$4.2M red-light camera settlement could be split among 500,000 drivers
Post cards have been mailed to hundreds of thousands of drivers across New Jersey this week as part of a $4.2 million settlement to a class action lawsuit brought on by residents who feel they were wrongly ticketed by red light cameras. South Jersey Times
Photo credit: Boyd A. Loving
Aging Chlorine Tablets Cause Hazmat Scare Saturday Evening
Auguest 3,2013
Boyd A. Loving
8:10 PM
Ridgewood NJ, Ridgewood firefighters and police officers responded to a home located in the 200 block of South Pleasant Avenue early Saturday evening in response to a 911 telephone call reporting a chemical odor emanating from a residential garage.
Arriving firefighters quickly identified the odor’s source as a container filled with aging chlorine tablets, which were starting to sublime. On duty personnel from the Bergen County Department of Health and Human Services Hazardous Materials Division were quickly summoned to assist Ridgewood firefighters.
After an extensive evaluation and consultation period, it was determined that the safest method to dispose of the material was to release the container’s contents into the sanitary sewer system, followed by a significant flush of fresh water. This was safely accomplished after a portion of South Pleasant Avenue was closed to traffic and a manhole was opened. No one was injured during the incident.
for any other sewer services call 24-7 A1 sewer & drain
Photo credit: Boyd A. Loving
Exclusive: Dozens of CIA operatives on the ground during Benghazi attack
CNN has uncovered exclusive new information about what is allegedly happening at the CIA, in the wake of the deadly Benghazi terror attack.
Four Americans, including Ambassador Christopher Stevens, were killed in the assault by armed militants last September 11 in eastern Libya.
Sources now tell CNN dozens of people working for the CIA were on the ground that night, and that the agency is going to great lengths to make sure whatever it was doing, remains a secret.
CNN has learned the CIA is involved in what one source calls an unprecedented attempt to keep the spy agency’s Benghazi secrets from ever leaking out.
Read: Analysis: CIA role in Benghazi underreported
Since January, some CIA operatives involved in the agency’s missions in Libya, have been subjected to frequent, even monthly polygraph examinations, according to a source with deep inside knowledge of the agency’s workings.
The goal of the questioning, according to sources, is to find out if anyone is talking to the media or Congress.
It is being described as pure intimidation, with the threat that any unauthorized CIA employee who leaks information could face the end of his or her career.
In exclusive communications obtained by CNN, one insider writes, “You don’t jeopardize yourself, you jeopardize your family as well.”
https://thelead.blogs.cnn.com/2013/08/01/exclusive-dozens-of-cia-operatives-on-the-ground-during-benghazi-attack/
‘Real Housewives of New Jersey’ stars’ hidden lives go public
Tuesday July 30, 2013, 10:21 PM
By VIRGINIA ROHAN
RECORD COLUMNIST
Teresa Giudice dragged her heels about signing the contract that made her one of “The Real Housewives of New Jersey.” Today, that seems telling.
“It took me 10 to 11 months to sign. … You couldn’t know how they’re going to portray you, and do you really want your whole life out there?” Teresa told The Record in early May 2009, shortly before the show debuted, adding something that now seems ironic. “But you know what’s great about it? My whole life’s not out there. … What I wanted them to know, they knew.”
Now the world has learned a lot more about Teresa and husband Joe Giudice than they surely ever wanted outsiders to know. The Montville couple were indicted on charges they conspired to defraud banks and other lenders in connection with nearly $4 million in mortgages, construction loans and home equity loans they received between 2001 and 2008. And the pair find themselves living in two different realities: one of wealth and privilege that viewers see on television on Sunday nights, and one of scary possibilities that began to unfold Tuesday at the federal courthouse in Newark.
In the couple’s initial court appearance on a 39-count indictment, U.S. Magistrate Judge Cathy L. Walder set bail at $500,000 each and ordered them to surrender their passports. A trial date will be set Aug. 14. Lawyers for both Giudices said they intend to plead not guilty.
