Tag: Ridgewood NJ

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Ridgewood Environmental groups in Ridgewood spread missions, recruit

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FEBRUARY 5, 2016    LAST UPDATED: FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2016, 12:31 AM
BY MATTHEW SCHNEIDER
STAFF WRITER |
THE RIDGEWOOD NEWS

RIDGEWOOD – Leaders from various village environmental groups held a “meet-and-greet” event recently, hoping to inform the public about their respective missions and to solicit new members.

Angela Leemans, chair of the Ridgewood Environmental Advisory Committee (REAC), welcomed everybody to the event last month and explained what REAC is all about.

“It’s really centered on promoting sustainability and working for a sustainable Ridgewood,” she said. “It’s all about protecting the environment, protecting the ecosystem … and doing what we can to prevent climate change.”

Leemans explained that REAC wants Ridgewood residents to get involved in preserving the environment by accepting “a call to action,” and complying with ordinances regarding the environment. She also noted that REAC is made up of members of different groups around the village, allowing people of various skills and ideas to advance its goals.

She stressed that two of REAC’s most important activities are hosting the annual Earth Day celebration, as well as hosting informative lectures to teach sustainable behavior.

Leemans said that REAC hopes “to enable Ridgewoodians to go green,” and “to actualize sustainability,” making the town a better place to live.

“The main message that I’m trying to say here is … we need more help,” she said. “We would love to have more (REAC members).”

https://www.northjersey.com/community-news/clubs-and-service-organizations/groups-spread-missions-recruit-1.1506631

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RHS Alumni Association Distinguished Alumni Event-March 10th, 2016

RHS Alumni Association Distinguished Alumni Event-March 10th, 2016

February 5,2016

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, The Ridgewood High School Alumni Association is pleased to announce the revitalization of the Distinguished Alumni Event.

 Tickets are now on sale and nominees will be announced mid-February.   If you would like to buy a ticket ($125 per person), please RSVP to Jacqueline Hennessy @ jackiehenn@gmail.com.  If you would like to make a donation to support this effort or the general fund, please do so online at rhsalumniassociation.org.

We look forward to celebrating this wonderful event with all of you.

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“Raising Resilient Girls” by Ms. Simone Marean, Benjamin Franklin Middle School Ridgewood February 10th

Lucy
Community Outreach Series Focuses on Well-being: Program on Girls is February 10

NEW DATE: Next up in the Well-being series is “Raising Resilient Girls” by Ms. Simone Marean, Girls Leadership Founder and Executive Director. This program will take place on Wednesday, February 10 (new date) from 7-9 p.m. at Benjamin Franklin Middle School Auditorium, 335. N. Van Dien Avenue.

The 2015-2016 parent/peers series consists of eight engaging presentations throughout the school year. Co-sponsored by The Valley Hospital, with support from The Foundation, adults are invited to attend these programs on creating balance in children’s lives.

Click here to download the flyer.
Click here for the series flyer.
Click here for details on the series.

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Reader says BCIA Funding a Sad day for the Village of Ridgewood – but only a day

BCIA Meeting

photo by Boyd Loving

Sad day for the Village – but only a day.

We should neither despair nor capitulate. We can prevent the council from handing the Village over to failed developers and downtown businesses. The May 10th election really isn’t that far away, and these things can still be derailed and prevented. Thankfully there are people working on doing just that. We need to all join in. Aronsohn knows his plans can be undone – – that is why he acts like he does when you try and nail him down on specifics. What scares him beyond belief is that if he doesn’t deliver, his developer friends will drop him like a hot potato. He’s not loved in either the local or state level democratic organizations or other groups. He knows the developers are his last hope to ever winning a real election. And yes, our current debates about Village life are all about one man’s political future (or lack thereof) – – that is what makes the sell-out so despicable.

Let’s keep the pressure up. And let’s see what happens in the May election. If those of us opposed to the overdevelopment are truly in the majority, as I suspect we are, then the council votes will reveal just that. In the meantime, lets not have this fellow undo over a hundred years of village life just so he can try and advance his own failed political career.

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Town Garage site in Ridgewood and the village owned property in that area still a DEP declared it a remediation site

town_garage_theridgewoodblog

February 4,2016
the Staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood Nj , Reader offers a little recap . Seems that most of the neighbors are accepting the fact that the Health Barn is coming and as long as they get some concessions as to signage, sidewalks, lights and that tithe village is maintaining close control it is the best they can do.

