Daffodil Festival 25,000 Residents = 25,000 Daffodils
Sun, October 18, 2015 from 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM
The Stable Community Center, 259 N. Maple Ave. Ridgewood, NJ 07450
Ridgewood NJ, The Conservancy for Ridgewood Public Lands has, with our community, planted 14,000 daffodil bulbs throughout our Village. The goal is 25,000.
Please join the Conservancy at the Stable, Sunday October 18, 11am-2pm, to help plant 5,000 daffodils. Then come to Van Neste Park on Sunday April 17, 2016 to celebrate our annual Daffodil Festival.
You’re invited to be a part of this new Ridgewood legacy. Please support the planting of 5 daffodils with a donation of $25. visit the website www.cfrpl.org.
Ridgewod Nj, This pretty much sums up the issue. Taken verbatim from a report commissioned by the Village Council:
“Given that the new demand stream is not anticipated to cover debt service for the garage, the parking system will need to increase revenue on existing spaces if it is to be self-supporting.
There will be a natural uptick in revenue as Parkmobile becomes more utilized. Apps of this sort increase compliance and also disallow “piggybacking” onto a previous parker’s leftover meter time. We have increased revenue in 2015 and 2016 to account for Parkmobile’s impact. While a 15 percent increase is common, we are projecting a five percent increase.
Extending meter hours and enforcement until 9 pm is the first recommended step. Since daytime retail and restaurant customers pay to park, it is fair to ask evening restaurant customers to pay as well. In addition, metering the streets in the evening can provide parking management solutions to crowding in the future, should the Village wish to reduce employee parking along streets that should be available to customers.
Evening rates alone will not cover the projected debt service; it will be necessary to increase rates as well. In order to achieve a debt service coverage ratio of 1.5, our projections assume the following:
• Evening rates will go into effect in 2016.
• On-street meter rates will be increased to 75¢ along key streets (blocks 3, 4, 5, 6, 9, 10, and 11) in 2016.
• Core area rates will be increased to $1 in 2017, with the rest of the on-street parking and all off-street parking going to 75¢. This is projected to be the opening year for the garage.
• After five years (in 2022), $1 parking should increase to $1.25 and 75¢ parking should increase to $1 if necessary.
• We assume some reduction in parking demand with each increase as people look for free alternatives (farther away on street, or in private lots) or choose to go elsewhere. We use an assumption of 10%.
• We have not projected a shift in demand away from Ridgewood Avenue and other core streets to the cheaper garage or other off-street lots, as we assume the 25¢ differential will not significantly alter people’s preference for convenient spaces.
We further assume that the demand reductions discussed above will cover the limited shift from more expensive to less expensive resources.
Click Here for the Schedler Park and House Grant Timeline – as reported by the Village Manager at the September 16, 2015 Village Council Public Meeting.
Wednesday, August 12th the Village Council discussed the use of the Schedler property. They voted on the following resolutions:
Click Here for Schedler Property Resolution including House
Click Here for Resolution to apply fpr Schedler House Grant
Click Here for Conceptual Map of the park project. The existing structure (460 W. Saddle River Road) is identified by standard architecture/engineering markings. The electrical wire to the house is included. The garage is not identified on this drawing.
SPRING AWAKENING’s Ali Stroker caught the acting bug at age seven, five years after being paralyzed from the chest down in a car accident.
“I was a little girl in a wheelchair. And then when I started to perform, I felt like I was now an actress and a singer. And it gave me another identity. And it made me feel really good.”
Stroker talks with CBS Evening News about her road to Broadway.
Ridgewood NJ, The Ridgewood Elks Lodge, located at 111 N. Maple Ave., has completed a massive renovation of their bar area.
New bar, carpeting, and raised ceiling for a comfortable feel.
The Elks is only 1 or 2 lodges in the state of New Jersey that is open to the public.
Stop in for the best pricing on drinks and burgers in town. Open Monday to Friday, 5 pm. to Midnight.
Look for the OPEN light in the window.
Thinking of a rental for a party?
Our massive hall is ideal for any function. And, we’re one of the few halls that has a real bar and real liquor license.
Need more information, stop by or call 201-652-1100
Did anyone know, our Village Hall was the original Elks Lodge?
