The Ridgewood Guild is an exciting new organization dedicated to making Ridgewood a more enjoyable place to shop, dine and visit. Our board is made up of a group of high-energy, hard working individuals who plan to make a difference. Because we have no rent, overhead, or salaries to pay, our annual dues are minimal. This gives us the opportunity to give back to the community via a carefully planned out series of events, fundraisers and marketing strategies.
The Guild’s membership includes retailers, restaurateurs, non-profits, professionals and residents who have an interest in seeing our village thrive. We are always looking for ideas and suggestions, so don’t hesitate to contact us. We hope you will join us!
Make a purchase at any of the participating merchants from January 28th – Friday, February 11th and you will be entered to win one of 12 fabulous prizes. The more purchases you make, the more chances you have to win! The winners will be picked and notified Saturday, February 12th, just in time for a Valentine’s Day treat.
Participating Merchants:
Araya Rebirth • Ben and Jerry’s • Cupcakes by Carousel • Glamour Beauty Supplies • Happy Tuesday Indulge Boutique • Jekyll and Hide • Mango Jam • Natalie’s • Pink Bungalow • Pattycakes and Maur
>HILT Senior Citizen Meeting Open House and Speaker Peter Fenzel
Ridgewood residents 55 and older are invited to join Highlights In Leisure Time (HILT), a senior organization under the auspices of the Ridgewood Department of Parks and Recreation. Monthly meetings include entertainment and/or informational presentations, followed by refreshments. Also, a variety of monthly trips are offered.
In February, HILT will be hosting an Open House for new members on Thursday, February 10 at the Ridgewood Community Center from 10:00 a.m. to 12 p.m. Annual membership dues are $15.00. Peter Fenzel, a loyal supporter of the Concerned Citizens of Allendale (instrumental in the acquisition of the Fell House), will be the featured speaker. The Fell House, a national historic treasure, was purchased by the town through fund raisers and donations. Fenzel will discuss John Fell’s life in Bergen County as a merchant and also his involvement in the American Revolution.
On February 17th, a HILT trip has been planned to the Hunterdon Hills Playhouse. The Playhouse is celebrating its 30th anniversary with the presentation of a new musical revue entitled, “The Great American Songbook.” The program will consist of music and songs that immigrants brought with them from their native lands. The bus departs from Graydon Pool at 9:45 a.m. (boarding at 9:30 a.m.) and returns at 5:30 p.m. The cost for HILT members is $48.00; non-members $53.00. For more information, please contact the Ridgewood Parks and Recreation Department at (201) 670-5560
>N.J. population shifting from heavily Democratic North By Shane D’Aprile – 02/04/11 12:32 PM ET
New detailed Census data released Thursday for New Jersey shows population growth concentrated in the central and southern parts of the state, which could make it harder for Democrats to ensure the loss of a single congressional seat comes at the expense of a Republican.
The state must shed a congressional district this year, and two potential Republican targets will use the new data to bolster the argument to leave their districts alone.
Seniority tends to rule the roost in the state’s congressional redistricting process, so speculation has centered on GOP Reps. Leonard Lance and Jon Runyan, who was just elected in November.
But Runyan’s district contains Ocean County, which saw the largest population growth of any county in the state, further bolstering the case that he won’t be a redistricting target
>Assembly panel unanimously passes school-choice bill
A startup program that would allow businesses to help finance the private and parochial education of some students in failing public schools was approved Thursday by an Assembly panel after hours of often passionate testimony on school choice. (Delli Santi for The Associated Press)
>N.J. lawmakers advance bill allowing towns to post legal notices only online
State lawmakers Thursday advanced a bill eliminating the requirement for governments, businesses and citizens to run legal notices in newspapers and instead allow them to only be posted on government websites. (Megerian, The Star-Ledger)
>Gov. Christie says N.J. tax structure makes for poor business climate
Gov. Chris Christie said he will act on business leaders’ concerns that the state’s tax structure is keeping companies from expanding in New Jersey. (Gibson, The Star-Ledger)
>Panel: NJ facing possible budget shortfall of $15 billion
A blue ribbon panel of former government officials and public servants said New Jersey residents face a fiscal crisis so severe it could restrict the state’s ability to function and thrive, with a combined budget shortfall of up to $15 billion in public spending forecast by 2016. (Jordan, Gannett)
>Electronic Waste Management Act : Disposal Ban on Electronics – Jan 31 2011
The State of New Jersey has significantly revised its regulations to enact a disposal ban on electronics as solid waste. Effective January 1, 2011, the Electronic Waste Management Act (NJSA 13:1E-99.94 et seq.) requires that all “used covered electronic devices” be recycled. The law defines a “used covered electronic device” as a desktop or personal computer, computer monitor, portable computer, or television sold to a consumer.
Electronic equipment is accepted at the Ridgewood Recycling Center at 205 East Glen Avenue. The computer and electronic recycling program provided at the Recycling Center, is at no cost to the Village, and provides an easy option for residents to recycle their computers and electronics. Upon arrival at the Recycling Center, each resident may place their computer components and electronic devices into our convenient walk-in container.