‘Real Housewives’ stars Teresa and Joe Giudice indicted
Monday, July 29, 2013 Last updated: Monday July 29, 2013, 6:56 PM
BY PETER J. SAMPSON
STAFF WRITER
The Record
Teresa and Joe Giudice, the troubled stars of “The Real Housewives of New Jersey” TV show, were indicted Monday on federal charges of conspiring to fraudulently obtain mortgages and other loans and hiding assets and income during a bankruptcy case.
A federal grand jury in Newark returned a 39-count indictment charging Teresa Giudice, 41, and her husband, Giuseppe “Joe” Giudice, 43, both of Towaco, with conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud, bank fraud, making false statements on loan applications and bankruptcy fraud.
Joe Giudice was also charged with failing to file tax returns for the years 2004 through 2008 during a period he allegedly earned nearly $1 million.
“The indictment returned today alleges the Giudices lied to the bankruptcy court, to the IRS and to a number of banks,” U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman said in announcing the charges.
“Everyone has an obligation to tell the truth when dealing with the courts, paying their taxes and applying for loans or mortgages,” Fishman said. “That’s reality.”
– See more at: https://www.northjersey.com/news/bergen/Real_Housewives_stars_Teresa_and_Joe_Giudice_indicted.html#sthash.hsqpNzZV.dpuf
Advertisements will be coming soon to Ridgewood train station
Monday July 29, 2013, 11:28 AM
BY DARIUS AMOS
STAFF WRITER
The Ridgewood News
Rail riders will soon see visual displays of the latest retail deals and other commercial announcements while they pass through the Ridgewood train station.
The Village Council last week accepted the terms set forth by Titan Outdoor, the transit advertising firm that will now provide and install a total of 34 ad poster display frames inside the train station complex.
Titan is already contracted by NJ Transit (NJT) to maintain the advertising placards on the transportation company’s property, namely the train platforms.
The New York City-based firm also has agreements with the Port Authority, Amtrak and other large municipalities and major-market transit groups across the country.
– See more at: https://www.northjersey.com/news/217395031_Advertisements_will_be_coming_soon_to_Ridgewood_train_station.html#sthash.5wMBs48p.dpuf
After a search, family finds perfect Ridgewood home
Sunday, July 28, 2013
BY DONNA ROLANDO
SPECIAL TO THE RECORD
The Record
They adopted Ridgewood even before they bought a home there.
Native New Yorkers Josh Ehlin and Juliana Yun owned a house in Fair Lawn for the last three years, but their lives as a married couple constantly took them to the neighboring village of Ridgewood.
They loved the restaurants — the strong sense of community, and when it came time to buy a bigger house, they couldn’t imagine themselves living anywhere else.
“We were always coming here to eat,” Yun, a 41-year-old periodontist, said of a Bergen County community known for a bustling downtown with a diversity of eateries, shopping and its own theater.
– See more at: https://www.northjersey.com/fairlawn/217271251_After_a_search__family_finds_perfect_Ridgewood_home.html#sthash.ZJ3PQIC1.dpuf
‘Real Housewives of N.J.’ cast members set for September court date in Ridgewood fracas
Wednesday July 24, 2013, 6:13 PM
BY CHRIS HARRIS
STAFF WRITER
The Record
RIDGEWOOD — Three cast members from “The Real Housewives of New Jersey” are scheduled to appear before a judge in September to face assault and terroristic threat charges.
Court officials confirmed Wednesday that the criminal cases against “Housewives” star Jacqueline Laurita of Franklin Lakes; her husband, Christopher; and Joe Gorga of Montville would proceed in Ridgewood’s Municipal Court on Sept. 5, starting at 4:30 p.m.
The charges — stemming from a fracas at the grand opening of a salon in Ridgewood — had been referred in April to the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office for grand jury consideration. But two weeks ago, the matter was returned to Ridgewood for resolution.
Also due in court Sept. 5 is John Karagiorgis of Paramus, who is charged with assault and making terroristic threats as well as three counts of harassment.
Photo by Boyd Loving
“Free Tickets, Sure!…Protect Your 1st Amendment Rights, Hell No!!”
