Ridgewood Nj, a reader says ,”The (Elks)club membership is dealing with over zealous state reps ( in very fancy tuxedos mind you) who have been gunning for the lodge for years. It’s not business, it’s personnel. The membership has retained councel who will defend their interests. This includes the building that does NOT belong to ANYONE other than the clubs membership via a holding corporation to protect it from situations just like this. So forget your theory’s , forget about the library and forget about ANYONE getting anything that belongs to the lodge.”
Reader says , Security for parking lots seems to be getting a lot of press lately. If you look at the statistics, roughly 80% of the criminal acts at shopping centers, strip malls and business offices occur in the parking lot. Lawyers make a good living off liability cases based on a lack of sufficient security measures or not taking “reasonable care” in the protection of employees and customers against criminal threats. The lawsuits often revolve around lack of sufficient lighting, surveillance and response. Once crime takes a foothold in an area it is difficult to break the trend, but there are some things you can do that can improve security, deter crime, reduce potential liability and make your customers feel safer. It’s interesting to note that where parking lot security has been implemented, customer use has actually increased because they feel safer. Increased customer use means increased profit which can be used to justify the increased cost related to any security improvements.
There are some general problems inherent in parking facilities that make the security of patrons and employees challenging. A criminal’s vehicle most likely will not be noticed in a parking facility. Also, parked vehicles provide a hiding place for a criminal and can block the distribution of lighting to the area that a criminal may be located. Security is more problematic for parking garages. Parking garages allow more vehicles to be parked on the same amount of land. The ability to see and be seen in one’s surroundings, known as natural surveillance, is reduced in parking garages. This is because parking garages can be partially or fully enclosed, elevated above ground, having multiple levels, or have ramps that provide access to the multiple floors of the facility.
Not every parking lot or garage is the same, nor do any have the same needs to mitigate risks.
It all boils down to a fundamental but complex word that underlies most all security mitigation and litigation: reasonable.
Did the building owner, facility manager, parking firm, chief security officer, security director or loss prevention manager provide a reasonable level of protection at parking lots and garages in the light of the history of incidents; type of business; history of clientele; physical location; application of procedures, policies, people and technology; and regarding immediate response and follow up reaction to situations that arise and alarm?
The details and the devil are both in “what is reasonable,” which can vary among types of businesses served by the parking facility, typical levels of security around the location, past actions taken, history of crime at that location as well as other hard and soft factors.
In addition to cameras placed within the garage footprint for safety, several 360-degree pan-tilt-zoom (PTZ) units were installed on the top of the exterior stair towers. Not only does parking management have access to the feeds at will, but the external video feed is shared with the police department, explains Gray. It allows them to take advantage of the view from one of the taller structures in the vicinity as well as eliminate a dead spot at a busy intersection.
Don’t overlook the human element of surveillance either. “Parking attendants are another indirect security measure,” Gray observes. “Having someone there 24/7 adds another level of comfort.” You can also tap them to pull double duty and monitor video between clients.
If your garage or lot is unattended, try scheduling frequent patrols, particularly in the evening. If you have contract security, you can also have guards available to escort occupants back to their vehicles.
Ridgewood NJ, YWCA Bergen County is offering its Vacation Day program for children in grades K-6 on April 11th through 15th from 7:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Trips and activities include Bowling, FunPlex, Jump On In, Planet 301 and Movies. Transportation and lunch is included. For complete details, please visit https://www.ywcabergencounty.org/programs/youth-services/vacation-day-program/.
The YWCA Vacation Day program provides full day care from 7:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. on designated school holidays. Based at the YWCA’s 112 Oak Street, Ridgewood facility, the program is supervised by the YWCA’s trained child care staff. The fee is $65 per child per day for families that are current YWCA members, and $85 for non-members. Advance registration is required by Tuesday, April 5, 2016.
Forms not received by deadline cannot be guaranteed and will be charged a late fee of $25. To register call Mary Agnello at 201-444-5600, ext. 352 or visit www.ywcabergencounty.org for details and registration forms.
