>That a member of the Village Council openly solicited donations to the Ridgewood A.M. Rotary Club from Village employees. The solicitations recently took place at Village Hall during normal business hours.
Tag: Ridgewood NJ
>Readers Sound off : Non partisan elections stifle public debate of the issues.
>The complacency displayed in the last municipal election and the missteps and wrong doings of the council and the school board are a result of nonpartisan elections. Remove the political tension between the two parties and you have a free for all where both sides join together to steal as much as they can because they have no fear of being caught.
Non partisan elections stifle public debate of the issues. Adherents of this arrangement have appeared on this board from time to time telling posters to stop their complaining. If you want things to improve, bring back the two party system. Let the two sides slug it out, dig into each others doings and dealings and air the dirty laundry. It’s messy, it’s uncomfortable but it’s democracy,
Just my two cents.
>New Jersey Senate Campaign comes to Ridgewood
>Senator Tom Kean Jr.
Will be appearing
at the Ridgewood
Train Station
October 25
Please come out and help support
the Senator as he greets commuters
Be there by 4:30 P.M.
>Cafe with a European flare
>
Had a very good Cappuccino on Saturday
>NJ Transit Revises Train Station Plan
>On Wednesday, October 18th, representatives from NJ Transit publicly presented their revised plan to make the Ridgewood Train Station ADA compliant.
Significant revisions to NJ Transit’s previously presented plans include: 1) Overhead canopies that don’t cover the entire length of either the inbound or outbound platforms; 2) neither platform will extend as far north as was originally proposed; 3) the addition of sidewalks to facilitate access between Wilsey Square’s parking area and the inbound platform.
It is anticipated that Village Council members will approve this revised plan via resolution at their October 25th Work Session.
>RHS Marching Band To Perform Exhibition for Community
>The Ridgewood High School Marching Band is inviting the Ridgewood community to its first ever Mid-Season Showcase, a free exhibition performance, on Saturday, October 28, 2006, at 4:30 PM at the RHS football stadium. The band will present its award-winning show entitled “Southern Sketches,” which uses traditional American music, dance, motion, and colors to portray the story of Smalltown, America.
The band has had an excellent start to its competitive season so far with 1st, 5th, and 3rd place finishes at competitions in Somerville, Giants’ Stadium, and Hillsborough, respectively. It has also received awards for Best Music, Best Visual, Best Colorguard, and Best Percussion. Under the guidance of second year director James Garde,
the band will compete at the All-States’ Championship in Allentown, Pennsylvania the following week.
The RHS band program is one of Bergen County’s largest, composed of over 200 students who participate in more than a dozen ensembles. The curricular bands, Marching Band, Jazz Ensembles, Chamber Ensembles, Winter Colorguard and Twirlers are all recognized nationally, regionally, and locally for superior performance. Individually, members of the RHS Bands are chosen annually to perform in honor ensembles at the county, region and state levels.
>10/18 Park, Fields, Facilities & Recreational Master Plan Meeting
>The next meeting of the Parks & Recreation master planning process is scheduled for Wednesday, October 18th at 7:30 p.m. in the Ed Center, 49 Cottage Place. The target group for this meeting is the Planning Board; Park, Recreation & Conservation Board; Open Space Committee; BOE Facilities Committee.
Future meetings will be held on: October 30th at the Ed Center; November 29 at the Sydney V. Stoldt, Jr. Court Room at Village Hall, 131 North Maple Ave
>Maple Ave Shut Down
>
Maple Avenue near Glen Avenue shut down for over 2 hours during the evening
rush hour due to 2 separate motor vehicle accidents.
>Revised Plan for Train Station
>Wednesday, October 18th from 7 to 9pm, representatives from NJ Transit will be in the Court Room in Ridgewood Village Hall to present a revised plan to make the Ridgewood Train Station ADA compliant. This meeting is for the public and will detail changes from the former set of plans. There will be an opportunity for questions and answers.
