NEWARK, NJ — NJ TRANSIT has announced service plans for the morning of September 30th, 2016 following a commuter train accident at Hoboken Terminal. All rail service into and out of Hoboken Terminal remains suspended. Hudson-Bergen Light Rail will resume full service into and out of Hoboken station tomorrow morning.
Rail
The following service will be in effect:
All New York City bound trains (Northeast Corridor, North Jersey Coast Line, MidTOWN DIRECT), Raritan Valley and Atlantic City lines will operate on normal weekday schedules.
Main, Bergen, Pascack Valley and Port Jervis lines will continue to operate on a modified weekend schedule originating/terminating in Secaucus.
There will be limited rail shuttle service on the Montclair-Boonton Line west of Montclair State University (MSU) – between MSU and Denville stations.
There will be rail shuttle service on the Morris & Essex Lines (M&E) between Hackettstown and Dover.
The Gladstone Branch will have its two regularly scheduled MidTOWN DIRECT trains in addition to rail shuttles between Gladstone and Summit.
Customers may experience overcrowding and possible delays caused by congestion.
Metro-North Service for Pascack Valley Line and Port Jervis Line Customers
Ooops we jumped the gun with initial headline Appeals Court Rules in Ridgewood’s Favor against Valley Hospital Expansion
September 29,2016
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, Appeals Court Agrees to hear Ridgewood against Valley Hospital Expansion Case.
The Valley Hospital had filed suit against the Ridgewood Planning Board for rejecting its proposal to nearly double in size, arguing the board illegally sided with neighborhood opponents rather than permitting an upgrade for “an inherently beneficial regional hospital.”
The lawsuit was filed in state Superior Court in Hackensack . It was an attempt by Valley to end a protracted and costly stalemate with the village and force its expansion plans have been defeated two times .
While Valley wasted its efforts on its “May way or no way” approach its competitors have expanded, renovated and in one case, reopened a hospital in Westwood.
According to Ridgewood resident John Hersperger , “I’m not surprised the Appellate Division agreed to review the lower court’s decision against the Village in the ordinance case. Valley’s lower court victory was short-lived and (knock wood) should be its last. Why? Because the legal grounds for any court to force a municipality to squeeze in a development of this size on such a small parcel simply don’t exist. Valley needs the Appellate Division to create new legal precedent to support their expansion. Such a change would have implications statewide, with healthcare businesses imposing development wherever they please.”
Pete Mckenna President of Concerned Residents of Ridgewood concurred , “The appellate division has not made a decision on the merits, but has decided to review the Judge’s decision. I agree with John’s comments that this Judge’s ruling was without precedent and that the Village’s case to appeal is strong and we are optimistic the Village will prevail in this matter.”
Ridgewood NJ, Last night’s Village Council Work Session was great. All of our elected officials are working well together, even when they disagree. No one teams up on anyone else and there is no disrespect on the dais or from the dais to the audience. There is plenty of laughter and camaraderie while work is being accomplished. This is truly good government at work.
Here are some highlights, in no particular order:
1. Tony Damiano got up and thanked Mayor Knudsen for resolving the schedule problems with the PSEG work on Broad St. Yes, he thanked her. Guess he took so much heat on the Blog and on Facebook for claiming full responsibility for this that he decided he looked really small. Well, he did take some credit, but at least he made a stab at thanking the Mayor.
2. And speaking of looking really small, oh my gosh Mr. Rurik Halaby has completely lost his mind. He is the lone soldier left from those few who ever supported the three amigos and Roberta, and he is fighting mightily. His comments are not worth repeating, but he sure looked like a total idiot. And he sounded like a crazy man, spewing invective about rumors he has heard and such. He actually verged on threatening the council including singling out Ramon. Yep, would love to see a showdown between Ramon and Rurik.
3. Jeff Voigt in his library report announced that “the library” wants 5 Million Dollars for an interior renovation to make the auditorium into a performing arts center and some other sprucing up. Yes, ladies and gentlemen, $5 million. And they will be looking for money. Maybe Mr. Halaby can write the check?
4. It was explained that we will be entering into a shared services agreement with Washington Township in which we will service up to 30 of their vehicles at our Village Garage. Yes, that garage which Mr. Pucciarelli wanted to eliminate will now be making plenty of money for us. Hear that Albert? Yet another of your idiotic suggestions and schemes is going down the drain. Do you have any comments? Oh, that’s right, no comments from the former Deputy Mayor as he is named in a lawsuit and is scrambling to keep his reputation intact.