PSEG Foundation Grants Special Olympics New Jersey $200,000 Towards Inclusive Sports Program
Multi-year grant awarded to support the Special Olympics Unified Schools Partnership initiative
October 7,2015
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Newark, N.J. , Further strengthening its commitment to diversity and inclusion, the PSEG Foundation has granted $200,000 to Special Olympics New Jersey (SONJ) to support their Play Unified. Live Unified. initiative.
The two-year grant supports SONJ’s Play Unified School Partnership, which provides elementary, middle and high schools with training, equipment and technical assistance to implement inclusive sports, education and social experiences. The goal is to help build self-confidence and provide all students with an equal opportunity to participate in athletic, co-curricular and recreational activities.
“This extension of the relationship between PSEG and Special Olympics New Jersey is built on the shared vision of celebrating diversity within communities and connecting students with opportunities to spur change,” said Ellen Lambert, President, PSEG Foundation.
“Special Olympics New Jersey is excited about expanding our partnership with PSEG following the success of the 2014 Special Olympics USA Games,” said Heather Anderson, President and CEO of Special Olympics New Jersey. “PSEG’s support allows us to create more awareness in schools than ever before as we strive to make acceptance, inclusion and unity an integral part of every child’s education, both on and off the playing field.”
By teaming up with PSEG over the next two years, approximately 30 schools throughout the state will receive support to create sustainable inclusive youth leadership, social and sports opportunities. The Play Unified. Live Unified. program offers a combination of effective interventions that equip young people with tools and training to create athletic, classroom and community experiences that promote inclusion, combat stereo-types, eliminate hurtful language and foster healthy lifestyles and friendships.
“Students with disabilities gain an enormous amount of confidence from unified play. They are no longer a person with a disability, but rather an athlete who is involved in an activity. Gaining this confidence and experience, they become part of the school community,” said Brett Scully, Washington Park School, Play Unified. Live Unified. club adviser and coach. “Without programs like Play Unified. Live Unified., students may never be exposed to different situations that will eventually lead to their becoming leaders.”
”Kids with disabilities never really get the chance to play on a school’s sport team, but Unified Sports gives kids a chance to play and have fun. It also betters both the kids with disabilities and kids without disabilities because it gives the kids social interaction skills and teaches us respect. Unified sports is an amazing opportunity and I love to do it!” Ashley, Unified Partner, Hamilton West High School, Hamilton, N.J.
PSEG was a Founding Partner of the 2014 Special Olympics USA Games and presenting sponsor of the Project UNIFY Youth Summit, which brought together students with and without disabilities from across the country. They participated in a weeklong series of workshops and networking activities that focused on inclusive youth leadership, education and service learning.
Special Olympics New Jersey provides year-round sports training and athletic competition in 24 Olympic-type sports for more than 25,000 children and adults with intellectual disabilities, completely free of charge, giving them continuing opportunities to develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage, experience joy and participate in a sharing of gifts, skills and friendship with their families, other Special Olympics athletes and the community. Visit www.sonj.org for more information.
Unjunked, Sustainably-Sourced Versions of America’s Favorite Candies Now Available at Whole Foods Market Ridgewood in Limited Edition, “Day of the Dead” 3-D Themed Packaging
October 8,2015
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, UnReal®, the unjunked food company, announced today that it has partnered with Whole Foods Market® Ridgewood at 44 Godwin Avenue and other regional Whole Food Market stores this Halloween to offer its junk-free candies in limited edition, 3-D packaging with a “Day of the Dead” theme. Now, for the first time, kids and families in the neighborhood can treat themselves to unjunked versions of traditional candies like Reese’s® and M&M’s® that taste unbelievably delicious – no tricks, just 100% real treats. UnReal is reinventing America’s favorite candies by ethically sourcing the best-tasting, non-GMO ingredients without gluten, corn, or soy – and with up to 40% less sugar per serving. The brand’s limited edition seasonal product offerings include a 3-D Halloween Bucket with four varieties of treat size UnReal candies, as well as four different bags containing 10 treat size UnReal candies.