YWCA Before and After School Programs are offered at schools in seven Bergen County districts: Allendale, Cresskill, Dumont, Old Tappan, Oradell, Ridgewood, and Westwood. All programs are licensed by the State of New Jersey, Department of Children & Families.
Sun, April 10, 2016 – Fri, May 06, 2016
Time: 2:00 PM – 8:00 PM
Location: Art Barn, 12 East Glen Avenue, Ridgewood, NJ 07450
Cost: $275 per person
Become a Sponsor and Take Home a Beautiful Original Framed Painting. Every Sponsor goes home with a painting.
Reception: Sunday, April 10th, 2016 2-4pm
Exhibition Dates: Saturday, April 2nd-Thursday, May 5th, 2016
Gala Drawing: Friday, May 6th, 2016 8pm
The Sponsor Show is our most popular annual event at the Ridgewood Art Institute, providing sponsors an opportunity to acquire a beautifully framed original painting, from the collection donated by our outstanding artists and instructors. In addition to wonderful landscapes and still lifes, several of our professional artists offer the chance to commission a portrait or pet painting. On the night of the Gala Drawing, the name of each sponsor is randomly called to choose their favorite painting. For only $275, become a sponsor and begin creating your painting “wish list” at our Opening Reception, or anytime during the exhibition dates. Proceeds from the show go directly toward the Institute’s efforts to promote fine arts in our community.
Once again we are offering gift certificates. You can become a sponsor yourself, and you can purchase a gift certificate for a friend or family member to join you as a sponsor. A personally selected painting is a wonderful gift for Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, birthdays, graduations, anniversaries, weddings, or any special occasion.
A limited number of sponsorship’s are sold each year, so don’t miss out on this exciting event! Sponsorships can be purchased on line at www.ridgewoodartinstitute.org. For more information , visit our website www.ridgewoodartinstitute.org and click “Art Exhibits”.
MLS # 1612213
223 Steilen Ave, Ridgewood, NJ 07450
3 Bedroom, 2 Full Bath,
1 Half Bath, Col William Bankos, Broker Owner Bergen Realty & Investments
Open House: 1:00 P.M. – 4:00 P.M. Sun. 4/3
9
MLS # 1535930
456 E Saddle River Rd, Ridgewood, NJ 07450
3 Bedroom, 2 Full Bath,
1 Half Bath, Ranch Thomas Panso, Sales Associate Keller Williams Valley Realty
photo courtesy of “it takes a village” group on Facebook
April 3,2016
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ , the Attached please find a picture of a typical Saturday at BF. middle school. Students from across the county participating in track and field events OUTSIDE. Hundreds of kids use the field on a regular basis .
Valley construction will involve noise , and dust
Whats will be the impact on out door activities at Middle school during the long construction phase at Valley Hospital
By Noah Cohen | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
on April 01, 2016 at 2:04 PM, updated April 01, 2016 at 2:18 PM
HACKENSACK — A 36-year-old Florida man was accused of sexually assaulting a girl when she was approximately 11-years-old in Ridgewood, authorities said Friday.
Joseph McCain, of Orlando, was charged with child endangerment and aggravated sexual assault after his arrest in Florida on Thursday, Acting Bergen County Prosecutor Gurbir Grewal said.
photo courtesy of Actress ?director Jennifer Linch
April 2,2016
the staff of the Ridgewood blog Ridgewood NJ, If your teen or 20-something thinks it would be amazing to work someday on the kind of films they love – don’t let anything or anyone stop them, says filmmaker Doug Vermeeren.
Often, budding filmmakers are discouraged by advice such as, “You have be realistic and get a real job.”
“But what’s ‘realistic’ about denying a deep passion that may give others the same joy that you’ve received from movies?” asks Vermeeren, whose documentaries have been translated into 23 languages worldwide. He is of the director of the new Calgary Smartphone Film Festival.
“What if Spielberg or Scorsese – or anyone who has ever done anything great – took the ‘realistic’ advice and accepted a safe career? We wouldn’t have great things.”
