OCTOBER 16, 2015 LAST UPDATED: FRIDAY, OCTOBER 16, 2015, 12:31 AM
BY BETSY MURPHY
CORRESPONDENT |
THE RIDGEWOOD NEWS
When you are a research physician and a registered pharmacist who works as a medical director, you must certainly dream of what your progeny will become: surgeon, physicist, medical mogul?
When Wes Hauptman told his parents, Dr. Jonathan Hauptman and Cindy Starr, he wanted to be a comedian, they didn’t laugh; they told him, “That sounds good. Let’s find some classes you can take.”
“If they didn’t believe I can do it they would not have supported my choice,” the 21-year-old Emerson College senior says. They’re very supportive.”
So is his sister, Emily, who is also an Emerson student and also a comedian. “She got me into this,” says Wes. “She said ‘just try it. Just do it.'”
“I was always funny,” he says matter-of-factly in answer to a question. Growing up in Ridgewood, he had a brief history with Ridgewood High School New Players. “I had a very, very tiny role,” he recalls, “one line in a 2-hour show. Once I was an ugly, awkward nerd. But basically, it made me hungrier to perform.”
In his sophomore year at Emerson in Boston he was a TV producer major. “I started stand-up,” says the young man who writes his own material.
The summer before his junior year, Wes started looking for an internship, sending emails “all over the place.” He heard from the director of new talent at the Gotham Club in New York City who gave him an offer for that summer, Appearing there twice, he says, “I did a 6-minute set. I have some stage fright; but after I get started and people are laughing I feel comfortable.” He wrote to audition for AXS TV Live at Gotham – and was the youngest among 12 to be invited to audition. “I didn’t get it, but I think I will be invited again,” he says.
OCTOBER 16, 2015 LAST UPDATED: FRIDAY, OCTOBER 16, 2015, 12:31 AM
BY EILEEN LA FORGIA
STAFF WRITER |
THE RIDGEWOOD NEWS
The Painting Affiliates of the Art Center of Northern NJ is exhibiting at the West Side Presbyterian Church Gallery in Ridgewood this month. The show is a good sampling of the variety of professional painting that can be created by a group of dedicated artists, according to Herrat Sommerhoff, one of the member artists.
The group is composed of 31 professional painters committed to contemporary artistic expression in a broad range of styles and techniques. They exhibit individually and as a group in the New York/New Jersey Metropolitan area. This exhibit features 10 of the artists. Realistic as well as abstract painting, mixed media, collages, landscapes, still life, floral, prints and even examples of digital photography are on display.
Driver Loses Control and Knocks out Signal at intersection of Franklin Avenue and Oak Street in Downtown Ridgewood
October 16,2015
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, The driver of a Subaru Forester was transported by ambulance to The Valley Hospital with non-life threatening injuries following early evening crash in Ridgewood on Friday, 10/16 in which the Subaru mounted a sidewalk and felled a traffic signal at the intersection of Franklin Avenue and Oak Street.
Ridgewood FD personnel attended to a minor crash resultant fluid spill and an electrician from the Ridgewood Traffic & Signal Bureau disconnected power and disassembled the downed light assembly. A flatbed tow truck removed the vehicle. No other injuries were reported in the crash. Ridgewood PD, EMS, and Emergency Services also responded to the scene.
$5.95M Ridgewood, NJ Estate w/ Doggy Spa to Auction on October 24th
October 15,2015
Ridgewood, NJ DeCaro Luxury Auctions has announced the absolute auction of 150 Brookside Avenue in Ridgewood, New Jersey on October 24, 2015. The eight-bedroom, eight-full and three-half bathroom American classic, shingle style estate features two acres of land and a guest apartment, all of which will be auctioned to the highest bidder without reserve on auction day.
“150 Brookside Avenue in Ridgewood, New Jersey offers homebuyers the beauty of a historic home with Victorian and Colonial influences. The entire estate was built with the precision of a condo building, yet exudes the space, privacy and family-friendly atmosphere of a home in an affluent suburban neighborhood,” said Daniel DeCaro, CEO and founder of DeCaro Luxury Auctions. “Owners of this Ridgewood home will have the best of both worlds – grounds that feel like a tranquil park, yet you’re only 30 minutes from Manhattan.”
The 15,000-square-foot estate sits on two-acres of lush green lawns with native trees, flowering gardens and several entertaining areas including a playhouse with a microwave and a refrigerator as well as an entertaining cabin complete with electricity, an additional kitchen, a gas fireplace and heat.