“Whole Foods customers want healthier options for their families without compromising taste and fun, so we’re offering them the Halloween candy they love – without the excess sugar and artificial ingredients that come with the typical trick-or-treat haul,” said UnReal CEO, Steve Konczal. “Halloween is a time when parents are conflicted, wanting their kids to enjoy candy, and yet mindful of the very real health issues. So, we’re launching a super-natural candy revolution alongside Whole Foods Market, and we’re aiming to reclaim Halloween by unjunking it. Together with fun packaging and in-store merchandising grounded in the true ethos of Halloween, we’re helping consumers make a better choice during the biggest candy-buying holiday of the year, when a staggering $3 billion of chocolate candy is purchased.“
Available now at Whole Foods Market Ridgewood, the limited edition UnReal Halloween Buckets feature innovative, 3-D designs with a colorful “Day of the Dead” theme created by renowned illustrator, Steve Simpson. The Halloween Bucket is a one-gallon “paint can” designed for trick-or-treating or for carrying to a party. It’s filled with 40 pieces of individually wrapped UnReal candy in four varieties — UnReal Milk Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups, UnReal Dark Chocolate Coconut Peanut Butter Cups, UnReal Candy Coated Milk Chocolates and UnReal Candy Coated Milk Chocolate Peanuts. Four varieties of bags are also available, each containing 10 individually wrapped UnReal candies. Suggested retail pricing is $19.99 for the Halloween Bucket, and $4.99 for each of the 10 piece bags. UnReal’s candy will be showcased with striking and imaginative displays, including painted skulls, all in the spirit of celebrating life and turning reality into unreality at Halloween.
Started by two teenager brothers after much of their Halloween candy was confiscated by their parents, UnReal is making America’s favorite candies better tasting, using the healthiest and most sustainable ingredients possible. While healthy confectionery has historically compromised on taste to deliver on better-for-you ingredients, UnReal puts flavor at the forefront. The team has explored over 1,000 recipes, searching the globe for the best tasting healthy, fair trade, organic, and sustainably-sourced ingredients for its unique recipes. To get your own UnReal Halloween treats, visit Whole Foods Market at 44 Godwin Avenue – or to purchase online, visit https://www.getunreal.com.
Ridgewood NJ, Did you watch the UStream from the Village Council meeting last night about the parking garage?
The plan is one of the most bizarre I’ve ever heard of.
Here’s why:
1) No net gain of spaces due to loss of at least 1, if not more private lots because of high density housing (Brogan), and the loss of 17 on street spaces on Hudson Street (Mt. Carmel church goers get screwed, as we expected they would).
2) Garage must be full, yes full, in order for it to pay for itself. They will fill with commuters during day, including out of towners. They will also push all valeted cars into lot at night. Expect them to change zoning to prohibit valeted cars from being parked on private property. Also expect them to push all employee parking (now at Ken Smith) into lot. In short, there will be no room in lot for shoppers/restaurant users during the day.
3) On street metered parking will soon begin at 9AM and end at 9PM. “Premium” on street spots will now cost $1.00 per hour and escalate each year. Rates in surface lots will also increase at the rate of 25 cents per year beginning at 75 cents per hour. Expect parking charges to be incurred on Sundays if money is tight.
4) No mention whatsoever of how much it will cost to park in the garage, but there was talk about making it a 24/7 pay to park facility.
5) Enforcement will escalate to bring in more revenue. More parking enforcement agents?
6) No answer provided to the question of whether parking utility revenues now allocated to fund Village operations will need to be funneled to pay for the garage, leaving tax payers the burden of replacing the funds – increased property taxes maybe?
7) After hearing all of this, Councilwoman Gwenn Hauck had nothing to say other than “I’m all about aesthetics,” at which point she then proceeded to lambaste the garage design firm about the exterior appearance of the facility. Can you believe that one?
In short, this entire parking garage will be the biggest boondoggle Village taxpayers will experience in decades, if not the last century.
VOTE “NO” ON NOVEMBER 3 IF YOU HAVE ANY COMMON SENSE.
Ridgewood NJ, I know people have been concerned about their “re-calculated” Ridgewood Water bills, but the mismanagement is worse than I thought. I’ve paid my bills, and while they do talk about them being “estimated” – this is just ridiculous! If it is not illegal it is surely unethical! Has anyone pursued this issue?
They assured us they are owed the full amount billed – it not being THEIR fault that they didn’t have the manpower to do anything but estimates for 6 or 7 years! Customers not changing their phone systems for better monitoring to suit Water’s purposes is not an excuse. Where is the genuine attempt at a public awareness campaign? This is outrageous. I’d also like to know if this new calculation is based on current rates. Have those rates been the same for the last 7 or 8 years? At which rate is the catch up bill measured? With each re-calculated bill should come a full reconciliation of each account from when it was first considered underpaid. They insisted they are indeed entitled to the whole amount and offered us a 24 installment payment plan. I’ve since heard from someone else that had a similar problem that he too called to raise the issue and was offered a 15% discount over 5 years… I’d love to know who rates a sweet deal and who doesn’t!
