photo by ArtChick
September 11,2016
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, As the nation marks 15 years since the 9/11 terrorist attacks we remember the 12 Ridgewood residents who lost their lives.
Ridgewood NJ, YWCA Bergen County is holding its September WEN is Now: Women’s Empowerment Network event, “Clean Out Your Closet, Clean Out Your Life”, on Wednesday, September 28, 2016 from 8:30 to 10:00 am at 112 Oak Street, Ridgewood.
Clutter is not only your old ideas, toxic relationships, bad habits and stalled moments. Clutter also refers to the 15 pairs of black pants in 5 different sizes that live in your closet, taking up space in your life and stealing energy from your day. Clutter is anything that stands between you and living the life you most want to be living. Many women put self-care last on their list of priorities. Take a “time out” to SHOP YOUR CLOSET. In so doing…you will also SHOP YOUR LIFE!
Together, we are going to look in the mirror to do both a closet and personal audit to determine 3 key things: What’s your story? What needs to go? What’s next?
Presenters Randi Levin, CPC, Founder & CEO of Randi Levin Coaching; and Martha Fickinger, President of Style Venture Inc. and a Club Level Stylist for W by Worth; will discuss what to keep in your closet and in your life, what to donate and let go, and what to restyle and reinvent. This workshop is for the woman who wants to embrace change and feel confident in her personal life choices as well as in strategically aligning her overall look. Our goal is to create “GO TO” looks for every occasion, eliminate unnecessary personal and physical clutter, and to create a strategic wish list for growth and renewal.
Get the personal and professional growth you seek with exclusive opportunities for WEN is Now Membership. Annual WEN is Now Memberships are available at $150. Memberships include one-year basic YWCA membership, members-only discounts for women’s empowerment programs, and a tax deductible donation ($100) toward vital YWCA programming. Per event rates for monthly WEN is Now programs include $15 for non-members and no charge for WEN is Now members.
To become a WEN is Now member, please visithttps://www.ywcabergencounty.org/programs/empowerment/womens-empowerment-network/ or for more information, please contact Samantha at 201-345-1895 or[email protected]. To register for September WEN is Now event, please visithttps://ywca-sept-wen16.eventbrite.com.
YWCA Community Sponsors include Suez Water and Wilmington Trust. Additional sponsorship opportunities are available.
photo courtesy of Councilmen Ramon Hache
September 10,2016
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, the Ridgewood Maroons took their home opener at RHS stadium 34 to 19 over Hackensack .Ridgewood’s Drew Granski rushed for 142 yards and two touchdowns and Zach Feagles of Ridgewood also rushed for 119 yards and had two Touch downs. Calling the plays from the both for the Ridgewood High School Football season opener vs Hackensack was Councilmen Ramon Hache.
the season schedule is as follows:
9/9 7:00pm Hackensack (Hackensack, NJ)
Location: Ridgewood High School
Ridgewood 34 – Hackensack 19
9/16 7:00pm @ Paramus (Paramus, NJ)
Location: Paramus High School
9/23 7:00pm Clifton (Clifton, NJ)
Location: Ridgewood High School
9/30 7:00pm NV – Old Tappan (Old Tappan, NJ)
Location: Ridgewood High School
10/7 7:00pm @ Passaic (Passaic, NJ)
Location: Passaic High School
10/13 7:00pm @ Bergen Tech (Hackensack, NJ)
Location: Bergen Tech High School
10/21 6:00pm Kennedy (Paterson, NJ)
Location: Ridgewood High School
10/28 7:00pm @ Passaic County Tech (Wayne, NJ)
Location: Passaic County Tech High School
11/4 7:00pm Eastside (Paterson, NJ)
Location: Ridgewood High School
What’s really concerning is that these supporters of Roberta, et al is their acceptance of government that proclaims transparency yet goes to great lengths to lie and trick residents. Regardless if you really want a garage or high density apartments, tolerating the lies, deception and trickery makes you compliant. Actually, many of these supporters went to great lengths to assist Roberta, Paul, etc. because they wanted to ‘win’ the garage issue, etc. These supporters are no better, and their display of loyalty to the dishonest, lack of integrity regime that is gone is pretty pathetic. Thank goodness the majority of people are not like these supporters. Good prevails.
Traffic Alert for Saturday 9/10/16
September 10,2016
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, On Saturday morning the underpass on East Glen Ave will be closed from 7am until 3pm for utility work. Detours will be in place at Oak Street and North Monroe Street. Police officers will be stationed at intersections around the detour to assist with keeping traffic flowing.
there’s a running theme on this blog of having people minimize the significance of an event to try to make the conversation stop. (It seems to have the opposite effect.) Here’s a scenario that did NOT go down. A fervent resident presses a literally-pay-to-play-baseball check upon an official, who smiles, hands it back, and says, “We know how much you want this mondo field that the Schedler neighbors have good arguments against. If we go with it, believe me, we’ll come to you for a big donation. Until the council has voted to proceed, however, naturally you can see that we can’t accept any money. Think how that would look! And of course we wouldn’t be allowed to let it sit around without cashing it–there’s an ordinance against that–yet cashing it prematurely would give the wrong message about how the council makes its decisions. opening village government to valid criticism and potential lawsuits. That wouldn’t be good! See you at the Daily Treat!”