>Around the Village
>
The Ridgewood Blog Celebrates Columbus day
>Columbus Day is a holiday celebrated in many countries in the Americas, commemorating the date of Christopher Columbus’s arrival in the New World in 1492. Similar holidays, celebrated as Día de la Raza (Day of the Race) in many countries in Latin America, Discovery Day in the Bahamas, Hispanic Day in Spain, and the newly-renamed (as of 2002) Día de la Resistencia Indígena (Day of Indigenous Resistance) in Venezuela, commemorate the same event.
Italian-Americans observe Columbus Day as a celebration of Italian-American heritage. Columbus Day was first celebrated by Italians in San Francisco in 1869, following on the heels of 1866 Italian celebrations in New York City. The first state celebration was in Colorado in 1905, and in 1937, at the behest of the Knights of Columbus (a Catholic fraternal service organization named for the voyager), President Franklin Delano Roosevelt set aside Columbus Day as a holiday in the United States. Since 1971, the holiday has been commemorated in the U.S. on the second Monday in October, the same day as Thanksgiving in neighboring Canada.
Italian-Americans feel pride in the day due to the fact that Christopher Columbus, an Italian sailor, sailed to the Americas. Many royal courts were interested in financing the voyage, but Spain financed the ships for Columbus’ brainchild. Some Hispanics are embittered by this victory for Columbus. In the United States, Banks and government offices are closed on Columbus Day.
>Readers Speak Out on Valley Hospital Proposed Expansion
>Anonymous said…
Slick strategy.1) saves tons in legal fees; 2) eliminates the opportunity for neighbors to object at zoning hearings; 3) instead of trying to schmooze the neighborhood masses, all they have to do is convince the 5 Village Council members.Slick; very slick. Valley’s attorney, Charles Collins, should be quite proud of himself. I guess that’s why Valley pays Charlie the big bucks though.If you plan on objecting to the expansion, don’t waste your time talking to anyone else but a Council member. The entire future of The Valley is now in their hands.
2:49 PM
Anonymous said…
So now Ridgewood taxpayers know EXACTLY why Ms. Audrey Meyers, President and CEO of The Valley Health Group, trotted herself out to this week’s Village Council Work Session to deliver what was billed as a “courtesy” presentation.”Courtesy” presentation my ass. Ms. Meyers completely understands the game objective; pull out all stops to get every Village Council member in favor of the expansion project.I always thought that Audrey Meyers was a very classy, upstanding businesswoman. Now I know that she’s nothing but a sleezebag like many others in this town.
3:11 PM
Anonymous said…
The defined legal process is for The Valley to present before Ridgewood’s Zoning Board of Adjustment or Planning Board. The Valley’s attorney is very familiar with the proper procedure.Ms. Meyers’ attempt to inappropriately influence the Village Council prior to such presentations is what qualifies her as a sleazebag.Fortunately, Mayor David T. Pfund knew what she was up to, and that is why he directed Council members were to make no comments, nor ask any questions before, during, or after her presentation. Any slip of the lips could have created cause for legal action by opponents at a later date.Way to go Dave!
5:30 PM
Anonymous said…
If you prefer reading the opinions only of those who identify themseleves, may I suggest that you confine your reading to the Ridgewood News’ Letters to the Editor section.99.9% of the posters on this blog choose not to identify themselves publicly. If that bothers you, stop reading this blog.Based on reports carried here and in the Ridgewood News regarding Ms. Meyers’ presentation, and from information taken directly off of The Valley’s own web site, it would appear The Valley was indeed trying to inappropriately influence Village Council members.If the shoe fits, wear it.