Another issue has popped up regarding the Town Garage site and the village owned property in that area.  The DEP declared it a remediation site 10 years ago.  Nothing has been done and their is an underground water stream running through the property that is compromised by seepage from the hydraulic and diesel fuel tanks still buried there,  The village spent 35,000 dollars to identify what needed to be done several years ago and I have not heard a thing until last weeks meeting at the very end where the council discussed briefly the abandoned property ordinance, eminent domain and the fact that there is a toxic flume at the site which is adding to the contamination and needs monitoring so as to minimize the effect on the water and I believe wells were mentioned.  I have more information which I will forward to you.  Saw in old minutes where Keith Killion and Pat Mancuso saw the need to clean the site and put a garage there.  It is so much more centrally located and would be used by employees, shoppers ,diners as well as commuters more readily than HUdson Street.

So wish we would clean the site and have two smaller decks at both sites. Currently the Town Garage site owners are current on taxes but have done nothing else and Matt Rogers was asked to look into the abandoned property ordinance.  If we gained ownership of that property, it would give the town so many more options as to the best use of the property.  I think Kennsington is almost out of the picture.  Assisted living facilities are so expensive for the client and those people who would reside there are not the shoppers and diners.   55 and older might be a good fit and those people would bring business to the town.

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BCIA Ridgewood Garage Financing Its a “win -win” for who?

BCIA

Ridgewood draws county financing support for downtown parking garage construction

FEBRUARY 4, 2016, 7:26 PM    LAST UPDATED: THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 2016, 9:15 PM
BY STEVE JANOSKI
STAFF WRITER |
THE RECORD

RIDGEWOOD — Plans to have county money fund construction of a municipal parking garage on Hudson Street took a step forward Thursday after the Bergen County Improvement Authority agreed to bond for the project.

The unanimous vote was taken after nearly two hours of commentary from village residents that, at times, mirrored those at recent Village Council meetings — business owners and local officials spoke in favor of the 325-car garage, while various residents concerned with its size, scope and aesthetics spoke against it.

But BCIA commissioners reiterated that the board provides financing, not judgment, on an individual project’s merits. That, they said, was best handled at the local level.

“We offer conduit financing,” Commissioner Philip Wilson said afterwards. “They need to go back and talk some more — but it doesn’t have to do with this board.”

The five-member BCIA now will apply to have the state Local Finance Board consider the project of about $11.9 million in cost and give an opinion on its finances. That hearing is set for March 9.

Meanwhile, the Village Council will vote next Wednesday on whether to adopt its agreement with the BCIA.

Discussions about building a parking garage in Ridgewood goes back decades. Local officials hope its construction will ease longstanding parking concerns in the village’s often-cramped downtown.

The BCIA’s action likely will be seen as a victory for Ridgewood Mayor Paul Aronsohn, who has moved the parking deck proposal forward despite vocal opposition from some residents. After Thursday’s meeting, Aronsohn said it was a “good moment for the village.”

https://www.northjersey.com/news/ridgewood-draws-county-financing-support-for-downtown-parking-garage-construction-1.1506335

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Reader says the Ridgewood Council Majority has Nothing but Contempt for Residents

3 amigos in action Ridgewood NJ

I’m constantly amazed at the contempt that these 3 have for so many of their own neighbors. People that comment at meetings are generally well-meaning and highly involved residents. Many of them are serial volunteers that make great contributions to our Village. The Council majority is at best dismissive and at worst obnoxious to anyone that dares to voice an opinion that differs from the conclusion that they’ve already reached or the deal that they’ve already made. They hold civility hearings and are completely uncivilized, they point fingers claiming conflict of interest and all have conflicts themselves, they disregard their own rules and flagrantly collaborate outside public meetings in violation of the Sunshine Laws.

History has shown again and again when governments try to silence their own citizens, citizens rise up and overthrow the government. Mr Aronsohn has confirmed that he will not seek re-election but there has been no word from the other 2 – one can only assume that they will run again. Please spread the word to your neighbors and send out links to the various recordings of this horrific behavior. We have to make sure that neither of the remaining Council majority gets another term.

