JUNE 1, 2015, 6:02 PM LAST UPDATED: MONDAY, JUNE 1, 2015, 6:16 PM
BY MARY JO LAYTON
STAFF WRITER |
THE RECORD
A Bergen County Superior Court judge has denied Ridgewood’s request to be dismissed from a lawsuit filed by the Valley Hospital after its plan to nearly double in size was rejected.
Judge Lisa Perez Friscia still must rule on whether the Ridgewood Planning Board acted properly in rejecting the hospital’s expansion plan nearly a year ago, the second defeat in four years.
The Ridgewood hospital first proposed a $750 million expansion in 2006 to replace decades-old buildings with modern facilities and all private rooms, an issue that’s divided the village and dominated local politics in several elections since.
Valley’s proposed “Renewal” was turned down twice as concerns grew over the potential impact of construction, increased traffic and the safety of middle school students attending class near the property. The hospital sued in October asking a state judge to end the pricey and protracted stalemate.
They should do that in Ridgewood instead of the assisted living facility the Kensington which is like a hospital and would involve over-the-top amount of traffic. Several shifts during the day. and night, Kensington will house over 90 residents and each resident including food preparation and basic need care will need about five staff members per resident.
Also additional medical staff on premises. Remember were talkin people who cannot take care of themselves PLUS Alzheimer residents, dementia residents.There is a new assisted living being built in Wyckoff at The Christian Health Care facility. Plus there are lots of other places.
$769,000 in Ridgewood
MLS # 1520266
587 Spring Ave, Ridgewood, NJ 07450
4 Bedroom, 3 Full Bath, Col
Elizabeth Coleman, Sales Associate
Keller Williams Village Square Realty
Open House: 1:00 P.M. – 4:00 P.M. Sun. 5/31
25
$775,000 in Ridgewood
MLS # 1513774
415 Fairfield Ave, Ridgewood, NJ 07450
4 Bedroom, 3 Full Bath,
1 Half Bath, Col
Cathy Banu, Sales Associate
Keller Williams Village Square Realty
Open House: 1:00 P.M. – 3:00 P.M. Sun. 5/31
– See more at: https://www.njmls.com/NJ/BERGEN/RIDGEWOOD-open-houses#sthash.SyywpI7B.Yt9r2WhO.dpuf
$799,000 in Ridgewood
MLS # 1515527
470 E Saddle River Rd, Ridgewood, NJ 07450
5 Bedroom, 3 Full Bath,
1 Half Bath, S/L
Christopher Kaufman, Sales Associate
Keller Williams Village Square Realty
Open House: 1:00 P.M. – 4:00 P.M. Sun. 5/31
25
$799,000 in Ridgewood
MLS # 1520837
314 Wastena Ter, Ridgewood, NJ 07450
5 Bedroom, 2 Full Bath,
1 Half Bath, Col
Jennifer Casper, Sales Associate
Keller Williams Village Square Realty
Open House: 1:00 P.M. – 4:00 P.M. Sun. 5/31
25
$824,900 in Ridgewood
MLS # 1518501
250 Mulberry Pl, Ridgewood, NJ 07450
4 Bedroom, 3 Full Bath,
1 Half Bath, Ranch
Josephine Wagner, Sales Associate
RE/MAX Properties-Saddle River
Open House: 1:00 P.M. – 4:00 P.M. Sun. 5/31
25
$919,900 in Ridgewood
MLS # 1519728
107 Liberty St, Ridgewood, NJ 07450
4 Bedroom, 3 Full Bath, Contp
Jane Ferlanti, Broker Associate
Coldwell Banker, Ridgewood
Open House: 1:00 P.M. – 4:00 P.M. Sun. 5/31
20
$959,000 in Ridgewood
MLS # 1518640
497 Alpine Ter, Ridgewood, NJ 07450
4 Bedroom, 3 Full Bath,
1 Half Bath, Col
Jennifer Brito, Sales Associate
Gilsenan & Co.