July 24,2013
Michele Robins
Ridgewood NJ, Mayor Paul Aronsohn proves, yet again, it’s not about the Village. If I hear one more person chime in with what a “hardship” it was for the mayor to attend the Christie fundraiser photo op, on a ticket that he didn’t pay for, my head’s going to explode.
For a paper that pretends to be oh so meticulous with its fact checking as to “hold” an opinion piece at the mayor’s request, The Ridgewood News was incorrect in reporting that “John Saraceno is listed as the host.” Mr. Saraceno is listed on the invitation as an “Event Chair” along with five other people. Oddly, The Patch got that one right. Unfortunately, Patch readers were then misled by the statement “the Christie campaign is asking citizens to fork over big bucks to hobnob with the governor.”
While it’s true that “event hosts must raise $25,000 for Christie’s election campaign”, the campaign didn’t approach “citizens”. No one from the campaign called me or any of my neighbors asking us to “fork over big bucks.” Saraceno called the Christie campaign headquarters and offered to host the event in his recently-acquired space. That was very “equal opportunity” of him, considering he (who it has been said is an Obama man) and another “event chair”, John Johansen, also held a fund raiser last year for then-candidate Paul Aronsohn, who as far as we’ve been told, is not of the same political persuasion as our governor.
The curiosity here is not so much that a developer would want to fill the coffers of a politician, be it the (D) mayor of a village or the (R) governor of a state, in which he has development opportunities. The real curiosity is how the wife of Mr. Johansen became the chairperson of the mayor’s Financial Oversight Board. As per The Patch: “The members of the newly-created, Tiger Team-endorsed Ridgewood Financial Advisory Board were appointed Wednesday night.
According to the resolution, members serving three-year terms are NANCY JOHANSEN, Robert Muller, and Kevin Shea. Roberta Sonenfeld, who was a member of the Tiger Team that initially called for a finance board, and Janice Willet will serve two year terms. Richard Cundiff and I. Malcolm (Mac) Highet will be on the board for a year one year terms. JOHANSEN will chair the committee.
The only thing that might be “a great morale boost for the town” would be if our self-serving, back-room-dealing mayor left it.
Al Qaeda growing, but less focused on US, study finds
The number of Al Qaeda affiliates has expanded, as have their geographic scope, but the terror network has become more diffuse and decentralized, the RAND study found.
By Anna Mulrine, Staff writer / July 22, 2013
Washington
Al Qaeda not only remains a threat to the United States, but its capabilities and scope are expanding, a new analysis from a respected think tank has concluded.
“There has been a net expansion in the number and geographic scope of Al Qaeda affiliates and allies over the past decade, indicating that Al Qaeda and its brand are far from defeated,” argues Seth Jones, an analyst at the RAND Corporation and the study’s author.
Why, after a decade of wars – the longest in America’s history – is the terrorist organization that the US military set out to defeat still active and growing? And does it really have an impact on the everyday safety of most Americans?
There are a few reasons for the growth of the terrorist group, Mr. Jones argues. “One is the Arab uprisings, which have weakened regimes across North Africa and the Middle East, creating an opportunity for Al Qaeda affiliates and allies to secure a foothold.”
This expansion – coupled with the weakness of central Al Qaeda in Pakistan – “has created a more diffuse and decentralized movement,” Jones added in little-noted testimony last week before the House Foreign Affairs Committee on the topic of “Re-examining the Al Qaeda Threat to the United States.”
https://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Military/2013/0722/Al-Qaeda-growing-but-less-focused-on-US-study-finds
Tunnel contract secures future of New York rail expansion
22 Jul, 2013
Tutor Perini has won a tunnelling contract worth $133 million which will ensure future plans to construct a rail tunnel beneath the Hudson River can go ahead.
A 250-metre long, 50-metre wide box tunnel will be built under the Eastern Rail Yard – the future site of the Hudson Yards development.
The tunnel will ‘preserve an underground right-of-way’ safeguarding the future route of planned twin-bored tunnels beneath the Hudson River toward Penn Station.
Money to fund the project will come from the federal Hurricane Sandy relief fund.