12:46 AM
Anonymous said…
It would be my pleasure to provide you with my name, when and where would you like to meet? Regarding the suggestion about reading the Ridgewood News’ Letters to the Editor section, Thanks, I already read that newspaper along with a few others.I am well aware that 99.9% of the posters on this blog choose not to identify themselves publicly. However, I don’t remember saying that that bothered me…. Does it bother you? As you know (and I hope you do) Valley Hospital sent their presentation to every resident of the Village of Ridgewood, which happens to include the mayor and council.This presentation was done in public at a public meeting not in some back room behind some magical curtain. I wonder… if Valley didn’t make this presentation and only sent out their plan to the residents of the Village of Ridgewood, including the mayor and council, I am willing to bet you would still be making the same allegations of this being an inappropriate influence of Village Council members. Sounds to me like you just want to make claims of wrong doing no matter what. Based on your analysis then I guess the Valley Hospital is trying to inappropriately influence each and every resident too. A bit of a stretch!Your friendly Village Idiot
5:14 AM
Anonymous said…
I am not concerned about The Valley’s advertising/public relations campaign directed at citizens of our community. The Valley is entitled to spend their money as they wish. I would fully anticipate they would seek to gain public support for this project.What concerned me was The Valley’s attempt to circumvent the prescribed process of presenting to either the zoning board of adjustment or planning board. The Village Council deals with zoning matters, by way of introducing new ordinances or amending existing ones, only upon the recommendation of either the zoning board of adjustment or planning board.Translation: There is an established process for pleading your case with respect to zoning matters in Ridgewood, and no individual/organization, except governmental agencies, is exempt from this process – not even The Valley.
10:53 PM
Anonymous said…
“Any other laws we should change to protect a few important taxpayers?”For the record, The Valley pays no property taxes for their campus at Linwood and Van Dien. Zip, none . . .
4:44 PM
Anonymous said…
Good point. Shall we list the ways that Valley Hospital impacts the local economy? Maybe they can move the Hospital.. then sell the land to developers? That will generate some property taxes! Oh, but wait… how to zone it? Review by the proper authorities? Nahhhh… lets have it re-zoned by our Friends in the Executive Branch.
5:41 PM
>Village Council and Planning Board Meetings
>10/03/06 7:30pm Planning Board Work and Public Meeting
10/04/06 7:30pm Village Council Work Session
10/11/06 8:00pm Village Council Public Meeting
10/17/06 7:30pm Planning Board Public Meeting
10/25/06 7:30pm Village Council Work Session
11/01/06 7:30pm Village Council Work Session
>The Valley Hospital’s zoning strategy (as taken from a FAQ posted on The Valley’s web site)
>Q. What does the hospital need to begin?
A. Current Ridgewood Village zoning does not permit this renewal without seeking approval from the Board of Adjustment. This approach, which has been used by the hospital in the past, is being set aside in favor of developing a broader, more appropriate solution: recognition of a modern hospital zone by the Planning Board. The Village is currently undergoing a master plan review, including evaluating development standards for the hospital zone. We believe the time is right to establish the modern zone. If we can establish the modern zone, Renewal can begin.
The bottom line: The Valley has no intention of applying for zoning variances. Instead, they will lobby heavily to have the existing Hospital Zone (H) ordinance amended/revised to fit their expansion plans. All amendments/revisions to Village ordinances must be approved by the Village Council.
Link to Valley Hospital’s official web site presentation of their “Renewal” program
https://www.valleyhealth.com/valleyRenewal.asp
>Ridgewood Taxpayers Association is always looking for new members
>Ridgewood Taxpayers Association, Inc
54 Washington Pl
Ridgewood, NJ 07450
The members of the Ridgewood Taxpayers Association are organized for the following purposes:
1. To analyze and increase awareness of tax issues affecting residents of the Village of Ridgewood;
2. To promote local, regional and state legislation for the fair taxation of the Village of Ridgewood residents;
3. To monitor local and related county and state spending practices and, where applicable, to develop and promote alternative means of providing necessary services to the residents of the Village of Ridgewood at lower cost;
4. To share ideas and information with other local and county taxpayer groups and our elected officials and to facilitate and demand prudent spending in the State of New Jersey;
5. To devote time, attention and effort to maximizing efficient use of tax monies raised from the taxpayers of the Village of Ridgewood.
YES, I WANT A VOICE IN HOW MY TAXES ARE SPENT!!
ANNUAL DUES: $5.00 ADDITIONAL CONTRIBUTION: $___________
PLEASE PRINT
NAME:__________________________________________________
ADDRESS:_______________________________________________
PHONE:_________________________________________________
EMAIL:_________________________________________________
SIGNATURE:_____________________________________________
DATE:___________________________________________________
I will serve on a committee: _______Membership _______Publicity _______Event _______Other
see the link on the bottom left of the Ridgewood Blog