Your son or daughter can do what they love for a career, says Vermeeren, whose latest film project is “Creepy Zombies” (www.creepyzombies.com). He offers pointers for parents who want to help their child realize their dream as a filmmaker.
• Help them polish their people skills. It’s all about relationships. How do you get people to work for you before you have money? How do you convince people to do you favors, such as loaning you a vintage car or allowing filming to take place on private property, essentially for free? Again, your kid will need to sell people on their vision, and show them they’re worth rooting for. Make your passion infectious! • Make sure they monetize! Films are expensive, but so are medical and law schools. Does that mean aspiring lawyers and doctors shouldn’t make the investment? If they believe in their vision, there are various ways for your son or daughter to raise money for the project, including through Vimeo and YouTube. • Have them seek education wherever they can find it. Film classes are great, but don’t stop there. They should read books about their favorite directors, and enter every film festival they can. Festivals often offer cash prizes. More importantly, judges will critique the project. Their criticisms may be difficult to endure, but they can also greatly improve a young filmmaker’s efforts.
“There are many obstacles in the way of a film’s completion, so confidence is a must,” Vermeeren says. “The first film is the hardest because figuring out the initial logistics is complicated. The filmmaker needs to get people – actors and anyone with the necessary resources – to commit before there is enough money – and there’s never enough money. People, however, are drawn to passion and determination. They need to put their full heart into it and, eventually, they’ll succeed.”
About Doug Vermeeren
Doug Vermeeren is an internationally renowned public speaker, author, movie producer and director whose latest film project is “Creepy Zombies” (www.creepyzombies.com). He began his career in film as a background extra, actor, photo double and stunt performer on a variety of films, and his documentaries have been translated into 23 languages worldwide.
Well, it’s not our government, so it’s on us to Take Back Ridegwood!! Go Monday night to the Valley meeting. Sign the garage petition, talk to your neighbors and friends!! We have a choice we can roll over and do nothing, or get vocal, participate and give it all we got! I know it’s not easy… Exhausting, irritating but we are near a positive change…. The election. Stay strong people, we are near the end of a long and terrible reign.
REGISTER TO VOTE IN THE MUNICIPAL ELECTION
Final voting registration for the May 10th Municipal Election is April 19th. To register to vote, individuals may register in the Village Clerk’s office from 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM or in the Ridgewood Library Lobby on April 19th from 4:30 PM to 9:00 PM.
Ridgewood NJ, The last thing dedicated teachers want to think is that they’re fulfilling all the duties of a babysitter and not much else, says educator Mac Bogert.
“I’m often reminded of Mark Twain’s quote: ‘I never let my schooling interfere with my education,’ ” Bogert says. “Learning is among the most exciting and enjoyable experiences we have in life, yet many students and teachers herded into our school systems view school as something to be endured, as if the school day is one long detention.”
Recent findings illustrate the problem. In 2015, the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) showed a decline in math comprehension from fourth- and eighth-graders for the first time since 1990.
“If you want to know how effective schools are, ask a teenager,” Bogert says. “Why do smart kids who enjoy reading and learning find school boring? We don’t need to make people learn, we need to free them to learn.”
Bogert, author of “Learning Chaos: How Disorder Can Save Education,” (www.learningchaos.net),and president of AZA Learning, which encourages an open-learning process for all participants, says our educational system is outdated. He proposes new methods parents can use to resurrect a love of learning from their kids.
• Ban rote learning. When preparing to teach within a traditional framework, we aren’t stimulating a child’s curiosity. Rather, we’re serving the framework of control. This sort of top-down, listen-without-interrupting teaching is limiting and alienates many types of learning personalities. Instead, foster engagement, which means an open environment where kids feel free to participate. • Encourage children to sound off. Ever see an interesting news discussion on television? If no one is saying what you want to say, you can become frustrated to the point of turning off the conversation. Students who are shy or otherwise discouraged from engaging can shut down in a similar way. But when they’re included and encouraged to participate in a lesson, their minds stay focused. They feel they have a stake in the lesson. • Take a cue from the Internet. We’re not starved for information; we’re starved for stories, which have lessons embedded within them. Simply sharing a story invites learning. That’s why you should allow a child’s narrative of inquiry to be more democratic than controlled. Allow him or her to pursue a line of thought wherever it may go, rather than controlled, assigned resources.