Accepted items (which must NOT be placed in household trash) include:
• Computers (Desktop or Portable) • Printers
• Televisions • Keyboards
• Monitors • Scanners
• Fax Machines • Keyboards
• Televisions • Speakers
• Stereo Equipment • Modems
• Electronic Mouse • Cell Phones
• Desktop Copy Machines • Power Sources
• Hard Drives • VCRs
• DVD players • Video Game Consoles
The Recycling Center at 205 East Glen Avenue has the following, convenient hours:
Monday – Saturday 8:00 AM – 3:00 PM
Ridgewood residents have always embraced recycling for its cost avoidance and environmental benefits. As a result, Ridgewood has enjoyed a savings of over $12.8 million, since New Jersey mandated recycling in 1987. As a community, may all continue to work together towards the goal of responsible environmental practices and greater reductions in solid waste.
If you’d like more information about this topic, please call Frank Moritz at 201/670-5500 x272 or [email protected],or Johanna Luttrell at 201/670-5500 x266 or [email protected]
>Village Car Wash? the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ- The Village of Ridgewood is looking to get into the car wash business , it all depends on the kind of return on investment the village can get from installing such a facility.
At Wednesday night’s Village Council workshop while discussing a $71,000 budget reserve transfer resolution, Deputy Mayor Tom Riche pointed to a $3,500 line item for the annual payment for washing vehicles in the town’s fleet.
The washing charge covers vehicles ranging from garbage trucks to police cruisers, Riche raised the possibility of Ridgewood installing its own car washing facility, which could then be used, not only for Ridgewood vehicles, but also as a shared service for other towns’ municipal vehicles.
Critics suggest that the real problem is that the Village only wastes $3,500 annually when doing it themselves the could wastes hundreds of thousands of dollars. Given these are the guys that brought us a $400,000 toilet at Vets field and the Village still manages significant revenue loss from the parking meters in the central business district it doesn’t seem like a very good idea .
>Senate repeals part of health care law By JENNIFER HABERKORN | 2/2/11 6:10 PM EST
The Senate voted Wednesday for the first time to repeal a piece of President Barack Obama’s health care overhaul, rolling back a new tax reporting requirement that’s been universally panned by business owners.
The amendment to repeal the 1099 reporting requirement passed 81-17 with broad bipartisan support.
>Virginia to seek expedited Supreme Court review of suit over health-care law By Rosalind S. Helderman Washington Post Staff Writer Thursday, February 3, 2011; 6:07 PM
RICHMOND – Virginia will ask that the U.S. Supreme Court immediately review the state’s constitutional challenge to the federal health-care overhaul, a rare legal request to bypass appeals and ask for early intervention from the nation’s highest court, Attorney General Ken T. Cuccinelli II said Thursday.
>The next Planning Board meeting is at 7:30pm on Tuesday, February 15th
The next Planning Board meeting is at 7:30pm on Tuesday, February 15. There is time allotted at the beginning of the meeting for residents to comment on items not on the agenda. If you do not like the idea of subdivisions and excessive variances for development, go and say so. You don’t need to comment on a specific project; saying you don’t like subdivisions with huge houses on substandards lots goes a long way to protecting the integrity of all neighborhoods in Ridgewood. No one benefits from these behemoth houses on tiny lots except for the developers and please be respectful.
02/08/11 7:30 PM Board of Adjustment Public Meeting 02/09/11 8:00 PM Village Council Public Meeting 02/15/11 7:30 PM Planning Board Public Meeting 02/22/11 7:30 PM Board of Adjustment Work Session 02/23/11 7:30 PM Village Council Work Session
>Melinda Cronk and Dom Nizza : the “focus group” conclusion that we need a cement pool
Melinda Cronk and Dom Nizza are posting numerous messages about Graydon on the Ridgewood Patch. She feels that her “focus group” conclusion that we need a cement pool is still correct.(Did you know that focus groups can give you the results that you want?) In this economy the town cannot afford to spend on the pool. What we have is beautiful. If you don’t like it then you can swim elsewhere. Not everyone uses Graydon and that is OK, it is there for those who choose to use it. Like the bandshell. The election loss of Cronk & Dold was a vote on Graydon there is not much else to say about the platform. The residents spoke.
Ridgewood will allow non residents to use Graydon and other towns allow Ridgewood residents to use their pools. It is better when we all share. Sharing/merging services is the future. There will be a lot more sharing for Ridgewood – police, fire and local government.
You may find that there are nice people in other towns. Expand your horizons, Ridgewood is not the center of the universe.
>Gov. Christie weighs in on stalled contract negotiations for Ocean County law enforcement unions
Gov. Chris Christie on Wednesday responded to two letters Ocean County Freeholder John C. Bartlett Jr. has sent him since December, pleading with the governor for assistance in stalled contract negotiations with the county’s seven law enforcement unions. (Larsen, Asbury Park Press)
>Toll collectors’ union proposes pay, job reductions
The union representing toll collectors and maintenance workers on the state’s two largest toll roads said it is offering $16 million worth of concessions, from pay cuts to job eliminations, as a counter-proposal to privatizing collections. (Higgs, Daily Record)