The aim of the new tunnels, known as the Gateway Project, is to allow NJ Transit to increase rail capacity by adding an extra 13 trains an hour and Amtrak an extra eight services an hour between New Jersey and New York City.
Work was originally due to be completed by late 2014.
The Gateway Project was developed following the cancellation of ARC Tunnel, and is expected to cost around $14.7 billion.
“New Jersey is facing a transportation crisis,” said Amtrak chief executive Joe Boardman, in a statement which first confirmed Amtrak’s plans to support the project.
https://www.globalrailnews.com/2013/07/22/tunnel-contract-secures-future-of-new-york-rail-expansion/
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file photo by Boyd Loving
North Jersey towns applying lessons learned from Superstorm Sandy
Sunday July 21, 2013, 11:40 PM
BY DENISA R. SUPERVILLE
STAFF WRITER
The Record
Fort Lee Mayor Mark Sokolich remembers how difficult it was providing timely information to a frustrated and anxious public plunged into darkness, with no gas and limited or no Internet access, after Superstorm Sandy barreled into the state.
After daily conference calls with utilities and the governor’s office, Sokolich’s staff distributed hundreds of fliers with updates on power restoration, tree removal and street reopenings.
“It was incredibly time-consuming, but it was the only way to reach the public,” said Sokolich, whose borough sustained about $1 million in public damage from the storm.
Sokolich has learned his lesson and is determined not to be caught off-guard again. For example, Fort Lee is launching an emergency radio broadcast system to deliver local alerts.
With two major tropical storms slamming North Jersey in the last two years, municipalities are rethinking how they plan for and respond to natural disasters. In addition to Tropical Storm Irene in 2011 and Sandy last year, the region has been subjected to a March 2010 nor’easter and an October 2011 snowstorm, both of which felled thousands of tree limbs and disrupted electrical power to hundreds of thousands. Municipalities now know they have to prepare for more frequent and disruptive weather events, not just occasional tropical storms and annual winter snowstorms.
– See more at: https://www.northjersey.com/bogota/North_Jersey_towns_applying_lessons_learned_from_Superstorm_Sandy.html#sthash.r9QyZefe.dp
Pick Up your Updated Village of Ridgewood Emergency Planning Guide Here
https://www2.ridgewoodnj.net/main_recent.cfm?ArticleID=1199
A Mano : buy one pizza we’ll give you the second one for free
A Mano, meaning “by hand,” is focused on presenting the ultimate combination of authentic ingredients, techniques and methods to create an unmatched Neapolitan experience.
Did you know on Mondays & Tuesdays at A Mano if you buy one pizza we’ll give you the second one for free? Valid for both lunch & dinner, dine-in only.
24 Franklin Avenue (at Chestnut)
Ridgewood, New Jersey 07450
Mon – Thu: 11:30 am – 10:00 pm
Fri – Sat: 11:30 am – 11:00 pm
Sun: 12:30 pm – 10:00 pm
Letter:to the Editor Ridgewood’s changeable master plan
Friday, July 19, 2013
The Ridgewood News
Ridgewood’s changeable master plan
To the editor:
At the July 2 meeting our town planner, Blaise Brancheau, outlined four reasons for going ahead with multi-family housing in areas not currently zoned that way. Reason number one was that more people would necessarily support the downtown district. Can we see the study that says any of the folks from the Oak Street Apartments, or the other apartments on E. Ridgewood Avenue, truly support the downtown district? If it’s not happening yet with renters in such close proximity, why will it magically happen with new apartments? Please elaborate.
Reason two: We can address the state mandated affordable housing issue. Okay. But what about Mayor Aronsohn saying this should be luxury housing? Is that really compatible? And to this point, doesn’t anyone question “luxury housing” backing up to the noisy commuter train tracks, adjacent to the YMCA with its constant traffic and with the non-luxury Oak Street Apartments as neighbors? Who will buy such luxury accommodations when we all know Location location location is the real estate mantra?
– See more at: https://www.northjersey.com/news/opinions/216110141_Letter__Ridgewood_s_changeable_master_plan.html#sthash.DeewGOXc.dpuf