“Ideally, your child will be a participant within a hotbed of ideas, rather than a passive listener in an intellectually sterile environment,” Bogert says. “That may not always be possible at school, but this kind of encouragement at home will help them later in life.”
About Mac Bogert
Mac Bogert founded AZA Learning to encourage teachers and students to become equal partners in the learning process, which he details in his book “Learning Chaos: How Disorder Can Save Education,” (www.learningchaos.net). He served as education coordinator at Maryland Hall for the Creative Arts and is still active in the arts for his community.
Ridgewood NJ, from the Take Back Ridgewood Facebook page , Your Village Manager is questioning spending 40K on an election (are we living in democracy?), while she was busy in spending 122K of OUR money to get construction documents for a design that was yet to be discussed with public?
They asked for change order of $120,000.00 because they had already spent the $295,000.00 on all of the plans for a design that was not finalized!! And we wonder why they won’t budge on the current plan. Do not blame us for wasting the taxpayers dollars!
Ridgewod Nj, Reader says , “My take away from last night is, “who is looking out for Ridgewood?”. The best questions/ concerns came from public comment which was so limited and restrictive. The majority of Valley’s testimony centered around aesthetics: different colors and shadings on the buildings to minimize the visual perception, green coverage to hide the mechanicals, monitoring of all the potential environmental negatives,etc.
Blais was obviously sick last night but his comment about the need to balance the positive and negatives of the expansion and also considering the regional needs was very telling.
Are there any benefits to Ridgewood in this? I only see Valley telling us how they will deal with the negatives. How will exiting more cars onto Linwood ever work and trucks will travel back and forth down Glenn, make a left on Van Dien and then back out the same route? BF just put in a new driveway with an exit onto Glenn.
My feelings are we should not amend the Master Plan and continue operating under the 2010 version. The Valley project is too big for the 15 acre lot. There is no way around this fact. Where is our counter offense? It wasn’t there last night and our only hope is that the council votes against the ordinances needed to push this through. Jeff was really great last night. It is so hard to be heard.
Ridgewood NJ, Village Council Candidate Ramon Hache shared some of thoughts on the Valley Hospital Expansion issue. Ramon said,” I would be willing to work with Valley on a moderate expansion. I understand the needs of Valley Hospital have changed significantly. But the current expansion plan is way too aggressive:
Size from 400k square feet to 1.4mm sq feet
Height from 48′ to 80′
The setbacks are reduced significantly, within 30 feet from the property line, which would make the new structure appear even larger, dwarfing the surrounding residences. I cannot support it. It is too large and not consistent with the character of our village. I also cannot support all of the phases of construction happening all at once. Proceeding with all phases of construction simultaneously is inconsiderate to the nearby residents. I am also concerned by the traffic safety issues for the kids at BF.
I was hoping that the negotiations with Valley would have yielded a greater mutual compromise.”
Ridewood NJ, On April 4th the visual approach for airplane landing at Teterboro will change. If residents want to communicate their concern about this change, they can call the hotline 201/288-8828 to register a complaint. All comments will be reviewed by Teterboro Airport Noise Office staff who will follow up with residents. Complaint statistics will be shared with the FAA.
Thursday, April 21 – Final Festival Night at Bow Tie Cinemas
The Ridgewood Guild International Film Festival is in its sixth year of celebrating excellence in US and international independent films of all genres.
With celebrity guests and film screenings complemented by lively and informative Q&A sessions with cast members and filmmakers, the annual RGFF is highly anticipated by independent filmmakers, professionals, film lovers and enthusiasts as well as students who participate in our ‘Student Filmmaker Night’ This year the RGFF has expanded to four nights!!