Open House: 1:00 P.M. – 4:00 P.M. Sun. 5/31
23
$1,100,000 in Ridgewood
MLS # 1520745
352 Hillcrest Rd, Ridgewood, NJ 07450
4 Bedroom, 3 Full Bath,
1 Half Bath, Col
David H. Larsen, Sales Associate
Keller Williams Village Square Realty
Open House: 1:00 P.M. – 4:00 P.M. Sun. 5/31
25
$1,195,000 in Ridgewood
MLS # 1520223
141 John St, Ridgewood, NJ 07450
4 Bedroom, 4 Full Bath, Col
Angele Ekert, Sales Associate
Keller Williams Village Square Realty
Open House: 1:00 P.M. – 4:00 P.M. Sun. 5/31
25
$1,200,000 in Ridgewood
MLS # 1513395
536 Highland Ave, Ridgewood, NJ 07450
4 Bedroom, 3 Full Bath,
2 Half Bath, Col
Kimiko Miller, Sales Associate
Keller Williams Village Square Realty
Open House: 1:00 P.M. – 4:00 P.M. Sun. 5/31
25
$1,227,000 in Ridgewood
MLS # 1520954
454 Summit St, Ridgewood, NJ 07450
5 Bedroom, 3 Full Bath,
1 Half Bath, Col
Beth Freed, Broker Associate
Prominent Properties Sotheby’s International Realty-Ridgewood
Open House: 1:00 P.M. – 4:00 P.M. Sun. 5/31
24
$1,249,900 in Ridgewood
MLS # 1508087
365 Heights Rd, Ridgewood, NJ 07450
4 Bedroom, 4 Full Bath,
1 Half Bath, Col
Caren White, Sales Associate
Marron Gildea Realty, Inc.
Open House: 12:00 P.M. – 3:00 P.M. Sun. 5/31
– See more at: https://www.njmls.com/NJ/BERGEN/RIDGEWOOD-open-houses#sthash.SyywpI7B.Yt9r2WhO.dpuf
$1,275,000 in Ridgewood
MLS # 1515951
244 Lotte Rd, Ridgewood, NJ 07450
4 Bedroom, 4 Full Bath,
1 Half Bath, Col
Barbara Masarky, Broker Associate
Tarvin Realtors
Open House: 1:00 P.M. – 4:30 P.M. Sun. 5/31
25
$1,450,000 in Ridgewood
MLS # 1520503
355 Heights Rd, Ridgewood, NJ 07450
5 Bedroom, 4 Full Bath,
1 Half Bath, Col
Christine Gubb, Sales Associate
Keller Williams Village Square Realty
Open House: 1:00 P.M. – 4:00 P.M. Sun. 5/31
25
$1,450,000 in Ridgewood
MLS # 1521212
51 N Hillside Pl, Ridgewood, NJ 07450
5 Bedroom, 4 Full Bath,
1 Half Bath, Col
Rose Hueneke, Broker Associate
Keller Williams Village Square Realty
Open House: 1:00 P.M. – 4:00 P.M. Sun. 5/31
1
$ 1,599,000.00 in Ridgewood
MLS # 1519791
145 Prospect St, Ridgewood, NJ 07450
Office
Stacy S. Kiernan, Sales Associate
Prominent Properties Sotheby’s International Realt
Open House: 1:00 P.M. – 4:00 P.M. Sun. 5/31
15
$1,750,000 in Ridgewood
MLS # 1517971
323 Highland Ave, Ridgewood, NJ 07450
6 Bedroom, 4 Full Bath,
2 Half Bath, Col
Frances Ekblom, Sales Associate
Tarvin Realtors
Open House: 1:00 P.M. – 4:30 P.M. Sun. 5/31
25
$1,750,000 in Ridgewood
MLS # 1519573
371 Crest Rd, Ridgewood, NJ 07450
5 Bedroom, 3 Full Bath,
1 Half Bath, Col
Samira Cook, Sales Associate
Coldwell Banker, Ridgewood
Open House: 1:00 P.M. – 4:00 P.M. Sun. 5/31
25
$2,495,000 in Ridgewood
MLS # 1515415
505 Upper Blvd, Ridgewood, NJ 07450
6 Bedroom, 4 Full Bath,
1 Half Bath, Col
Frances Ekblom, Sales Associate
Tarvin Realtors
Open House: 1:00 P.M. – 4:30 P.M. Sun. 5/31
– See more at: https://www.njmls.com/NJ/BERGEN/RIDGEWOOD-open-houses#sthash.SyywpI7B.Yt9r2WhO.dpuf
Restaurant memoire Recognized as a Top Performing Restaurant
Posted: 28 May 2015
Ridgewood NJ, Restaurant mémoire, a seasonal American eclectic restaurant, announced that it has received a TripAdvisor® Certificate of Excellence award. Now in its fifth year, the award celebrates excellence in hospitality and is given only to establishments that consistently achieve great traveler reviews on TripAdvisor.
“Winning the TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence is a true source of pride for the entire team at Restaurant mémoire and we’d like to thank all of our past guests who took the time to complete a review on TripAdvisor,” said Tom Finnelli, Executive Chef & Owner at Restaurant mémoire. “There is no greater seal of approval than being recognized by one’s guests. With the TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence based on guest reviews, the accolade is a remarkable vote of confidence to our business and our continued commitment to excellence.”