If anyone has an opinion or has dealt with this, please enlighten me. I am always very supportive of all things Ridgewood, even when I’ve had to give the benefit of the doubt – but this is Not Right! Even if every re-calculation turned out to be correct – this is no way to run a business!! Who is “minding the store” ?!
Effective Thursday, October 8, 2015, all water restrictions will be lifted. Even though rainfall in our area remains below normal, lower temperatures and the onset of autumn are expected to limit the peaks in demand for water that severely stressed the distribution system this summer. The combination of Stage 4 restrictions and stricter enforcement resulted in a successful outcome – we thank our residents who did comply with Stage 4 restrictions and encourage all to make water conservation a permanent part of their lifestyles. Ridgewood Water will be investigating ways to encourage efficient water use and will be seeking the input of residents from all of the communities we serve.
In the last couple of days we did have a chlorine incident that I would like to explain to you. Just a couple of facts regarding the chlorine agent that we use:
Liquid sodium hypochlorite is standard in the industry for almost 100 years
Its use is mandatory in order to control viruses and bacteria
It is measured in parts per million
Our wells are set to shut down at 3.5 parts per million
Chlorine begins to impact taste and smell at 2 parts per million
DEP guidelines set 4 parts per million as the maximum residual
EPA guidelines require notification to consumers within 30 days
Ridgewood’s water was running at a high of 5 parts per million at some point during Monday-Tuesday of this week. It was a direct result of two issues at the Twinney Water Treatment Facility and impacted those homes served by that facility. The first issue was that a pump failed and the second was that the automatic notification and shut down the well was also not operational. Since it is impractical to identify the exact limits of the affected area, the entire Village community was notified as a precaution.
Ridgewood Water followed all necessary DEP and EPA protocol including notifications and the DEP indicated that it was our decision to flush the system and that this was not a violation. The system was flushed and Twinney was again operational by 5:00 yesterday.
There is nothing that suggests that there was a hazardous public health issue…….however, what I believe could have been done better is a customer service issue and that is more effective communication with our residents. Although technically and legally communications were handled well within guidelines, we should be better than that. And I apologize for that. We did conduct a post mortem this morning with all staff involved and have identified steps in the communication process that can be strengthened including making sure that the correct Ridgewood employee is conducting the communications and that we are quicker to notify the public.
If you did not receive a reverse call about this incident please click here to sign up for future calls.
One more important notification
System Flushing:
Ridgewood Water will be performing system maintenance beginning on October 19, 2015. This work will include the operation of fire hydrants at high velocity which may stir up minerals that have previously precipitated out of the water. This may temporarily discolor the water. The operation of the hydrants will be conducted late at night to minimize effects on consumers. There are no health concerns associated with the minerals that get stirred up, but residents are urged to avoid laundering clothing during the work. Ridgewood Water will notify residents in specific areas of impending work using the Swiftreach calling system. You may register to receive these calls by clicking on the SwiftH2O link on our website homepage at water.ridgewoodnj.net. Maps showing the active work zones will be posted on the website and will be provided to local officials. You may call our Operating Center with questions at 201-670-5524. We thank you for your patience during this temporary inconvenience as we work to improve your customer experience.
Best,
Roberta Sonenfeld
Village Manager
201-670-5500, ext. 203
Ridgewood NJ, Emeril Lagasse stopped by Novo for a tasting menu last night and enjoyed Executive Chef Elie Kahlon’s take on Mediterranean cooking. It was a great pleasure to serve him and his guests.Novo is Ridgewood’s newest modern Mediterranean restaurant! Join us for delicious food, great service, and a unique dining experience.
Dont worry about parking , Novo offers complimentary valet parking Friday and Saturday nights.They also have a private parking lot located at 120 Franklin Ave. for the use of our customers 7 days per week.
OCTOBER 6, 2015 LAST UPDATED: TUESDAY, OCTOBER 6, 2015, 10:02 AM
BY MARK KRULISH
STAFF WRITER |
THE RIDGEWOOD NEWS
Losing your lawn for the greater good was the theme at an event organized by the Bergen Passaic Native Plant Chapter and the Ridgewood Environmental Advisory Committee (REAC).
