Tag: Ridgewood NJ

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Parking Meter Scandal : he could not have acted alone

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file photo by Boyd Loving
Parking Meter Scandal : he could not have acted alone
Readers continue to speculate on parking meter security issues and continue to come up with one resounding conclusion ,he could not have acted alone .
Even a $41 million renovation of the Ridgewood Train station did not change the out dated parking meter system .
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While ,Village officials said a forensic accounting firm has been retained to examine how a former employee managed to steal $460,000 in quarters from parking meters.

See more at: https://www.northjersey.com/news/ridgewood-hires-auditor-in-460-000-meter-thefts-1.1050247#sthash.Ut7rRzDP.dpuf

Although I’m not convinced that all meters would need to be replaced in order to implement a closed container/collection system, I’ll give the Village Manager the benefit of the doubt.

But, at a minimum, they should deep six those open white paint buckets/pickle containers and have all collectors use the carts depicted here:

https://www.pom.com/collectionsystems.htm

Continuing to use those buckets is a huge security risk, for the individual collecting monies (holdup/robbery) and for taxpayers (shrinkage).

It is actually very funny that we can’t afford to secure the Villages’s cash. I’m sure there is a solution out there that costs less than $460,000.

They made a deal and I’m hoping the whole story will come out eventually. Who in the police dept. is/are being protected?

Yet again, taxpayers getting screwed to protect some mob/union crony(ies) in Village Hall and/or the PD. Put in smart meters like NYC and let people use credit cards… how are we doing on Tommy Boy’s restitution ? Is he paying us back every week? The guy is obviously a wise guy, and refused to rat out his minders in Village Hall.

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The Dee Kersting Show-A Lifetime of Painting

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The Dee Kersting Show-A Lifetime of Painting

Exhibit September 14th-20th, 2014

 
A LIFE TIME OF PAINTING
DEE KERSTING
 

Until her death earlier this year Dee Kersting was a member of the Ridgewood Art Institute (The Barn).  She painted there for over fifty years.  Dee studied under such renown artists as Arthur Maynard, Paul Burns and John Osborne.  All had great influence and helped refine Dee’s painting talent.

Mrs. Kersting attended Miami University in Oxford, Ohio.  She also studied at The Art Institute of Pittsburgh and The Chicago Academy of Fine Art.  She apprenticed at Hoskinson Rohloff in Chicago.  She  was a fashion artist for Sterling Lindner Davis in Chicago.
Over many years of painting she created a variety of Still Lifes, Landscapes and Portraits.  She received numerous awards at Art Shows around the Bergen County area.  Her art has been displayed at the Union League Club in New York, the Bergen Mall in New Jersey and many other locations in the Hudson River Valley. 

Some of her creations will be displayed at the Ridgewood Art Institute.   All Paintings are on Sale for $250 or best offer by the Kersting family and all proceeds will be donated to the Ridgewood Art Institute Childrens Scholarship or Awards fund.

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Congressman Scott Garrett Issues a Congratulations thru the Ridgewood Blog to Charlotte Samuels completion of the open water triple crown

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Congressman Scott Garrett Issues a Congratulations thru the Ridgewood Blog to Charlotte Samuels completion of the open water triple crown
September 13,2014
the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, Charlotte Samuels, 16, who became the youngest person to complete the Triple Crown of open-water swimming last week by crossing the English Channel.

Charlotte attained the Triple Crown of open-water swimming by circumnavigating Manhattan, and crossing California’s Catalina Channel and the English Channel, all during this summer.

Rep Scott Garrett ,took time out of his schedule to give us a call to congratulate  Charlotte Samuels on her fantastic accomplishment . The congressman  spoke eloquently congratulating Charlotte for all the hard work and perseverance and also congratulated Charlotte’s parents, Suzanne and Steven for all their hard work and support  without which this could never happen .

Garret remarked it was an awe inspiring accomplishment for this young lady and that her efforts were setting and example for a whole generation .