Custom Bluestone rock retaining walls line the exterior of the property, which is recognized for its authentic copper gutters and a second – story wraparound veranda overlooking the grounds. All of this enclosed by a beautifully crafted wrought iron fence along the perimeter of the property and intricately – detailed wrought-iron entry gates hand – forged by a French craftsman.
Fine attention to detail carries throughout the home, which was built with a myriad of handcrafted accents by local artists. For example, the entrance of 150 Brookside Avenue features a vestibule with canvas walls that were hand-painted with a nature scene by artist Ornella Muth. Stained glass windows also adorn a variety of doors and windows carrying a unified nature theme throughout the estate. Throughout the home, hand-crafted windows also feature solid mahogany woodwork, copper flashing and antique brass pulley systems.
The master suite is complete with a fireplace, a private terrace and an oversized walk-in closet with built-in shoe racks and garment shelves, as well as a center island. The home’s gourmet kitchen features Viking and Miele appliances, a six-burner stove and a breakfast bar with seating for four. A butler’s pantry with a wine refrigerator is also situated between the home’s kitchen and dining room.
Living areas in the home include a play room with a turret ceiling and built-in bench seating; an English walnut chapel with vaulted ceilings; a third-story library with antique cherry wood floors and 200-year-old English elm beams; and a study with a fireplace and mahogany walls featuring gold-leaf trim.
The estate’s basement is complete with a large room with a full kitchen and French doors that open to the lush backyard and serves as an indoor/outdoor entertaining area; a one-bedroom, one-bathroom guest apartment with a kitchenette; a screening room with theater-style seating for 12; and a fully equipped exercise room with a sauna.
Additional amenities include a hospital-grade air filtration system that purifies the home of allergens; radiant heating with a forced hot air system; a control room containing dashboards for the lighting, alarm, temperature, air and audio-visual systems within the home; an onsite well that maintains the property’s lawn; and an automatic snow- and ice-melting system in the driveway and in all the walkways.
Behind the property, a brook sits flush to the lawn, creating separation and privacy. A separate one-bedroom, one-bathroom guest apartment with a kitchenette also sits above a two-car garage, which is adjacent to the home’s attached three-car garage.
Located in the heart of Ridgewood, New Jersey, the estate is minutes from the shops, cafés and restaurants that make up downtown Ridgewood. Just 20 miles from Midtown Manhattan, New York City is also easily accessible from the home, which is one mile from the Ridgewood stop on New Jersey Transit. Ridgewood, known for its top-tier public and private schools, is located in Bergen County, one of the wealthiest counties in the United States according to the latest US Census Report.
150 Brookside Avenue is open for prospective buyers to view beginning on Saturday, October 3, 2015 and continuing every Saturday and Sunday from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. until auction day. The last scheduled open house will be held the day before the auction on Friday, October 23, 2015 from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Additional private tours are also available by calling DeCaro Luxury Auctions at 1.800.332.3767.
The absolute auction of this private estate will be held onsite at 150 Brookside Avenue in Ridgewood, New Jersey on Saturday, October 24, 2015 at 11:00 a.m. Broker participation is invited.
For additional information on this auction, as well as other DeCaro auctions please, call1.800.332.3767 or visit www.DeCaroAuctions.com.
About DeCaro Luxury Auctions
Founded by Daniel DeCaro, a licensed real estate broker and luxury property auctioneer, DeCaro Luxury Auctions has been auctioning luxury properties of distinction for more than 35 years. DeCaro has settled billions of dollars in luxury assets, executing flawless nationwide live auctions. DeCaro is the foremost leader and innovator in the field of auctioning luxury estates. For more information call 1.800.332.3767.
OCTOBER 16, 2015 LAST UPDATED: FRIDAY, OCTOBER 16, 2015, 12:31 AM
BY MATTHEW SCHNEIDER
STAFF WRITER |
THE RIDGEWOOD NEWS
A Halloween experience like no other awaits those who are brave enough to step into a maze on Sheridan Terrace.
This free Halloween attraction, which is operated by Nancy and Greg Stewart out of their back yard, has been running in Ridgewood for 21 years and counting, 16 of which I have attended. Ever since the maze was over on Cliff Street at the Stewarts’ previous home, my family has made it our tradition to attempt to find our way through the maze, which is not an easy feat by any means.
