>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
>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, 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
>The total student population in Ridgewood Public Schools declined by nine this school year, from 5,569 to 5,560. While the total count will not be official until October 15, schools reported the following numbers on the first day of school: Glen, 44 (+5); Hawes, 427 (+13); Orchard, 317 (+3); Ridge, 482 (-24); Somerville, 469 (-2); Travell, 414 (+17); Willard, 465 (-18); BFMS, 629 (-7); GWMS, 630 (-5); RHS, 1673 (+9). The number in parenthesis reflects the change in the student population since September 30, 2005
The Board of Education approved student participation at Ridgewood High School in the Social Norms Prevention Campaign conducted through Rowan University. Social Norms is a proactive prevention model that encourages safe habits for students by correcting common misperceptions college and high students have regarding the prevalence of at-risk behaviors among their peers. The initiative was pioneered by Dr. Wesley Perkins of Hobart & William Smith University, who found wide disparity between students’ descriptions of their alcohol consumption and their perceptions of their friends and classmates drinking habits. Because perceptions influence decision-making, the Social Norms approach discourages at-risk behavior by publicizing the true nature of student social behavior. For example, while the media coverage of student drug use and binge drinking on high school and college campuses creates the impression that at-risk behavior is more pervasive than it is, the Social Norms message attempts to correct that misconception. The idea is that if students know the truth they will feel less pressured to engage in dangerous
practices themselves. By using hard data collected in surveys, Social Norms dispel the notion that most students binge drink on a frequent basis.
Because studies at the college level have shown success in reducing alcohol intake among targeted populations, the Social Norms approach has been modified for middle schools and high schools. The purpose is again to promote healthy behaviors through conveying positive, inclusive, and empowering messages that provide information on the true nature of social behavior among their peers. Statistics are accumulated using web-based surveys. Consent forms for individual students to participate will be mailed to parents or guardians. Because of New Jersey statute (18A:36-34) concerning parental consent, only students who have signed parental consent forms will be allowed to take part in the web-based survey. The study has been designed to protect each student’s privacy. The results of the survey will be used to determine which healthy behaviors are student norms and that message will be communicated via a multi-media campaign, including the use of posters, flyers, advertisements in student newspapers, bulletin boards, and newsletters.
>
>At their Monday, 9/25 public meeting, BOE members are expected to approve a contract with School Leadership, L.L.C., of New York, New York, to conduct the Schools Superintendent search. The proposed fee is $16,000, plus reasonable and necessary expenses (subject to prior Board approval and anticipated to be no more than $1,000).
>Craig Mahler, the boys soccer coach at Ridgewood High School, announced his resignation Friday after interim superintendent Paul Arilotta reinstated two players who had been cut from the varsity team.
Arilotta cited the district’s student eligibility and participation policy, which reads in part: “Whenever the ability of facilities, coaching personnel and budget permits, a no-cut policy is desirable.”
Ridgewood is starting to look like NYC in the 1970’s. Out of control spending, rogue employees and elected officials, failing education system and lack of maintenance in the town.
NYC cut police officers and firefighters also in a effort to cut spending. The results of that remains in the minds of those who had to travel to NYC to work during those frightening years. Crime rose 60% in just 2 years. Burned buildings were everywhere. Even today the city still hasn’t recovered from the population loss from those years. It took a good 15 years and federal help for the city to control its spending. They realized the problem lied in poor spending habits, non-working employees and outside political influences.
Im not saying Ridgewood is going be as bad as NYC was, but it could very well be a smaller version of it. Do the residents a favor, instead of cutting essential services such as Police, Fire, EMS, Sanitation and other quality of life services, look at things that we either don’t need or need to cut back on. Example: Rear yard garbage pickup. We also need to stop several projects that we CANT afford. Example: Parking Garage, Bank Ban. I would much rather have a second firehouse instead, i like my house not charred.
If you look at how the finical collapse of NYC started, you will see a smaller but similar problem that Ridgewood has today. But lets not make the same mistakes they made when stabilizing the budget.
>Hello,
If you would like to submit something to the Ridgewood Blog please contact us at
jamesfoytlin@optonline.net.
Events in town, resident concerns or editorial commentary are always welcome anonymous or signed .Always feel free to let us know what you’re thinking.
Thanks PJ Blogger
>During a recent Long Range Planning Meeting, Village Council members and the Village Manager discussed several ways in which to cap the growth of various municipal expenses. Some options discussed included the closure of one firehouse, disbanding the Fire Prevention Bureau, elimination of rear yard garbage pick up, layoffs in the central garage, and much more.
Full details of this important discussion may be found here:
https://www.ridgewoodnj.net/minutes/06LRPMAUG16.pdf
>
So the Ridgewood Blog got a call from Congressmen Scott Garrett’s https://garrett.house.gov/ office asking us to tag along while he visits Ridgewood for our street festival and it being the political season, baby kissing being all the rage and given this Blogs fondness for the Congressmen we thought it was a great idea .Anyone who knows Scott likes him because he is one of few stand up guys in politics . So I met the Congressman around 1 o’clock got my mandatory t shirt. All the photos were taken by Kristine Di Grigoli Paige of ArtChick Photo https://artchickphotos.com/. The festival was filled with many exciting merchants and lots of great food .From every indication it looked to be a very big success. Several people even offered to share some of there lunch to the Congressmen. Incidentally I only know what I ate but the zeppolies, cheese steak were excellent!
>learned the Valley Hospital is planning a major expansion over the north side parking lot . Architectural Plans have already been drawn up and several offsite locations are being considered for parking.
>Despite sharp objections voiced by several residents of the Glen School and Hawes School residential neighborhoods, Village Council members unanimously approved the new Athletic Field Use Policy at their Wednesday evening Public Meeting.
Citing increasing noise, pervasive litter, intrusive field lights, unruly athletes and spectators, and the presence of outsiders on each day of the week during certain months, residents encouraged the Council to reconsider approving a policy that would encourage even greater use of open space in the Village for organized sporting events.
It continues to be a major issue in the village often pitting the needs of the local neighborhoods with the needs of the Ridgewood Sports Council.
>I usually have to hear the information form 2 independent sources, unless over time someone proves to be very reliable on a particular issue. Sorry to inform you but 90% of the posts on this blog are submitted by your friend’s, your neighbors and your coworkers. So I am not some evil genius you all suspect. Most of the time I get many emails from residents who have questions about a particular happening around town. So if it’s on the blog people are talking about it already. Let’s face it there is usually a reasonable explanation for things, but if there isn’t you can always have your wife post comments defending you.
Comments again come from your friends and neighbors and in some cases coworkers as long as they don’t get too nasty I will put them up .The foolish comments seem to get shot down pretty quickly.
As for all the Anonymous comments, lets face it through the miracle of modern technology I can pretty much figure out who you are and I hate to inform you so can a lot of other people .Your secrets are safe with me unless you want your name released and no dont email me asking who someone is your wasting your time even if they are critical of the blog.
Contrary to popular belief I don’t have an Ax to grind but I see there is a great need for local information. I don’t try to go out and make the news like many other people in the media I just put it out there and let the readers decide for themselves. Do you really think no one notices when the schools fall short or ,the Village hall floods right after a costly renovation is finished ?I would suggest that if you don’t like the way something appears don’t do it .
A blog is a process and it is far from perfect so I invite anyone in the village to submit something of interest to the blog no matter who you are. Finally and most importantly I think Ridgewood is a great town; and I want it to stay that way.
Just some thought s from PJ
