Ridgewood NJ, One (1) summons was issued in connection with a two (2) vehicle crash at the intersection of Greenway Road and Highland Avenue in Ridgewood on Friday afternoon, 02/10. Ridgewood firefighters used the “Jaws of Life” to free a passenger from a Nissan that was broadsided by a Jeep. Both occupants of the Nissan were transported by separate ambulances to a local hospital for treatment. Ridgewood PD was assisted by Glen Rock PD at the scene. Ridgewood FD and EMS personnel were also put into service, as was a paramedic team from The Valley Hospital. Both vehicles were heavily damaged and removed by a tow truck. Interestingly, the only 911 call reporting the accident was received from an occupant of the Nissan. No one in the neighborhood where the accident occurred called the police to report it, nor did the driver of the Jeep. Go figure.
I agree with the contributors that said Valley was a great source of UNPAID work for the local fire and police. They were constantly being called to Valley for false fire alarms (did they ever get charged after two as a Village resident would be?) And the police and firetrucks suddenly pulling out in order to rush to Valley were in a much greater number at a time than the ambulances. Also, the police and fire had to close and guard the Graydon back parking lot every time an emergency (usually heart) patient was helicoptered in. Valley took all of this for free and made no payments in lieu of taxes. I am sure that Valley contributed in some ways to the community (supporting baseball and other teams for example) but not as much as they cost the town. It’s only in the past few years that we have not collected their garbage and recyclables for free as well. And I’ve certainly seen the town trucks clearing their parking lot and roadways before turning to do the town itself. And they are not far away when they move, as well as maintaining a full (probably no in lieu of taxes with it either) facility at their original spot.
BOE – stay strong. The teachers are unreasonable. Might not have this opinion if it was a different town but Ridgewood has always been very supportive of teachers and education as illustrated by the pay scale. We just can’t and don’t want to afford to indulge them any more. Note: Rankings are slipping … time to reconsider a lot when it comes to our schools. Some new blood might be a very good thing. Please move on if you are not happy with what our BOE is offering you.
Teachers remain completely unreasonable and are not negotiating with our volunteer BOE in good faith. Time for higher pension contributions, higher copays, and salaries growing less than the 2% property tax cap. It’s time to wake up to the reality faced by all residents of Ridgewood, not just your “la-la fantasy world” union rose tinted glasses greed.
It is time for teachers and there arrogant union leaders to step in to the twenty first century and stop livening as though it was the 1950’s where you did not have great pay and benefits. BOE say no to these people the taxpayer is fed up.
You can keep someone around with a less-than-great attitude if they’re highly competent, experienced, and brilliant. Maybe you can keep someone around who’s less than great, but their sunshine makes everybody happy and they get things done. People kept saying that at least she wasn’t an alcoholic like previous managers. Can you imagine hearing someone say that about yourself in your job? Talk about faint praise.
She worked hard–many hours–we know this because she mentioned it a lot. But what was she doing? Working on projects behind some council members’ backs and intended to foil the wishes of residents. Determinedly following through on Aronsohn’s plans. This woman was a hiring disaster except for the person who hired her. Unqualified for many important Village Manager tasks, requiring expensive outsourcing and in one case, the excuse for creating an HR position for a friend that quickly morphed from part time to full time. Let’s get rid of that person and that position soon.
Sonenfeld was incompetent, defensive, “attitude” prone, disrespectful of council members and the public, all too willing to do the former mayor’s bidding. Shockingly, did not hesitate to chew out council members–totally unacceptable. Expressed far more personal opinions than a manager should.
Waster of money, pusher of projects we didn’t need–most recently the digging up and overhauling of Van Neste, which fortunately was caught in time. Cashed in her favor-chips with that HR job and giving her Health Barn friend part of a municipal park (let’s rip up that contract asap). Never learned the true role of a village manager. We will be far better off without her. Aronsohn’s legacy is now diminished in the most significant way since the council election. CLEAN HOUSE. (Judge Pfund needs to go, too.)
(all timeframes and the order of agenda items below are approximate and subject to change)
7:30 p.m. – Call to Order, Statement of Compliance, Flag Salute, Roll Call – In accordance with the provisions of Section 10:4-8d of the Open Public Meetings Act, the date, location, and time of the commencement of this meeting is reflected in a meeting notice, a copy of which schedule has been filed with the Village Manager and the Village Clerk, The Ridgewood News and The Record newspapers, and posted on the bulletin board in the entry lobby of the Village municipal offices at 131 North Maple Avenue, and on the Village website, all in accordance with the provisions of the Open Public Meetings Act.