By Justin Zaremba | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
on September 09, 2016 at 11:05 AM, updated September 09, 2016 at 12:04 PM
NEWARK — Former Rutgers student Dharun Ravi has won his appeal seeking to overturn his convictions in the Tyler Clementi webcam case.
The appellate court sided with Ravi’s attorneys who argued he never should have been charged with bias crimes and all of his convictions should be reversed. The decision also ordered a new trial, even though Ravi has already served his 30-day sentence and three years of probation.
“It’s far from over,” Ravi’s attorney Steven Altman said Friday morning. “I’m extraordinarily pleased with the decision. I haven’t spoken with the Ravi family yet, but I can only imagine they’re pleased as well.”
STAGE II WATER USE RESTRICTIONS
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, Ridgewood Water wants to remind you that Stage 2 water restrictions are still in force.
In accordance with the Codes of the Village of Ridgewood, the Boroughs of Glen Rock and Midland Park, and the Township of Wyckoff, Stage II water restrictions in Ridgewood, Glen Rock, Midland Park, and Wyckoff, New Jersey are in effect beginning June 23, 2016 until further notice.
Residents, businesses, governmental agencies, and all other water users must adhere to Stage II of the restrictions shown on our website,water.ridgewoodnj.net.
If your address is an odd number, you may irrigate on Tuesdays and Saturdays only. If your address is an even number, you may irrigate on Wednesdays and Sundays only. A handheld hose may be used at any time including Mondays. No irrigation is allowed on Mondays, Thursdays, or Fridays except the use of a hand held hose.
The restriction level had to be increased to Stage II because water is being consumed at a greater rate than the supply system can sustain, thus reducing the amount of water in reserve for fire fighting and other emergencies.
Compliance with the Stage II restrictions will reduce the likelihood that more severe controls will be needed. Your cooperation is appreciated.
Violators will be subject to a fine and court appearance
Fall Classes are Beginning!!
Please see the links to our Fall 2016 schedules below:
Adult Class Schedule
file photo by Boyd Loving
September 9,2016
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, During Wednesday evening’s Village Council Work Session, Deputy Mayor Michael Sedon confirmed that former Village Manager Roberta Sonenfeld had failed to adhere to NJSA 5:31-3.1 when she chose not to deposit a check for $100k from the Ridgewood Baseball Softball Association (RBSA), made out to the Village of Ridgewood. According to Mr. Sedon, Sonenfeld put the check in either a “safe or drawer,” where it remained for an undisclosed period of time (likely weeks or months) before being returned to the RBSA.
It is believed the $100k was intended to serve as a donation for construction of a then planned 90 foot baseball field on the Schedler property. However, despite the submission of an Open Public Records Act request, no official documents were ever produced in connection with the donation, its subsequent return, nor any stipulations associated with it.
Receipt of the check was mentioned during at least one (1) open public meeting of the Council, but there was never any open discussion about why NJSA 5:31-3.1 (funds to be deposited in authority’s legal depository within 48 hours of receipt) wasn’t being followed, nor why the check was being returned.
So the mystery continues . . .
photo courtesy of Boyd Loving’s Facebook
September 9,2016
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, A dump truck became entangled in several utility wires on Thursday afternoon, 09/08 after its bed accidentally raised up while traveling eastbound on Grove Street near Stevens Avenue in Ridgewood. Cable TV, electric, and telephone services were interrupted to many nearby residences in the process. Two (2) passengers in the truck were trapped until firefighters and a PSE&G trouble shooter were able to confirm that their exit from the passenger compartment would present no life hazard. The truck’s driver had safely exited prior to the arrival of emergency responders. Grove Street was closed in both directions between South Pleasant Avenue and South Van Dien Avenue for several hours following the crash. The truck was able to drive away on its own power after cables were removed by cable TV, electric, and telephone company technicians. No injuries were reported in the incident. Ridgewood PD issued eight (8) summonses in connection with the mishap.
“Spot on about Healthbarn. Now at last nights meeting the owner oddly lawyers up and threatened to take legal action against the town and residents! From my understanding it is the noise, buses and lights that this business brought into the neighborhood that people are upset about but yet now there is an underlying threat of a law suit. The new valley hospital!”
“Yes I saw the law suit underlying threat and the friend of Healthbarn who claimed to be so educated on town events should be embarrassed to have spoken out on the behalf of a business that may sue the town.”
“Healthbarn business in a neighborhood park. This was done by the village manager for a friend. That contract has to be re visited quickly. How it even happened is astounding. Healthcare is making money off of tax payers dollars. We tax payers are financially supporting this business that operates in our park.”