5. Parking was a huge topic of discussion. Mike Sedon provided an informative history of parking pricing dating back for the past 10 or 15 years, which was interesting. Jeff Voigt had prepared and distributed copies of parking suggestions that he had gathered from many sources. It was very well put together and very transparent because everyone could hold it in their hands and read it. The discussion was cordial, lively, and very productive. A few highlights include paving and re-lining the Hudson lot and thereby adding up to 40 spaces. This would include closing some of the several curb cut entrances into the lot from Hudson. Imagine that, 40 spaces in the blink of an eye. They are also going to have tiered pricing so that those who are willing to walk from Cottage can pay significantly less. Bernie Walsh and Jeff walked in and out of 17 stores to assess where the employees park. She said it was very friendly and informative and she is hoping all the council members can join in this project. New signage will be going up shortly to direct people to the various lots. The Zabriskie Lot is under consideration.
6. Looks like they will be going back to now allow parking on one side of Pomander Walk. This makes good sense. Why did the Pomander Walk residents ever get such an exclusive deal in the first place?
7. Heather Mailander highlighted two Village employees who have gone above and beyond. This was a nice report and one which she intends to do regularly. She is not singing her own praises, nope, she is singing the praises of others. This is the sign of a great manager, one who does not toot her own horn incessantly.
8. Matt Rogers provided a litigation update, at the request of Mayor Knudsen. This will now be a regular report. Updates on the Water Company, Valley, COAH and the referendum petitioners were included.
We all know full day K is extended day-care for moms who work (except in Ridgewood where if fills the need of moms who go to the spa or lunch or tennis). But that is OK, we’ll just pay for it and move on.
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To say that it has and significant educational value and kids who don’t attend full day K will be at a (long term) disadvantage is disingenuous at best.
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The only place where full day K might make sense would be for those children diagnosed with significant (medical) developmental disabilities
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But again, these facts don’t matter – give the moms what they want, pay for it and move on.
Why start applying logic to the Ridgewood school budget now…
Ridgewood NJ, Ridgewood resident Jacqueline Hone spoke during both public comment segments. She explained why Roberta’s departure is just the tip of the iceberg and suggested her staff also needs to be investigated.
Ridgewood NJ, A New Jersey Transit train crashed into the terminal in Hoboken. The incident happened at around 9am on Thursday. It’s been confirmed Pascack Valley Train #1614, departs Spring Valley 7:23 am(?) due to arrive at 8:30 am. Train came in on Track 4 .
Initial report is over 100 injuries .
Massive Emergency services response.
Hoboken is shut down to non emergency services.
Correction 1 confirmed dead by Governors Christie and Como , not passenger someone standing on the platform .
PATH service to HOB will be operating full rush hour service .
Shuttle buses from HOB to SEC running.
Cause of accident is still unclear .
It is being reported that major damage has been done to the train station including a partial roof collapse. Reports from riders say no indication that anything was wrong.
Rail service is suspended in and out of Hoboken due to a train accident at Hoboken station. NJT bus and private carriers are honoring NJT rail tickets and passes. PATH & HBLR is suspended in/out Hoboken. NY Waterway accepting rail tickets/passes.
The Stanley Healthcare solution includes Wi-Fi RFID badges that nurses, physicians and other personnel can use to identify their locations and call for assistance.
By Claire Swedberg
Sep 27, 2016—
The Valley Hospital, in Ridgewood, N.J., has been using a real-time location system (RTLS) to monitor the locations and identities of staff members who press their emergency badge. Before the hospital deployed the system, only 50 percent of personnel reported a sense of workplace safety. Once those workers began utilizing the RTLS, provided byStanley Healthcare, that figure rose to 85 percent.
The Valley Hospital rarely experiences violence in its ER, but there have been incidents in which employees have indicated feeling uncomfortable, the hospital reports. After members of a patient’s family prevented a nurse from leaving that patient’s room, that nurse asked the hospital to institute a better means of protecting personnel. The facility, which treats 74,000 patients in its emergency department each year, already offered wired emergency alarms in each room, but it decided that a wireless system would provide greater support to employees wherever they were in that department. The solution consists of Stanley Healthcare Wi-Fi-enabled call badges and software that helps security personnel identify who has placed a distress call, as well as where that person is located and what he or she looks like.