7:55 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. – Riverside Medical Group Minor Site Plan and Variances, 74 Oak Street, Block 2009, Lot 6
9:00 p.m. – 11:00 p.m. – Ridgewood Dayton, LLC Preliminary and Final Major Site Plan, 100 & 152 South Broad Street, Block 3707, Lot 5.01 and Block 3905, Lot 1.01
11:00 p.m. – 11:05 p.m. – Adoption of Minutes: August 23, 2016
11:05 p.m. – Executive Session (if necessary)
Adjournment
In accordance with the Open Public Meetings Act, all meetings of the Ridgewood Planning Board (i.e., official public meetings, work sessions, pre-meeting assemblies and special meetings) are public meetings, which are always open to members of the general public.
Members: Susan Knudsen, Jeff Voigt, Joel Torielli, Melanie McWilliams, David Scheibner, Richard Joel, Kevin Reilly, David Thurston, Isabella Altano, Debbie Patire
Professional Staff: Blais L. Brancheau, Planner; Christopher J. Rutishauser, Village Engineer; Michael Cafarelli, Board Secretary
Breaking Update : (8:17 pm)the Ridgewood blog has learned that the now former Village manager was escorted out the building after misusing her Village email by sending out misinformation about her departure.
Ridgewood NJ, various sources have confirmed as of 9:17 am this morning Village Manager Roberta Sonenfeld as tendered her resignation . Her last official day is Friday . We are not sure if she will be at the Council meeting tomorrow night . Heather Mailander will take over temporary manager duties.
Ridgewood NJ, Beth McGovern, R.N., Clinical Practice Specialist in Women’s & Children’s Services and Coordinator of the Simulation Program at The Valley Hospital, has been named a 2016 Nurse.com GEM Award Finalist in the category of “Education and Mentoring”.
The Nurse.com GEM Award program publicly recognizes and celebrates nursing excellence. The GEM Award for Education and Mentoring recognizes a nurse who has shared knowledge with other nurses through formal nursing education, skills training or continuing education, and who has demonstrated, supported or influenced nurses’ career development in meaningful, measurable ways.
McGovern was specifically nominated for her leadership with the Simulation Program at The Valley Hospital. As the Coordinator of the Simulation Program, McGovern coordinates all of the simulation activities in the hospital at the present time. She was the lead in getting $4 million in funding from The Valley Foundation, and she also secured a women and health grant for $120,000 based on her presentation of the program.
“Beth McGovern has truly become a champion of the Simulation Program and its growth,” said Paul Quinn, Director, Inpatient Women & Children’s Services, The Valley Hospital. “Additionally, her day-to-day mentoring of staff, her development of protocols for nurses and staff, and her clinical expertise in daily rounds and coordination of treatment plans for complex patients has made her invaluable to Valley.”
The Valley Simulation Program started about four years ago with one female simulator and has expanded to also have an adult male simulator, a pediatric simulator, and a newborn simulator. The simulators are programed to simulate heart attacks, strokes, cardiac arrests and much more; it is based on the identified needs of particular units. So far, the simulators have been used by emergency room staff, in the Operating Room, the OB, The Center For Childbirth, the ICU and at Luckow. Simulation is recognized as most effective way to teach skill and team training in the healthcare environment, as it bridges the gap between classroom learning and real-life situations.
McGovern will be honored at a GEM Finalists gala in early September. Regional winners will be selected in November, and the 2016 Nurse.com GEM Awards national winners will be announced in early 2017. Finalists are chosen following nominations by their nursing colleagues.
Photo caption: Beth McGovern, R.N., Clinical Practice Specialist at The Valley Hospital, has been named a 2016 Nurse.com GEM Award Finalist for her leadership with Valley’s Simulation Program.
The teachers should realize that the current lack of signs means very few support the teachers. Where do we get a sign supporting the Board? The teachers ARE going to cut out writing letters and any extra time w/the students. The Board and the parents are going to have to take a stance and not give the teachers a thing. This has been how the teachers have always won their demands in the past. Parents have to support the Board for once. The teachers have more under their old contract than most communities. And contrary to their theory that they are the cause of Ridgewood’s supposed “Excellence”, they are not. And our rankings, contrary to what many people think, have gone quite a long ways down in the time we have lived here (over 40 years). We long ago reached the point that, unfortunately, a child will get a better education in the private schools–which most of us can’t pay for. A friend sent her daughter to IHA for 9th grade and then had to return her to Ridgewood for the following three. The child basically repeated her entire 9th grade year while she was actually in the 10th. And this was years ago–imagine the differential now!
Ridgewood NJ, A late afternoon Sunday, 09/04 bicyclist vs. pedestrian crash on the Saddle River Area Bike Path in Ridgewood sent the adult male cyclist involved in the collision on a short ambulance ride to The Valley Hospital with multiple injuries. Ridgewood PD and EMS responded along with a unit from the Bergen County Sheriff’s Office Patrol Division. The pedestrian involved in the crash refused transport to the hospital after being evaluated on the scene by Ridgewood EMS EMTs.