Restaurant mémoire is a fresh, seasonal American eclectic restaurant featuring a menu that is made to order. We are happy to modify or even go off our menu to accommodate you in every way. Here at mémoire, the answer is always, “Yes”.
Restaurant mémoire is located at 16 Chestnut St., Ridgewood. call 201-857-8899
www.diningatmemoire.com
MAY 29, 2015 LAST UPDATED: FRIDAY, MAY 29, 2015, 12:31 AM
BY GREG TARTAGLIA
SPORTS EDITOR |
THE RIDGEWOOD NEWS
RIDGEWOOD — Mia Barbera has fond memories of the last time Ridgewood High School won a state-sectional softball title. Even fresher in her mind is the way the Maroons’ most recent playoff runs have ended.
The junior shortstop singled and scored in the first inning of Tuesday’s North 1, Group 4 semifinal at Veterans Field. That, plus the hitting of Emilie Morse, the two-hit pitching of Lisa Higgins and some airtight defense, propelled No. 1 seed RHS past No. 4 Livingston, 1-0, and into its first sectional final since 2009.
Weather permitting, Ridgewood (24-4) will host No. 2 Morris Knolls (24-6) in the title game today at 2 p.m. The Golden Eagles have eliminated the Maroons from three of the past four postseasons, including last year in the sectional semis, 4-3.
“We’re definitely ready to beat [Morris Knolls] this year,” said Barbera. “We don’t want to lose to them again.”
MAY 28, 2015 LAST UPDATED: THURSDAY, MAY 28, 2015, 9:18 AM
BY DARIUS AMOS
STAFF WRITER |
THE RIDGEWOOD NEWS
Interest in Ridgewood’s annual dog rabies clinic, already one of the most popular events on the village calendar, has increased exponentially this spring, largely in part to recent, uncommon wildlife encounters.
A lengthy line of leashed pooches and their masters snaked across the Recycling Center property two Wednesdays ago, each four-legged creature waiting for its free inoculation against a virus that, if contracted, is oftentimes fatal for domestic pets once symptoms occur.
The booster shot is considered the best protection against rabies. Nearly 120 dogs registered by the village received the vaccination during the clinic, according to Dawn Cetrulo, Ridgewood’s supervisor of health.
Though the final tally was slightly less than the number of canines vaccinated last year, dog owners preached the ongoing importance of safeguarding their best friends.
“You’ll never know what might happen,” Rachelle Thomsen said, while rubbing the squared head of her retriever mix, Ronnie. “[Dogs] can be out exploring in the backyard, and at the same time, an animal with rabies can wander back there, too. You want to make sure your dog is safe.”
Tonight, May 29, 2015, marks the start of another season of “Music in the Night.” Artists play around town from 7-9pm. Please come out and show your support for the local businesses.
Tonight’s Lineup
Take 4 – near Due, La Tour, & Malee
Jake Thistle – near It’s Greek to Me
Dom Boresta – near Raymond’s
George Shabet – near Starbucks
Nic Scott – Ben and Jerry’s
Musicians set up around town at various shops and restaurants, sweetly serenading the patrons. The program is sponsored by The Ridgewood Guild, who holds auditions and places talent around the town at or near member business of The Ridgewood Guild.
If you or somebody you know is interested in performing with the Music in the Night program, please email [email protected]
By Matthew Stanmyre | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
on May 26, 2015 11:20 AM
School districts from Summit, West Essex Regional and Southern Regional — districts with well-established reputations for athletic excellence at the high school level — have been ranked the best in New Jersey and among the most highly rated in the nation, according to a study based on athletic statistics and hundreds of thousands of surveys.
Summit also checked in at No. 3 overall nationally, with West Essex (No. 21) and Southern Regional (No. 28) cracking the top 30 in America.
The study rated school district athletics as a whole, considering parent and student opinions, number of interscholastic sports offered, percentages of girls and boys participating in sports and the average athletic expense per student, among other factors.
A school district rated high by the study generally indicates sports and fitness plays a significant role in the student life; students actively participate in intervarsity sports; and the administration is invested in the athletic program.
The study ranked 4,951 districts after fielding more than 750,000 opinions from nearly 230,000 students and parents.
Also, some school districts such as Wayne — ranked No. 16 in New Jersey — include more than one high school.
Eight schools from New Jersey landed in the top 70 nationally: Summit, West Essex, Southern, River Dell, Ridgewood, Pascack Valley, New Providence andRandolph.