The event featured a speaker who specializes in landscaping that aligns nature with function and design.
Christina Chrobokowa, a noted landscape architect, gave a presentation regarding alternative ground covers, which require less maintenance and resources in addition to being more environmentally-friendly.
Additionally, ground covers often use less water, which made the presentation timely as the village is currently under Stage 4 water restrictions. Ironically, the event was held on Tuesday, which was the first rainy night in weeks.
In the United States, there is almost 50,000 square miles of lawn, said Chrobokowa, almost three times more than the space occupied by corn. Lawns are still considered a coveted aspect of homeownership, even by millennials, she said, reporting that 83 percent in that age group said having a yard is important.
With the desire for a lawn still high, the aim is to strike a balance between meeting the needs of homeowners and the natural environment. While lawns serve as a place for active and passive recreation, relaxation and a place for pets to play, what currently exists on many properties is often not necessary.
“It’s not an easy road to travel when it comes to changing perspectives and a mindset that has been ingrained in people for many generations,” said Chrobokowa, referring to the lawn as “America’s most wanted and useless crop.”
Ridgewood Restaurant mémoire introduces Fall 2015 Brunch Menu
mémoire, a fine dining restaurant offering seasonal, American eclectic cuisine in a casual NYC-style atmosphere, announced its Fall 2015 brunch menu.
Ridgewood Nj, Mémoire Owner and Executive Chef, Tom Finnelli said, “This is the first significant change in our brunch menu since we began offering brunch in January. Besides adding seasonal components to the dishes, we added more lunch items and elevated the existing breakfast items. For example, our LOBSTER EGGS BENEDICT is now served with a celery root & potato cake (in place of the original jalapeño biscuit) and a cognac sabayon (in place of a traditional hollandaise). Our “STEAK” & EGGS are served with crescent farms long island duck breast with a pumpkin celery root hash, sunny-side up egg, naval orange confit and a roasted plum sauce. It’s truly a great brunch menu and I’m excited to introduce it on Sunday.”
About the Menu: Many of mémoire’s dishes are interpretations of classics, such as their LOBSTER EGGS BENEDICT and “STEAK” & EGGS. Other dishes, such as ROASTED BRUSSELS SPROUTS, AUTUMN HARVEST SALAD and CINDERELLA PUMPKIN FRENCH TOAST, are what you might call, fall on a plate. Traditional breakfast dishes are offered, such as omelets and pancakes, but in a more refined way. There is even a children’s menu offering eggs, pancakes, french toast, pizza, pasta and chicken.
Ridgewood NJ, Mike White,is a truck driver for our Sanitation Department and has been employed by the Village of Ridgewood for about 21 years. He is considered incredibly professional, very kind and extremely friendly . many residents in tyhe Village are familiar with him .
Last week we all learned that Mike’s son, Michael White, who had also worked directly with him as a seasonal employee, was tragically killed in a motorcycle accident in July. Michael was 25 years old and leaves behind a 22-month-old daughter, Breelyn Mikynlee.
Many in the Village were heartbroken to hear of Mike’s loss and recognize.how difficult it must be for Mike and his wife Cheryl as they try to function in their while working through their grief.
Mike and his wife Cheryl are now also helping to support their beautiful granddaughter. As we all know, diapers and toddler’s needs are expensive, and a little bit goes a long way.
If you would like to donate to help Mike and Cheryl during this difficult time,
OCTOBER 2, 2015 LAST UPDATED: FRIDAY, OCTOBER 2, 2015, 8:52 AM
THE RIDGEWOOD NEWS
A daffodil for every resident
To the Editor:
The Conservancy for Ridgewood Public Lands is looking forward to spring! We are pleased to announce our 2015 campaign: “25,000 Village Residents = 25,000 Daffodils.” Our goal is to plant one daffodil bulb for each village resident.
Three years ago, the conservancy began the fall bulb planting project. To date, 14,000 bulbs were purchased and planted by residents, including Boys and Girls Scout troops, the Ridgewood Public School System and several local social service agencies.
Please join us on Sunday, Oct. 18 at the Stable between the hours of 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. to help us kick off this exciting event. As we keep working on our various park improvement projects, we also look forward to celebrating our Third Annual Daffodil Festival on Sunday, April 17, 2016.
Please visit our conservancy website at cfrpl.org for ways to participate, and for additional information. We thank our community for their continued support.