By Erin O’Neill | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
on September 27, 2016 at 5:35 PM, updated September 27, 2016 at 6:03 PM
Home prices in the New York area ticked up slightly over the last year but increased at a slower rate than 19 other major metropolitan markets in the country, according to a new report released on Tuesday.
The S&P CoreLogic Case-Shiller 20-City Composite index notched a 5 percent year-over-year increase in July led by big gains in real estate values in the Pacific Northwest, specifically Portland and Seattle. The New York region, including northern New Jersey, saw home prices rise just 1.7 percent over that same time frame, the weakest growth among all of the cities included in that index.
The Washington, D.C., area’s rise in home prices was the second-worst at 2 percent year-over-year.
Statement required by the Open Public Meeting Act “Adequate notice of this meeting has been provided by a posting on the bulletin board in the 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 date and time of this meeting”.
Please note: A curfew of 11:00 PM is strictly adhered to by the Zoning Board of Adjustment of the Village of Ridgewood. No new matter involving an Applicant will be started after 10:30 PM. At 10:00 PM the Chairman will make a determination and advise Applicants as to whether they will be heard. If an Applicant cannot be heard because of the lateness of the hour, the matter will be carried over to a future meeting to be determined by the Board at 10:00 PM.
Roll call
Approval of minutes:
Non-agenda items:
Board member comments
Members of the public comments
Discussion: Capital One Bank, 10 Godwin Avenue – material for base
Public hearings
Old Business:
121 FRANKLIN AVENUE ASSOCIATES – An application to permit use of the property located at 121 Franklin Avenue, Block 2010, Lot 16, as a drive-through Starbucks Coffee Shop, and to permit construction of an addition to the existing one story building. The applicant requests use variance approval to sell products outside the confines of the building. Additional variances being requested include a side yard setback for parking spaces of 3.5 feet where 5 feet is the minimum required, and sign variances. The property is located in an R-2 zone. (Continued from September 13, 2016)
PANICO – A request that the approval of variances for the property located at 152 Valley View Avenue be extended for a period of one year, through September 22, 2017.
AGENDA – CONTINUATION September 27, 2016
McHUGH – An application to permit the construction of a second floor addition which will result in Gross Building Area within 140 feet of the front lot line of 36.4%/3,823 square feet where 32%/4,060 square feet is the maximum permitted at 624 Shelton Road, Block 3308, Lot 4, in an R-2 zone. (Continued from August 9, 2016)
VERIZON WIRELESS, 6 S. MONROE – Whispering Woods settlement hearing – Proposed wireless communications facility amended to provide that antennas be placed inside of the existing steeple behind RF friendly material. The proposed settlement would also provide that the condition that “no part of the premises shall be rented to outside entities” shall be interpreted to mean that the uses currently being conducted at the Church shall be permitted to continue. (Continued from August 23, 2016)(Carry to October 25, 2016)
New Business:
TZOULAFIS – An application to permit the construction of a covered porch, two-story and second story addition which will result in coverage by above-grade structures of 22.5%/2,500 square feet, where 20%/2,250 square feet is the maximum permitted and coverage by above-grade structures within 140 feet of the front lot line of 23.4%/2,428 square feet, where 20%/2,100 square feet is the maximum permitted at the Property located at 426 Colonial Road, Block 3609, Lot 5, in an R-2 Zone.
ANGIOLINO – An application to permit the construction of a second floor addition and front portico which will result in front yard setbacks of 32 feet to the front steps, and 39 feet to the portico, where 40 feet is the minimum required and a distance of 9.83 feet to an accessory structure from the principal structure, where 12 feet is the minimum required for the Property located at 706 Ellington Road, Block 4606, Lot 24, in an R-2 Zone.
HALLOWELL – An application to permit the construction of a one-story addition and to relocate the rear steps which will result in a side yard setback of 17.5 feet, where 20 feet is the minimum required; coverage by above-grade structures within 140 feet of the front lot line of 20.8%, where 20% is the maximum permitted, and coverage by improvements of 50%/4,898 square feet, where 45%/ 4,410 square feet is the maximum permitted for the Property located at 126 Avondale Road, Block 1402, Lot 5 in an R-1 Zone.