In accordance with the Codes of the Village of Ridgewood, the Boroughs of Glen Rock and Midland Park, and the Township of Wyckoff, Stage I water restrictions in Ridgewood, Glen Rock, Midland Park, and Wyckoff, New Jersey are in effect beginning June 1, 2015 and ending August 31, 2015.
Residents, businesses, governmental agencies, and all other water users must adhere to the Stages of the restrictions shown on our website.
Ridgewood Water has recently simplified water restrictions. The new plan matches odd and even addresses with days of the week.
If your address is an odd number, you may irrigate on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays only. If your address is an even number, you may irrigate on Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays only. A handheld hose may be used at any time including Mondays.
This plan will be in effect each year starting on June 1st and will continue through August 31st. If conditions warrant, irrigation will be prohibited on additional days of the week up to and including a total ban on irrigation.
Compliance with the initial 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
MAY 28, 2015 LAST UPDATED: THURSDAY, MAY 28, 2015, 3:53 PM
BY MARK KRULISH
STAFF WRITER |
THE RIDGEWOOD NEWS
The local budget season came to an end in Ridgewood with the formal adoption of a $47 million spending plan on Wednesday night.
The budget, which was passed by a 3-2 vote, is primarily funded by a $33 million tax levy – $31 million for municipal purposes and another $2 million for the public library. The municipal portion of a Ridgewood resident’s tax bill will by increase 1.2 percent, or $46.12 on a home assessed at the village average of $690,062.
The municipal budget has significant investments in services and people, said Village Manager Roberta Sonenfeld, including revitalization of the Building Department, establishment of Human Resources, growth in technology, reaccreditation of the Ridgewood Police Department and enhanced support for the community center. Improvements in parking include the hiring of a chief financial officer who doubles as the parking utility director and implementation of ParkMobile and other strategies to minimize the handling of quarters, the village manager said.
The budget also comes with some risk as the village currently has $7.1 million in unfunded liability payments and utilized one-time revenues in 2015, such as the $800,000 reimbursement received from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). There are also some expenses, such as legal fees for the Planning Board and police contract negotiations as well as maintenance of the village’s aging infrastructure, which could exceed the amount set aside in their respective lines.
MAY 28, 2015, 11:52 AM LAST UPDATED: THURSDAY, MAY 28, 2015, 12:55 PM
BY CHRIS HARRIS
STAFF WRITER |
THE RECORD
RIDGEWOOD — George Washington Middle School was temporarily on lockdown Thursday morning after a prank phone threat village police are investigating as a “swatting” incident.
The call to the school on Ridgewood’s Washington Place was received by school official just before 10 a.m.
The caller, according to a number of sources, claimed that a shooter was on the school’s roof. School officials immediately ordered a lockdown of each classroom.
Police also notified officials at nearby West Side Presbyterian Church, which operates a nursery school that went into lockdown.
Responding officers from Ridgewood, Midland Park, Glen Rock and Wyckoff searched the middle school building, including the roof, and determined the call to be a hoax by 10:30 a.m.
It was the fifth such incident in North Jersey since March of what has become known as swatting, in which false reports are made to elicit the response of police swat units.
Ridgewood Police Chief John Ward confirmed Thursday’s call was a “swatting,” but would not discuss the specific nature of the threat made against the school.
Ed Schwartz drinking from a coconut he picked off a tree during a previous trip to Maui. (Photos courtesy of Julie Tung)
RIDGEWOOD—With only a few weeks to live, a Ridgewood man is on his way to fulfill his dying wish: to see the sunset in Hawaii.
“I think it’s one of the most beautiful places on the planet,” said Ed Schwartz, whose battle with blood cancer can no longer be waged medically. “Doctors are telling me I only have a few weeks. I’d much rather spend the time there, in paradise.”
Schwartz, known locally as “Eco Ed” for his work as an environmentalist, began his journey to Maui on Wednesday, along with his wife, Julie Tung, and his son, Kyle. They took off this morning from Teterboro in an air ambulance, heading to Oakland, Calif., in order to take a charter plane for the rest of the way. Friends and community members have raised more than $35,000 on a GoFundMe page to help make the trip possible.
After undergoing chemotherapy, a stem cell transplant and various trials, Schwartz has run out of treatment options and doesn’t have much time left, Tung told NJ Advance Media by phone, when they stopped to refuel the medical transport in Omaha, Neb. They don’t have a set plan for their visit, except to relax and enjoy the scenery, she said.
“We don’t have a game plan. We don’t know how long we’ll have,” she said. “If he could just see one last sunset, it will be worth it.”