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Gratitude to ‘Graydon Storytime’ readers

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Gratitude to ‘Graydon Storytime’ readers

September 12, 2014    Last updated: Friday, September 12, 2014, 9:27 AM
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Gratitude to ‘Graydon Storytime’ readers
Nancy A. Bigos
to the Editor:

For several years now, an annual tradition taking place at the Graydon Pool each summer has been the children’s “Graydon Storytime.” This special program held weekly on Thursday afternoons for nine consecutive weeks delights pre-school children, their siblings and parents.

At each session, a fun and interesting story is read to those in attendance, afterwards an exciting activity, song, game, or arts and crafts project accompanies the theme of the reading. There are usually 30 or more children participating in this very special time each week.

It is with heartfelt gratitude that I share my appreciation to the Ridgewood volunteers who give of themselves to make this offering possible. Throughout this 2014 summer season, the residents that volunteered at each weekly program were Suzanne Kelly, Lisa Conklin, Joan Powers, Stacy Bouffard, Dolores Carpenter, Sally Brandes, Betsy Murphy, Toney Jackson, Carol Coughlin, Morgan Kelly and the Graydon Pool lifeguard staff.

– See more at: https://www.northjersey.com/opinion/opinion-letters-to-the-editor/letter-gratitude-to-graydon-storytime-readers-1.1086862#sthash.9b6LvFAv.dpuf

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Rebuilt Ridgewood puts on a show

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Rebuilt Ridgewood puts on a show

September 13, 2014    Last updated: Saturday, September 13, 2014, 1:21 AM
By JIM McCONVILLE
SPECIAL TO THE RECORD
The Record

RIDGEWOOD – There was no way to know what to expect as Ridgewood opened the football season Friday night. The Maroons were green as the grass coming in, but after four quarters they were feeling good.

With a completely rebuilt offensive line providing plenty of openings, Ridgewood rushed for 404 yards on the way to a 53-6 victory over Passaic. The victory marked the 200th win at Ridgewood for head coach Chuck Johnson, who is 235-119-2 overall in his career (including five seasons at Bogota).

The game started auspiciously for the Maroons, who lost a fumble on the second play from scrimmage, but they scored on each of their next eight possessions. Cooper Telesco got the first two scores on runs of 65 and 2 yards on the way to 140 rushing yards on six first-half carries.

“It was a great job by the offensive line,” Telesco said of the quintet, each making their first varsity start. “They’ve been working so hard all preseason and they really were getting off the ball.’

– See more at: https://www.northjersey.com/sports/football/rebuilt-maroons-put-on-a-big-show-1.1087296#sthash.2lhGcw5g.dpuf

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URTC celebrates 100 years of match play

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URTC celebrates 100 years of match play

SEPTEMBER 12, 2014    LAST UPDATED: FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2014, 12:31 AM
BY PAM WYNE
SPECIAL TO THE RIDGEWOOD NEWS

In 1914, a group of Ridgewood residents looking to create a small tennis club purchased a tract of land “in the heights” near Morningside and Bedford roads. For the next 50 years, village players young and old would fill the courts at the Upper Ridgewood Tennis Club (URTC).

By 1964, the ever-increasing membership faced limited court space and the club looked toward expansion. Under the dynamic leadership and vision of URTC member Sandford Reis, the club purchased a 33-acre wooded parcel of property off Glenview Road adjacent to the Ho-Ho-Kus Brook and built an outdoor tennis and paddle facility that ranks today as one of the very best in the state.

John Kennelly recalls as a 7-year-old looking through the fence behind the original courts on Bedford Road.

“I remember my dad playing doubles with our neighbors and always having such a good time. And then in 1967 the new club opened up and I joined as a junior member and have been playing on competitive tennis and paddle teams ever since,” Kennelly said, adding that it is not just about all play and no fun at the club. “Being a member-owned club, there are many opportunities to get involved in not only the running of the club, but in creating exciting social events for members and guests. There is no more beautiful place to be than hanging out on the patio, soaking in the scenery and enjoying the sounds of the Ho-Ho-Kus Brook waterfalls.”