….But most current female officers interviewed said those stereotypes did not play out in the field. “We have some men that are the first ones we would put in with difficult people because they are such good communicators,” said Jacqueline Luthcke, who is chief of the Ridgewood, N.J., Police Department….
Ridgewood NJ, Monday A customer of the Starbucks located at 363 Route 17, Ridgewood departed without his laptop computer bag, which resulted in a temporary evacuation of the facility and a response by Ridgewood PD & FD units on Monday, 09/26 when a passing police supervisor noticed the unattended package. However, prior to the arrival of the Bergen County Sheriff’s Office Bomb Squad unit, the customer returned for his property. An all clear was given after the bag was inspected; police subsequently reopened the parking lot and allowed employees to return inside the establishment.
FAQ on Full-Day Kindergarten: Public Vote is November 8 Public Presentations are October 5 and 27 at 7 p.m.
The November 8 election ballot will include a question for residents about implementing full-day Kindergarten (FDK) in Ridgewood. Public presentations will be held on FDK at 7 p.m.. at BFMS on Wednesday, October 5 and at GWMS on Thursday, October 27. To learn more about full-day Kindergarten, please click here for the FAQ sheet. Please click here to view other FDK documents, located in the Full-day Kindergarten Exploratory Committee folder on the Curriculum web page.
interesting read …..
Study finds improved self-regulation in kindergartners who wait a year to enroll
October 7, 2015
By May Wong
The new Stanford study found improved self-regulation in children who delayed kindergarten by a year.
A new research paper co-authored by Professor Thomas Dee finds strong evidence of mental health benefits in delaying kindergarten.
A new study on the mental health effects of kindergarten enrollment ages found strong evidence that a one-year delay dramatically improves a child’s self-regulation abilities even into later childhood.
According to the study co-authored by Stanford Graduate School of Education Professor Thomas Dee, children who started kindergarten a year later showed significantly lower levels of inattention and hyperactivity, which are jointly considered a key indicator of self regulation. The beneficial result was found to persist even at age 11.
“We found that delaying kindergarten for one year reduced inattention and hyperactivity by 73 percent for an average child at age 11,” Dee said, “and it virtually eliminated the probability that an average child at that age would have an ‘abnormal,’ or higher-than-normal rating for the inattentive-hyperactive behavioral measure.”
Findings from the study, which Dee co-authored with Hans Henrik Sievertsen of the Danish National Centre for Social Research, could help parents in the recurring debate over the pros and cons of a later school entry.
Though many children in developed countries now start their formal schooling at an older age, a growing body of empirical studies could neither conclusively point to improved test scores nor higher incomes from a delayed kindergarten entry, the study stated.
Dee and Sievertsen’s research, however, provides new evidence instead on mental health aspects that are predictors of educational outcomes.
In the psychology realm, the measure of inattention and hyperactivity – the mental health traits behind Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder – effectively reflects the concept of self regulation. A higher level of self regulation, which describes a person’s ability to control impulses and modulate behavior in attaining goals, is commonly linked to student achievement.
Ridgewood NJ, once again a group of residents is gathering signatures , “Please add my name to the Motion of Complaint against the Planning Board”. October 4th the Planning Board will be reviewing the resident complaint that could challenge the prior vote for high density regarding several serious conflicts of interest.
We need your help once again with protecting our Village from high density developers.
On Tuesday, October 4th the Planning Board will be reviewing the resident complaint that could challenge the prior vote for high density regarding several serious conflicts of interest and we need to keep the pressure on.
If you haven’t already, it is important to take the time to read the complaint and add your name to the petition. You can do so by:
1) Using the below dropbox link to open up the complaint. 2) Print out the signing page of the attached petition letter and sign it. 3) Either scan or take a jpeg snapshot of the autographed signing page with your phone and email it to: myself, Mayor Knudsen, Planning Board Secretary Cafarelli and Planning Board Attorney Christopher Martin:
4) In the subject heading write “Please add my name to the Motion of Complaint against the Planning Board” 5) Forward this email/attachments to everyone you know in town.
Well this is off subject but I do not know where else to post it. The Ridgewood News today has a great article about the high density housing fight. A lawsuit indicates that Pucciarelli should have recused way earlier than he did. When asked by the reporter to comment Mr. Pucciarelli declined. Love it. Mr. Big talker who could not shut up ever when he was on the dais now has his mouth shut. Have a crappy weekend Big Al the Developers Pal.