OCTOBER 16, 2015 LAST UPDATED: FRIDAY, OCTOBER 16, 2015, 12:31 AM
BY MATTHEW SCHNEIDER
STAFF WRITER |
THE RIDGEWOOD NEWS
The Ridgewood Public Library is encouraging people to come “party like mad” tomorrow night.
The “Party Like Mad Gala,” which encourages attendees to dress like characters from the popular AMC TV show “Mad Men,” will feature live music, catered food and even a blackjack tournament in order to give it a 60s theme.
The event’s theme was chosen by Library Director Nancy Greene, according to Betsy Giordano, president of the library foundation.
“The Mad Men show finale was approaching, and we decided it just couldn’t be over,” she explained. “Who doesn’t like playing dress up?”
Proceeds from the event will be used to support the library’s “excellence far into the future, and ensure state-of-the-art learning opportunities and technology for residents of all ages.”
“We promise you’ll be amazed at this magical one-night transformation — the service desks will be our bars and all upper levels will be extravagantly decorated to bring the Mad Men era to life,” Giordano said. “We’re offering gourmet food from a premier Manhattan chef, a bourbon bar, silent auction and entertainment from one of New Jersey’s hottest bands (Total Soul),” among other entertainment.
“The auction will also have unique opportunities, with the chance to win a private plane ride up the Hudson, a long weekend at a Windham ski house, a premium catered box for ‘Disney on Ice’ and so much more,” she said. “We guarantee this party will be fun —not stuffy at all.”
Giordano said that the foundation is expecting around 350 people, explaining that ticket sales “have been quite strong, with the totals running into the hundreds, and more responses are arriving daily.”
“We are so grateful for this tremendous support from fellow Ridgewood residents,” she added.
OCTOBER 14, 2015 LAST UPDATED: WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2015, 8:50 AM
BY MATTHEW SCHNEIDER
STAFF WRITER |
THE RIDGEWOOD NEWS
A Ridgewood native will be participating in the New York City Marathon in a few weeks to raise money for a non-profit organization designed to help military veterans.
Michael Doody and his wife, Lauren, share a family moment with their young son.
Staff Sgt. Michael Doody of the U.S. Army grew up in the village, attended schools here and met Lauren, a hometown girl who would become his wife.
He is currently stationed at Fort Drum in New York, but will be returning home to run in the marathon where he will “plan to take every opportunity I have to spend time with my friends and family.”
An eight-year veteran of the military, Doody decided to join the armed forces to defend the United States after the attacks on the World Trade Center.
“After Sept. 11, a certain part of me always wanted to defend our flag and fight for its honor,” he said. “I knew I was the guy who could lead soldiers into the harshest places on Earth and bring them all home to see their families. That’s what I did.”
After finishing a tour of duty, Doody signing up to be redeployed for a second tour.
Debate season gets under way this week, with candidate forums for Bergen County Freeholder, Assembly and several local races all scheduled this month. John C. Ensslin, The Record Read more
Candidate Forum in Village Hall Courtroom Sponsored by the League of Women Voters The District 40 State Assembly Candidates forum will be held on October 26 th 7:30pm in the Village Hall Courtroom
Ridgewood NJ, A spokesman for CBR just made an announcement at tonight council meeting that they are withdrawing their lawsuit against the village for the changes in the master plan for the Central Business District ( CBD ).
Stating that they trust the council with do the right thing after their decision to do more studies on the large project. Do you believe that. Something smells. They trust the “3 amigos”, (Paul Aronsohn ,Albert Pucciarelli, and Genn Hauck )after all they have done , what is that PT Barnum once said ….
Ridgewoood NJ, A Volvo SUV rammed into an unoccupied parked vehicle in front of 127 Walthery Avenue Ridgewood just before 8:30 PM on Tuesday, 10/13.
Ridgewood PD, EMS, and FD units responded. At least one (1) occupant of the Volvo was transported by ambulance to The Valley Hospital with non-life threatening injuries. Ridgewood FD personnel addressed a minor crash related fluid spill. The Volvo was removed from the scene by a flatbed tow truck. At least one (1) summons was issued to the Volvo’s driver.
Mother and Toddler Escape Injury after Morning Crash in Ridgewood
October 14,2015
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, A female toddler and her mother escaped injury following a crash in which their BMW SUV collided with a 4-door Chevrolet sedan at the intersection of Franklin Avenue and North Walnut Street in Ridgewood early Tuesday (10/13) afternoon.
