihood that new regulations will offer meaningful risk reduction. Ridgewood Water is committed to meeting all regulatory standards for public water supplies including any new requirements for hexavalent chromium that may be instituted.
For more information on chromium in drinking water, please refer to the following links:
Ridgewood NJ,On Saturday a group called RidgewoodWestSide.com distributed a flyer alerting neighbors on Sherman and Washington of the December 7th Council Work Session which will discuss Sherman Place and Washington Place. Flyers were given to many of the Godwin and Wilsey Square businesses as well since changes to nearby streets may impact their customers.
Pomander Walk, a quiet dead end street next to out stores, was granted NO PARKING under our old village council? Am I mistaken or does our town need parking? Please review attached flyer and come to the meeting Wed. night at 7:30 at town hall to let your current council know this decision must be reversed. If not reversed, maybe we should all push council for private roads?
ATTENTION:
What:Village council discussion of parking and traffic following Pomander Walk Parking Ban
Where: Village Hall
When: December 7th at 7:30pm
Background: For years residents of Pomander Walk have sought to ban parking on their dead end street citing business parking and safety concerns. Residents of surrounding streets were not informed of the request until days before the village council passed Ordinance 3556 in 2016 banning parking on Pomander Walk with no impact analysis. Despite promises from Pomander residents that they did not require parking they continue to use the street for their parking needs while other streets suffer gridlock. Residents of Sherman have since seen a severe increase in traffic, parked cars and safety issues. The newly elected council has agreed to consider changes inclusive of a comprehensive safety review all area streets.
Your neighbors from Sherman, Godwin, Garfield, Washington are asking you to voice your opinion at the Wednesday, December 7thtown council meeting.
Resident tax payers should be afforded equal access to parking – NO PRIVATE STREET STATUS
All residents living near businesses should share the parking burden
To remain successful, the west side business district needs access to parking for customers. If parking is important for the central business district, it is equally important for the west side and removing parking sets a bad precedent
Removing parking from one street just relocates it to another