It seemed to be implied by Mr. Halaby that there was a fix in and that is why the Mayor won the raffle.
The fact is the church was in Glen Rock, not Mt. Carmel. And the suggestion by Mr. Halaby that the raffle was rigged was pathetic and highly insulting to the church. What by the way did that have to do with anything? Just reaching for something ridiculous to attack the Mayor, and attack the church while he was at it.
Ridgewood NJ, Retired Fairview Police Chief, Frank DelVecchio, fellow police officers and elected officials, will run/bike the 4th annual September 11th Remembrance Run/Bike, September 11, 2016 hosted by the Run for Hope Foundation. This year’s run, , all proceeds raised will support helping the homeless and fighting drug addiction.
The 26-mile run/bike will begin at 7:45 a.m. at the Ridgewood Wild Duck Pond, across from 1200 East Ridgewood Avenue, and conclude at the World Trade Center Memorial at approximately 11a.m. The course travels from the Duck Pond, through Bergen County, over the George Washington Bridge and onto the River Path along the Westside Highway before ending across from One World Trade Center.
“On this 15th anniversary on the attacks on our nation, it is important to remember there are people struggling with homelessness and drug addiction; especially veterans” said DelVecchio as he trains for the run. “We need to work together to provide the resources and assistance to those in the greatest need and to combat poverty, homelessness and drug addiction.”
A number of people will join DelVecchio in the run. Several participants have already signed up, including, Bergen County Freeholder Chair Steve Tanelli, Freeholder John Felice, officers from the Guttenberg Police Department and others who plan to bike or run.
The Run for Hope Foundation is a national foundation that raises money for charity through walks, run and other physical activities. DelVecchio completed a 106 mile run after Hurricane Sandy in 31 hours, where The Run for Hope Foundation used the funds to help families rebuild and funds raised last year to end violence have been used to fund youth programs in Paterson called Street 2 Street, the Covenant House and Spring House. With committed, spirited and dedicated participants, the Run for Hope Foundation hopes to achieve the same success to help the homeless and fight the epidemic of drug addiction.
Those wishing to receive more information about the Run for Hope Foundation website at www.runforhopefoundation.org. Donations to the Run for Hope Foundation also can be made through the website.
September 8,2016
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, From piggy banks to that first savings account, many children are taught the value of saving from an early age.
But as they grow to adolescence, following parental advice sometimes gives way to peer or media influences, and those once-thrifty children are now teenagers in a consumer-driven world where spending, not saving, is king.
“Nearly everyone falls into two categories: spenders and savers,” says John Cortines, co-author with Gregory Baumer of God and Money: How We Discovered True Riches at Harvard Business School (www.godandmoney.net). “Spending is easy, so it’s up to parents to start conversations with their teens on the importance of saving and, just as importantly, giving.”
Cortines and Baumer suggest three ways parents can help teens establish good financial habits before they reach adulthood, and pave the way for those teens to become generous people as well as good savers:
• Help them begin saving for retirement now. Teens who land a part-time job often want to save money to buy a car or they simply want to enjoy a little financial freedom with weekend shopping sprees. Unless they’re careful, that money burning a proverbial hole in their pocket is spent before the next payday. Parents can help them think beyond today by suggesting they invest a portion of that income in a Roth IRA. Mom and Dad can even consider matching their teen dollar-for-dollar on their savings. “Explain the wonder of compounding investment returns – how the money they invest as a teen could be worth 10 to 20 times as much when they retire,” Cortines says.
• Family philanthropy. Even if the gifts are modest, Cortines and Baumer advocate involving teens in the family giving plan. Encourage them to research charities and apply for “grants” from the family’s budget for giving. “The experience of learning about nonprofits will be invaluable,” Baumer says. This is also where another portion of the teen’s earnings from a part-time job could be placed.
• Let them into your journey. Parents should model what they want their teens to emulate. Cortines said this begins with “letting them see your character as reflected in financial decisions.” That doesn’t mean letting teens know their parents’ net worth or the details of their income. Baumer and Cortines suggest explaining to teens how living modestly has short- and long-term benefits, whether it has allowed an early payoff of a mortgage, or demonstrates that frugal purchasing decisions leave money available for charitable giving.
“If you frame the conversation well,” Baumer says, “teens will benefit from seeing your character on display as you navigate your finances.”
Once saving and giving goals are fulfilled, teens can then begin to focus on spending.
“But unless spending is kept under control,” Cortines says, “saving and giving simply aren’t possible at any meaningful level.”
About John Cortines and Greg Baumer
John Cortines and Greg Baumer are co-authors of God and Money: How We Discovered True Riches at Harvard Business School (www.godandmoney.net). Baumer is VP of Business Development for naviHealth, a Nashville-based healthcare technology firm. Cortines is Executive VP of Emerging Leaders for Generous Giving, an organization that exists to share the biblical message of generosity.