Ridgewood NJ, If you have room in your home and heart, they will have 30 shelters and rescue groups with 300 pets for adoption. Experience the joy of unconditional love. Someone is waiting for you. . .
Ridgewood Veterinary Hospital hosts Adopt A Pet Day
Sunday, September 18, 2016 from 11:00 AM until 4:00 Pm
Ridgewood Veterinary Hospital, 320 E. Ridgewood Ave., Ridgewood
Ridgewood NJ, Students return to school on Tuesday and as the new school year begins the Ridgewood Education Association members are still working without a contract. The Ridgewood Education Association is looking for the public’s support to settle their contract dispute with the school board which up till now has been tepid at best.
The Ridgewood Education Association is asking the public to please support their members by demanding that the Board settles the contract. They want to make sure Dr. Fishbein knows that their contract is the number one priority. They are also asking residents to place a sign on your lawn to support the Ridgewood Education Association.
Readers agree that a contract settlement is needed but consider REA demands unreasonable , “Isn’t it obvious the NJEA is forcing the REA to make unreasonable demands and negotiate in bad faith with our volunteer BOE? Settle now.”
Many blog readers also do not share the REA’s enthusiasm ,”The REA thinks that just because Ridgewood schools have a “tradition of excellence”, that they are somehow excellent. That takes hard work. This current bunch of teachers seems to care more about their annual wage increases and health care benefits than they do about excellence for our school system. Shameless greed given a BOE budget already north of $100 million even though the population of Ridgewood is little changed since we did have top rated schools in the 1980s and 90s.”
Some REA supporters think the union should take stronger action , “maybe coaches need to through in the towel . Take away extra curricular activities and you’ll see how fast parents put signs up on their lawn.”
This Tuesday September 6th, the first day of school for students, the Ridgewood Education Association will hold a rally at 4:00pm at the Ed Center. The rally is an attempt to pressure the BOE to give in .That evening there will be a negotiation session and union is looking to let the Board know that 434 days is too long to work without a contract. The REA is also asking residents to come and support your teachers and secretaries by wearing red.
Ridgewood NJ, SAVE THE DATES FOR COFFEE WITH THE BOE AND DAN FISHBEIN: Coffee and Conversation Dates Are Announced
The Board of Education and Superintendent Dr. Daniel Fishbein will host residents for coffee and casual conversation on three separate occasions this school year.
The first date for Coffee and Conversation is Wednesday, October 19 from 7-8:30 p.m. at the Education Center, 49 Cottage Place, Ridgewood.
Future dates will follow on Tuesday, March 28, 2017 and Wednesday, May 17, 2017.
All residents are invited to drop in to share their thoughts, questions, suggestions and concerns
Ridgewood NJ, In keeping with the theme of the Schoolhouse Museum’s current “Farm and Home” exhibit, the Ridgewood Historical Society, in conjunction with Demarest Farms in Hillsdale, has a number of events planned for the fall months. These events are a great opportunity to learn about, buy, and in some cases, taste, locally grown produce and fruits, and to support not only the Museum, but also Demarest Farms – a local area farm since 1886!
On September 17th we will be setting up a ‘mini-exhibit’ at Demarest Farms. This mini-exhibit, staffed by board members of the Society, will show some of the museum’s farming artifacts, and will display and discuss a variety of items that are currently available and in season. This will range from red, to plum, to heirloom tomatoes; white peaches and yellow peaches; and, of course, apples. Golden Delicious, Red Delicious, Granny Smith, Macintosh to name a few. Demarest Farms also has available a “Pick your own” peaches, apples or pumpkins hay ride. This should be a fun filled day.
On October 15, at the Schoolhouse Museum, we will have samples of baked dishes, with produce supplied by Demarest Farms. Details are still being worked out, but save this date, since there will be a limited number of tickets for sale.
On November 19 at Demarest Farms…and just in time for Thanksgiving, we will be offering a discount coupon to our membership. This coupon gives you the opportunity to save money as you begin your Thanksgiving fruit and produce shopping. And Demarest Farms will donate 10% of the proceeds to the Ridgewood Historical Society.
These events not only support the Museum, but also Demarest Farms – a local producer of produce and fruits, with 130 years of history in our area.
Ridgewood NJ, From Scratch in Ridgewood is joining other Italian restaurants around the country in raising funds for Italy’s earthquake victims by offering the signature dish of the stricken region, pasta all’Amatriciana. Owner Claudia Rovegno will cook the dish, made with pancetta and pecorino cheese, on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays through the end of September. It will cost $20, of which $4 will be donated to earthquake relief. 44 E. Ridgewood Ave., 201-857-5188, fromscratchridgewood.com