– See more at: https://www.northjersey.com/community-news/clubs-and-service-organizations/urtc-celebrates-100-years-of-match-play-1.1086558#sthash.DA1ASQRK.dpuf

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Ridgewood in talks to allow parking at closed car dealership

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Ridgewood in talks to allow parking at closed car dealership

SEPTEMBER 13, 2014    LAST UPDATED: SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2014, 1:21 AM
BY CHRIS HARRIS
STAFF WRITER
THE RECORD

RIDGEWOOD — Village officials announced a potential partnership with the owner of a former car dealership to provide more than 100 new parking spaces downtown — an attempt to alleviate the parking problem in town.

Village Manager Roberta Sonenfeld cautioned that no deal had been signed, but said at a recent meeting she was excited about the potential arrangement, which Ridgewood officials continue to negotiate.

As proposed, the deal would see the dismantling of the building on the Ken Smith Motors site on Franklin Avenue. Under the plan, the village would handle selling parking passes for the lot to employees working in the Central Business District.

That would leave more parking for visitors to downtown Ridgewood.

In addition, Sonenfeld told the council she has been exploring ways for the village to fund its own parking garage.

An $8 million loan, she said, would cost taxpayers $600,000 annually for $20 years.

– See more at: https://www.northjersey.com/news/lot-could-ease-parking-woes-1.1087300#sthash.uTQbxDeo.dpuf

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Parking solutions sought as former bank building in Ridgewood gets new tenant

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Parking solutions sought as former bank building in Ridgewood gets new tenant

SEPTEMBER 11, 2014    LAST UPDATED: THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 2014, 4:18 PM
BY LAURA HERZOG
STAFF WRITER
THE RIDGEWOOD NEWS

As the Village Council continues fishing for a parking garage, a big catch – FISH – has entered the discussion on Ridgewood’s parking needs.

FISH, a high-end eatery from Asbury Park, is opening a second location in Ridgewood’s long-empty Bank of America building, and bringing with it as many as 225 new diners.

“They’d like to open somewhere between December and February,” said the building’s landlord John Saraceno, who said he was contacted by FISH six months ago. “They’re a great use for the village.”

The new restaurant, expected to attract many new diners, and cars, is also adding even more urgency to the village’s ongoing search for better parking options in the Central Business District (CBD), a search being done partly with awareness that more popular chains and anchor stores could help revitalize Ridgewood’s downtown but necessitate more parking options.

But luckily, FISH’s plan to valet park its cars will provide some relief.

– See more at: https://www.northjersey.com/news/business/solutions-sought-as-historic-building-is-leased-1.1086248#sthash.vx8INNPX.dpuf

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Ridgewood developers would add parking

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Ridgewood developers would add parking

SEPTEMBER 10, 2014    LAST UPDATED: WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2014, 1:21 AM
BY CHRIS HARRIS
STAFF WRITER
THE RECORD
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RIDGEWOOD — The village will be getting some much-needed parking along North Walnut Street under the terms outlined in a 42-page bid soliciting potential developers for the downtown’s redevelopment zone.

A new Request for Proposal and Qualifications, or RFP, has been issued by Ridgewood officials and seeks the redevelopment of 10 properties the heart of the Central Business District.

The 2.07 acres — some of it municipally owned — was designated a “redevelopment zone” by officials in 2007, which permits mostly retail and restaurant uses.

The redevelopment zone — currently the site of an ice cream shop, an 89-space parking lot, a mechanic’s shop, restaurants and retail stores — further allows for residential developments and is already being considered by at least one developer for a future assisted-living facility for seniors.

The RFP states that all proposals and plans from interested developers must be submitted by December and must include some manner of parking garage.

While an issue for decades, the village’s lack of parking has become an increasing concern for businesses and residents.

– See more at: https://www.northjersey.com/news/ridgewood-developers-would-add-parking-1.1084530

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The Math Behind Your Property Tax Bill

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The Math Behind Your Property Tax Bill

Sep. 09 

By Matt Rooney | The Save Jersey Blog

When more than 50% of New Jersey state aid is dedicated to 5% of our schools, Save Jerseyans, thanks largely to the New Jersey Supreme Court’s interference, then no one should be surprised when New Jersey’s property taxes are the highest in the nation. It’s simple math… something that they’re not doing a particularly good job of teaching in those 5%-districts! Or many of the rest of them, too, if we’re being honest.