Schwartz was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia, a rare form of blood cancer, in late 2013. Before he started chemotherapy, he asked his doctor if he could first take a trip to Hawaii, Tung said. The answer was “yes, but you’ll die.” So, they held off on the trip, but now, knowing that the cancer is incurable, “it’s time to go,” she said.
MAY 27, 2015 LAST UPDATED: WEDNESDAY, MAY 27, 2015, 8:56 AM
BY MARK KRULISH
STAFF WRITER |
THE RIDGEWOOD NEWS
The village has brought in a new chief financial officer and its first-ever parking utility director with the hiring of Robert G. Rooney, who began his tenure earlier this month.
Rooney’s first day was May 4, and he “hit the ground running,” said Village Manager Roberta Sonenfeld when she announced his hire. Sonenfeld had been temporarily serving as the village’s CFO and parking utility director, in addition to her other duties.
Rooney was ceremonially sworn in at the council’s May 13 meeting.
The new CFO has his roots in Bergen County, growing up in Fairview, Cliffside Park and Rutherford as well as attending Fairleigh Dickinson University in Teaneck. He has spent his entire career in public accounting, most recently working for Manhattan-based McGladrey in its public sector practice.
Rooney said his memories of Ridgewood come from having played basketball for Cliffside Park High School. He said he remembered how beautiful the high school was and the friendliness of village residents.
“When I lived in Bergen County, Ridgewood was always the cream of the crop,” Rooney said. “People always talked very highly of the municipality.”
ART OF MOTION IN RIDGEWOOD HOSTS ASHTANGA YOGA MASTER CLASS TO BENEFIT NEPAL
May 26,2015
RIDGEWOOD, NJ , On May 30th, 2015, a Master Class will be taught by Annie Hickman at Art of Motion in Ridgewood, NJ from 2:00-4:00 PM. This Ashtanga Yoga Workshop will introduce an athletic style of classical Indian yoga as taught by the lake Srik Pattabhi Jois.
After dedicating herself to a daily practice of Ashtanga yoga for the past ten years, Annie Hickman, a certified yoga teacher, followed her dream this year to study in Mysore, India. Annie just returned from her 5-month yoga tour through Nepal and India, and she is eager to share the power of Ashtanga Yoga.
Annie will guide students through the Primary Series of Ashtanga – a challenging flow class with therapeutic yoga poses that strengthen and transform the body. This master class will encourage students to experience a higher level in their practice.
All $25.00 donations will benefit relief services in Nepal. All are welcome to practice and/or observe. For information and to reserve a spot, please contact Art of Motion.
Art of Motion is located at The Performing Arts Building, 17 Chestnut Street, 2nd Floor, Ridgewood, NJ.
May 27,2015
readers and the staff of the Ridgewood blog
“James, you have been anti Valley from the get go. Arrogance? What arrogance? The patience and dignity that the Valley has shown in the face of all the petty attacks it has been subjected to by narrow-minded critics is the embodiment of Grace and Dignity. The Ancient Greeks defined beauty as grace ubder presure. By that count Valley is one beautiful organization. And yes, it is the Crown Jewel of Ridgewood.” Rurik Halaby
It’s interesting how the developers, Valley and the unions are all the same in trying to bully Villagers, and foist their unsustainable plans on Village taxpayers. Valley consumes Village services for free and apparently wants ever more, the developers want densities that will burden our schools, water, sewerage and transportation infrastructure, and the unions want us to pay for CBAs that offer excessive wages and benefits to people in their early 50s and 60s even though we’re all living longer. The common denominator here is “screw taxpayers” who are too busy commuting and raising kids to notice. Enough is enough, we’re being taxed to death. No more.
Ordinance 3066 = Pfund’s Folly was just to allow Valley to try and railroad the Village that built Valley in the first place. Audrey and her board are out of touch, and would be well advised to find new people less interested in Hospital system “empire building” and more interested in being a good neighbor and paying a PILOT for all of the Village services they consume; instead they are suing the same Village who without its good graces, Valley wouldn’t exist in the first place. Shameless behavior and this blog has been right to highlight it.
Tell me, do you think that once the “Grace and Dignity” group gets past the lawsuit they filed against the town that has been taking care of them since 1951, they just might consider taking the “Crown Jewel” and moving it to an area that could better house the monstrosity they want to build here ? I mean, let’s face it, if your “world class” in Ridgewood why can’t you be the same in say, Mahwah ?
The truth is the hospital shot it self in the foot with a lot of arrogant very bad decision making , bad management at its finest , The details of which have been spelled out on this blog over and over ad nauseam . Bad plan ,poorly executed ,leads to disastrous results ie , HUMC might make a run at buying Valley.