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New Jersey appeals court agrees to hear appeal of Dharun Ravi in Tyler Clementi Case

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Judges to hear arguments in Rutgers webcam spy case appeal

FEBRUARY 3, 2016, 7:50 AM    LAST UPDATED: WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2016, 7:51 AM
ASSOCIATED PRESS

NEWARK, N.J. (AP) — A New Jersey appeals court is set to hear arguments in the case of a former Rutgers University student convicted of spying on a roommate who later committed suicide.

Dharun Ravi in court in May.

Dharun Ravi was convicted in 2012 of bias intimidation, invasion of privacy and other crimes. He was sentenced to 30 days in jail.

Ravi secretly broadcast images online of roommate Tyler Clementi in an intimate encounter with another man. Clementi later jumped off the George Washington Bridge.

https://www.northjersey.com/news/judges-to-hear-arguments-in-rutgers-webcam-spy-case-appeal-1.1504853

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Meeting at the BCIA , Ridgewood on the Agenda

hudson parking garage

Well, we’re definitely on agenda for Thursday. See below. We are on page 3.

16-27 Authorize Application to LFB (Ridgewood Parking Garage, series 2016) see attached
16-28 Award Contract- Bond Counsel- Ridgewood Parking Garage, series 2016
scroll down to page 4 to see the attached resolution
https://www.co.bergen.nj.us/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/02042016-309
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N.J. education officials release PARCC test scores

standardized-testing

FEBRUARY 2, 2016, 12:22 PM    LAST UPDATED: TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2016, 12:47 PM
BY HANNAN ADELY
STAFF WRITER |
THE RECORD

New Jersey education officials released statewide scores today from new state exams given last spring to students in grades 3 to 11 in math and English.

The scores show whether students met expectations for their grade level on the tests, known as PARCC. Students were scored on a scale from 1 to 5 in math and English; those with a 4 or a 5 are considered to be meeting expectations.

PARCC stands for Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers, which is the group of states that developed the tests. Experts say the exams are more rigorous than previous tests and a better measure of whether students are prepared for college.

https://www.northjersey.com/news/n-j-education-officials-release-parcc-test-scores-1.1504043

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Event Parking at RHS continues to Cause Concern

RHS_Student_parking_ban_theridgewoodblog

file photo by Boyd Loving

Adding to parking woes at RHS

JANUARY 29, 2016    LAST UPDATED: FRIDAY, JANUARY 29, 2016, 12:31 AM
THE RIDGEWOOD NEWS

Adding to parking woes at RHS

to the editor:

Adding further to the letter from Adriana Blauvelt regarding the limited parking at RHS (“Trouble finding parking at RHS,” Jan. 22, page A6) ,we also “attended” the 8th grade parent orientation. We had the same problem that Adriana had finding a space, and we succumbed to parking illegally near the football field after circling for at least 20 minutes and missing part of the presentation. (Brookfield was also totally full of cars.)

To our surprise, though, the orientation was not particularly well attended. The source of the parking issue was the overlapping events of a basketball game, a New Player’s production and adult education in addition to the parent orientation.

On the one hand, we can feel gratified that our high school is being so well utilized as a resource for both the students and the community. On the other hand, there must be a way to better schedule the events so as not to create the “perfect storm.”

The school principal said there are so many activities ongoing that it is impossible to find a night that is available. If that is truly the case, we as a community need to be addressing not only the parking issues for the downtown shopping area, but also the needs of our schools.

Melanie Stern

Ridgewood

https://www.northjersey.com/opinion/opinion-letters-to-the-editor/ridgewood-news-letter-adding-to-parking-woes-at-rhs-1.1501706

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Arturo Fuente Casa Cuba Tasting Event at Tobacco Shop of Ridgewood

Arturo Fuente Casa Cuba Tasting Event at Tobacco Shop of Ridgewood

Dont miss our next event in the Davidoff Lounge!