School funding is one of our favorite topics at Save Jersey; if you’re a visual learner, here’s a particularly excellent explanatory video dropped by the Assembly GOP on Tuesday. It’s hard to ignore the problem when the numbers are staring right back at you…

– See more at: https://savejersey.com/2014/09/property-tax-bill-new-jersey-school-funding-formula/#sthash.vTHo4wMh.dpuf

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Remembering 9/11 With Good Works and Good Deeds

 

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Remembering 9/11 With Good Works and Good Deeds 

Join the 9/11 Day Observance today. Visit https://911day.org/ and share your message or good deed tribute. Or share your message on Twitter, #911day.

Our mission is to honor the victims and survivors of 9/11 and those that rose to service in response to the attacks by encouraging all Americans and others throughout the world to pledge to voluntarily perform at least one good deed, or another service activity on 9/11 each year.

9/11 Day is the grassroots movement to observe September 11 every year as a day of charitable service and doing good deeds, and to inspire individuals to continue to help others in need whenever they can. Today more than 35 million Americans and others participate annually by taking time out on 9/11 to help others in need, in their own way! We created this observance soon after 9/11 to provide a positive way to forever remember and pay tribute to the 9/11 victims, honor those that rose in service in response to the attacks, and remind people of the importance of working more closely together to improve our world. In 2009 the U.S. Congress and President Obama joined together to officially establish 9/11 as a National Day of Service and Remembrance under bi-partisan federal law.

Participating in 9/11 Day is easy. Simply dedicate time each September 11 to helping others in any fashion that you choose, like making a donation, performing a good deed, helping a friend, relative or neighbor, or volunteering your time. All we ask is that you remember by doing something positive that helps others. Be sure to share your plans or message on Twitter, using #911day, on Facebook, or by visiting our website, https://911day.org/

A few suggestions on how to help from the Ridgewood News :

Give blood. Donate books to a library or volunteer to read to children. Donate pet food to an animal rescue or shelter or volunteer to foster an animal. Donate food to a food pantry. Give clothes to a homeless shelter.

Companies, groups, municipalities and schools can also band together for special projects such as sponsoring a collection, volunteering time to help nonprofits in the area or just sprucing up public places.

For example, the Rotary Club of Ridgewood A.M. is collecting new and used shoes for donation to the Soles4Souls charity. The non-profit group monetizes used shoes and clothing to create sustainable jobs and fund direct relief efforts, including distribution of new shoes and clothing.

Drop off locations for the shoe drive include all Ridgewood public schools and the Education Center, Bethlehem Lutheran Church, Chestnut Deli, Columbia Bank, Emmanuel Baptist Church, Morgan Stanley, Old Paramus Reformed Church, Ponds Reformed Church, Ridgewood Christian Reformed Church, Ridgewood Community Church, St. Elizabeth’s Church, Temple Emmanuel, Ulrich, the Unitarian Society of Ridgewood, Upper Ridgewood Community Church, Village Hall, West Side Presbyterian Church.

For additional information about the shoe drive, contact Betty Wiest at 201-652-0858.

– See more at: https://www.northjersey.com/opinion/opinion-editorials/a-day-to-make-a-difference-1.1081489#sthash.CddwFVWx.dpuf

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Fitch downgrades NJ’s credit rating once again, citing pension shortfalls

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Fitch downgrades NJ’s credit rating once again, citing pension shortfalls

SEPTEMBER 5, 2014, 5:12 PM    LAST UPDATED: SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2014, 12:16 AM
BY JOHN REITMEYER
STATE HO– USE BUREAU
THE RECORD

New Jersey’s credit rating has been cut in Wall Street’s first official reaction to the move by Governor Christie to scale back legally mandated payments to New Jersey’s pension fund, a move he made to balance the state budget.

Fitch Ratings announced Friday afternoon that it lowered the state’s credit rating one step to A, citing a “repudiation” of the pledged pension payments.