Both occupants of the Chevrolet were transported by ambulance to The Valley Hospital with non-life threatening injuries. The toddler had been properly secured in child restraint device in the back seat of the BMW. Both vehicles sustained heavy front end damage and were removed from the scene by a flatbed tow truck. Ridgewood FD personnel attended to a minor crash related fluid spill. Ridgewood PD and EMS also responded.
OCTOBER 12, 2015 LAST UPDATED: MONDAY, OCTOBER 12, 2015, 9:41 AM
BY MARK KRULISH
STAFF WRITER |
THE RIDGEWOOD NEWS
With just a few months remaining to complete and adopt its state-mandated master plan reexamination report, village officials acknowledged the need to accelerate the process and tackled its next subject at last Tuesday’s Planning Board meeting.
The master plan reexamination report, which is an evaluation of a municipality’s master plan and its development regulations, is required to be undertaken by the Planning Board at least every 10 years. Ridgewood’s reexamination report is due in early February 2016.
With Planning Board meetings often dominated by higher-profile topics, such as the multifamily housing hearings, which wrapped in June, the reexamination has appeared sparingly on board agendas this year.
Village Planner Blais Brancheau expressed his opinion to the board that, due to the compressed timeframe, a “minimum requirement” examination be completed to satisfy state requirements before delving in depth into the numerous issues that need to be addressed.
“I think it’s important we get this adopted,” Brancheau said. “It’s not intended to limit discussion. We can continue discussion once we’ve adopted the reexamination. In fact, it’s my personal feeling a number of sections of the master plan really should be updated and we’ll get into that more as we move forward.”
If Ridgewood fails to meet the state’s deadline, it will be opened up to possible exposure in a legal challenge involving the village’s regulations.
In litigation, a village’s regulations are presumed valid and the litigant bears the burden of proof to show otherwise. Without a properly adopted reexamination report, the burden shifts to the village, said Brancheau.
Chairman Charles Nalbantian asked if the board could simply note, as part of the reexamination report, where the areas in the master plan are that warrant in-depth work.
Another Front Has Opened Up against Over Development in Ridgewood
October 11,2015
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, Another Front Has Opened Up against in what the majority of residents perceive as the over development and urbanization of Ridgewood .Last week signs began to appear the Zabriskie Schedler House, more commonly now called Schedler Park or Schedler field .
The Schedler property boarders Route 17 north in a very quite residential neighborhood cornered between Route 17 and Saddle river.The most notable feature, of the property is the 1830s-style Dutch wood frame home, which historians have dated the construction of the home’s main section to the 1830s, though the existing kitchen wing might have predated 1825. The four separate parcels at the Schedler tract were also the site to a Revolutionary War battle and have yielded artifacts from that time.
The RBSA has been pushing for a baseball field in the location since before the property was purchased by the Village in 2009. In 2014 the RBSA sponsored candidate Residents James Albano ran for Village Council with the express purpose of pushing a baseball field in the location . Albano was crushed by a landslide loss in a council election that featured a “mysterious” email to Candidate Michael Sedon employer at the time in an attempt to pressure Sendon to drop out.
L- R: Isabella Altano from Ridgewood Eastside Development (RED) shows the map of the proposed sports field to Freeholder John Mitchell. Aug 15 2012
In 2012 after another historic home was torn down in Paramus , the site caught the eye of Bergen County Freeholder Maura DeNicola, and Bergen County Freeholder John Mitchell who met with then Ridgewood Village Manager Ken Gabbert, Village Historian Joseph Suplicki and Freeholder Robert Hermansen to discuss the Zabriskie/Schedler house .
A grassroots organization was formed called Ridgewood Eastside Development (RED) in an attempt to protect the neighborhood and preserve the area with some alternative modest development , but mostly the focus at the time was on land making the property and preserving the trees and open space .
The council majority Paul Aronsohn, Albert Pucciarelli ,Gwenn Hauck aka the 3 amigos have as usual ignored the wishes of the vast majority of Ridgewood residents and sided with developers and special interests . https://theridgewoodblog.net/ridgewood-s-schedler-park-maps-and-information/
Ridgewood NJ , the Ridgewood Police reported around 6:48 am the closing of W.Glen Ave between Oak St. and N.Monroe St. due to a transformer fire. There were power outages in the neighborhood and PSE&G was on scene.
Power was restored on West Side of town and West Glen within a couple of hours and W.Glen was reopened to traffic soon after