The Tobacco Shop of Ridgewood & Davidoff Lounge

10 Chestnut Street • Ridgewood, New Jersey 07450 • 201-447-2204
Hours: Monday – Saturday 10:00AM – 5:30PM • Thursday Night 6:30PM – 8:30PM

2,500 sq. ft. • Personal Humidified Lockers • Private Conference Room • HD TV’s • WIFI • Extended Hours
Personal & Corporate Memberships Available • Day Passes Available

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Deputy Mayor Moves to Stop Video Taping of Public Meetings in Ridgewood

Deputy_Mayor_Albert_Pucciarelli_theridgewoodblog
file photo by Boyd loving
February 1,2016

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ ,Deputy Mayor Albert Pucciarell at a recent council meeting said   “Im going to introduce an Ordinance” In regards to video taping of council meeting. Seemed after his recent out bursts he was not happy with being taped by outside sources .

You might want to run that one by the NJ Supreme Court .

At Village Council Meetings There are no expectations of privacy in a person in a public place.The meeting is already being videotaped, why is personal video a problem?

The American Civil Liberties Union of New Jersey praised a New Jersey Supreme Court decision released today that protects an individual’s right to videotape public meetings.

“Videotaping is an invaluable method of documenting government activities or misconduct,” said ACLU of New Jersey Legal Director Ed Barocas. “We are pleased that the Supreme Court recognized that American freedom and democracy depend on the people having a right to access government information.”

So whats the problem ?

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BCIA Hudson street Garage Option , great for out of Town Commuters , not so great for Ridgewood

Hudson Street Parking Garage
February 1,2016
the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, The reason why the project has been studied and studied but never actually built is because at the end of the day, although we need more parking, it does not make sense from a practical, logistical or financial sense to build one in the downtown proper

Going to the BCIA , once the money is approved, it tends to appear almost instantaneously, accruing interest long before the project can even get started. That is a significant reason to reconsider this plan or ploy and an excellent reason, if it does happen, not to ask for a cent more than is needed. But losing control over the way commuter spaces are priced is a huge problem and there are undoubtedly more.

There will be approximately 320 car garage. 4 levels. The mayor said in the last meeting that 2 levels may be dedicated to commuters. That’s about 160 cars for commuters. We currently already have one level, which is mostly used by Ridgewood commuters. Lets say the second level is used by Bergen County commuters at no extra money compared to Ridgewood commuters. So, 2 levels are either used by out of Ridgewood commuters or commuters who are already using this lot today without the garage.

With remaining 2 levels, we will get 160 new spot, presumably for non commuters. Cost – 12.3 million in new bond, 500K bond has been already spent + 450k already spent on environmental studies in 2014 & 2015 on this lot. = 13.25M.

That’s 82,800 for every new parking spot created for CBD. This assumes that the project will not go over the budget. With the way this council and village manager are spending the money, this is highly unlikely to stay in the budget.

How does putting a garage at one end of the CBD really help the rest of the downtown area ? This proposal, like Valley, is over the top and in no way needed. This country goes into a slowdown/recession and you can kiss going out to the real beneficiaries of this (the restaurants) good bye.

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Jersey’s Grace Helbig signs new book in Ridgewood

Grace Helbig

JANUARY 30, 2016    LAST UPDATED: SATURDAY, JANUARY 30, 2016, 1:21 AM
BY VIRGINIA ROHAN
STAFF WRITER |
THE RECORD

BOOKS

WHO: Grace Helbig.

WHAT: Signing “Grace & Style: The Art of Pretending You Have It.”

WHEN: 6 p.m. Tuesday.

WHERE: Bookends, 211 E. Ridgewood Ave., Ridgewood, 201-445-0726, book-ends.com.

HOW MUCH: Must purchase book ($19.99) at Bookends.

Jersey girl and YouTube star Grace Helbig sought a very specific balance in her new “Grace & Style: The Art of Pretending You Have It.”

“I wanted to make a book that felt sort of like a hodge-podge vision-board variety show all in a book sort of thing, that kind of ran the spectrum of serious and completely silly,” says Helbig, who now lives in Los Angeles but grew up in South Jersey and got her start in comedy when she was a student at Ramapo College.

“You know, beauty and style and how you see yourself aesthetically, they’re a really personal experience that you have. So I wanted to put in more serious stories so there’s a context that kind of gives permission to make fun of the beauty world in a way, but not in a mean-spirited way. I think it’s always important to understand someone’s perspective and point of view, especially when it comes to comedy, so I really wanted to have a balance there of serious and completely stupid.”

https://www.northjersey.com/arts-and-entertainment/books/jersey-s-grace-helbig-signs-new-book-in-ridgewood-1.1502446