The downgrade announcement also cited “the absence of long-term, fiscally sustainable solutions” to close recent budget gaps, “overly optimistic revenue forecasts” and a state economy that “continues to lag that of the nation.”

The ratings action comes as public employee unions are challenging the pension payment reductions — which total $2.4 billion over two fiscal years — in state Superior Court. It also puts New Jersey’s credit rating in a tie with California’s, and above only Illinois among U.S. states.

The downgrade is the second this year from Fitch, which had already lowered the credit rating to A+ after the Christie administration announced in April that tax collections had fallen $807 million short of projections.

Two other major ratings agencies, Moody’s Investors Service and Standard & Poor’s, also lowered New Jersey’s credit rating around the same time.

The credit rating is an important factor in determining how cheap and easy it is to borrow money for capital projects such as schools and bridges that cannot be funded in one budget year.

The latest downgrade is also a blow for Christie, a Republican who has tried to make the case that his fiscal policies and reforms have rescued the state from years of mismanagement under Democratic leadership. And though the state’s unemployment rate has improved in recent months, the loss of roughly 5,000 jobs from the closure of two Atlantic City casinos earlier this week signals that more bad economic news could be coming.

– See more at: https://www.northjersey.com/news/fitch-downgrades-nj-s-credit-rating-once-again-citing-pension-shortfalls-1.1082031#sthash.9mSK3Y9w.dpuf

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Quick action by Ridgewood PD saves house from major fire

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Photo credit: Boyd A. Loving
Quick action by Ridgewood PD saves house from major fire
September 4,2014
Boyd A. Loving
2:13 PM

Ridgewood NJ, Ridgewood PD Uniformed Patrol Officers Raymond Tarino and John Ward, Jr. were in the right place at the right time on Thursday afternoon, 09/04, just two (2) blocks away from the 200 block of Circle Avenue when they heard dispatchers broadcast a report of an “unknown type fire” inside of a home located within that block.  Tarino and Ward raced to the scene and were informed of a small fire located in the 3rd floor attic, reportedly ignited by a young child who was playing with a lighter.  After ensuring that all occupants of the home had been safely evacuated, the officers entered the structure with a fire extinguisher from one of their patrol cars and snuffed the fire out.  A full complement of Ridgewood FD personnel arrived shortly thereafter with more extinguishers to wrap things up completely.  The home was then ventilated of accumulated smoke and turned back over to the owner within 30 minutes.  Damage was limited to a rug and sub flooring on the 3rd floor.  No injures were reported.

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Photo credit: Boyd A. Loving

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The Name-Dropper: Van Neste Square

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The Name-Dropper: Van Neste Square

SEPTEMBER 4, 2014    LAST UPDATED: THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2014, 1:21 AM
BY JEFFREY PAGE
SPECIAL TO THE RECORD
THE RECORD

Who was Lee of Fort Lee, Votee of Votee Park and Merritt of Camp Merritt? The Name-Dropper gives you the lowdown on some of the people whose names you see on public statues, memorial plaques, park signs, highways and even some local streets around North Jersey. Have suggestions? Email them to features@northjersey. com and put Name-Dropper in the subject field.

In the legendary first intercollegiate football game, when Rutgers beat Princeton, 6-4, John Alfred Van Neste of the Rutgers team may have kicked the ball, may have helped score a point, may have blocked a Princeton player.

Then again, maybe not.

Accounts of that game played in New Brunswick in 1869 report the score, but provide little about how individual players performed.

It seems easy, 145 years later, to assume Van Neste got a chance to play since the rules of that time dictated large lineups, 25 players per side.

But in one respect, how Van Neste played doesn’t matter since it was not his exploits on the gridiron that caused the Village of Ridgewood to name a sweet little downtown park in his memory. Rather it was for the remembrance of Van Neste as an adored minister in mid-19th to early-20th-century Ridgewood. He was the Reformed Church pastor who helped people of other denominations establish and build their own places of worship, and in the meantime allowed them to use his church.

– See more at: https://www.northjersey.com/news/education/ridgewood-park-ministers-to-all-as-did-its-namesake-1.1081013#sthash.y4WRDtCp.dpuf