Tag: Ridgewood Parks & Recreation

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Fourth of July is meant to honor the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution it led to, that help keep us free

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July 4,2018

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, This Fourth of July, when you watch the fireworks, will you think about the Declaration of Independence?

The United States Declaration of Independence is the statement adopted by the Second Continental Congress meeting at the Pennsylvania State House (now known as Independence Hall) in Philadelphia on July 4, 1776. The Declaration announced that the thirteen American colonies then at war with the Kingdom of Great Britain would regard themselves as thirteen independent sovereign states no longer under British rule. With the Declaration, these new states took a collective first step toward forming the United States of America. The declaration was signed by representatives from New Hampshire, Massachusetts Bay, Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Delaware, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia.

We should, says John Stossel. After all, the holiday is meant to honor the Declaration. It, and the Constitution it led to, help keep us free.

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Lightning Strikes Home on Hillcrest Road in Ridgewood

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photos courtesy of Boyd Loving’s Facebook

July 4,2018

the staff of  the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, Lightning struck a 3-story single family home on Hillcrest Road in Ridgewood during a late Tuesday afternoon, 07/03, thunderstorm, igniting an intense fire inside of the structure’s third floor. Ridgewood firefighters extinguished the blaze within 50 minutes of arriving on location. Firefighters from Waldwick Fire Department , Glen Rock Fire Department , and Ho-Ho-Kus Fire Department assisted Ridgewood Fire Department  at the scene. Ridgewood Police, Ridgewood EMS, and Ridgewood Emergency Services personnel also responded to the incident. Three (3) dogs were reported to have been inside of the residence when the fire started; their current location/condition is unknown. A team of commercial house painters working at the home when the lightning bolt struck escaped injury.

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July 4th Marks One of Nation’s Deadliest Holidays for Drunk Driving

Celebrate Designate

July 3,2018

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, This Fourth of July holiday, Mothers Against Drunk Driving® (MADD) urges everyone to celebrate safely by planning ahead and designating a non-drinking driver if plans include alcohol. Backyard barbecues, fireworks displays and other festivities surrounding the Fourth of July holiday often include drinking, making it one of the deadliest holidays of the year.

Honda Civics collide Ridgewood Police Ridgewood Fire Deparrtment
Last year, from 6 p.m. July 1 to 5:59 a.m. July 5, 188 Americans were killed in crashes involving drunk drivers. During that timeframe, drunk driving deaths accounted for 41 percent of all fatalities on U.S. roadways.
“As we take time to celebrate our nation’s independence, everyone must take personal responsibility to keep this holiday happy and joyous. All too often, celebrations become tragedies because of one person’s careless and deadly decision to drink and drive,” said MADD National President Colleen Sheehey-Church.  “Designate a non-drinking driver, if you plan to drink alcohol.”
MADD is proud to work with National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to remind the public that if you choose to drink and drive you will get caught. MADD supports NHTSA’s campaign, “Buzzed Driving is Drunk Driving” and is grateful to law enforcement for their increased presence by conducting additional sobriety checkpoints to remove drunk drivers from our roads.

Sobriety checkpoints are extremely effective in preventing drunk driving deaths and injuries and can reduce alcohol-related crashes and fatalities by 18 to 24 percent. MADD always supports law enforcement during these high-visibility enforcement events and urges everyone to show their support for this proven countermeasure in their state.

Drunk driving is not only dangerous, it is expensive. When caught, drunk driving can cost an offender thousands of dollars. According to NHTSA, a DUI arrest could cost up to $10,000, not to mention the loss of vehicle and driving privileges. The driver also could face jail time, higher insurance rates and expenses from attorney fees, fines, car towing, repairs and lost time at work.  Most importantly, they can kill others including family members.

Drunk driving remains the leading killer on our roads, yet these senseless deaths are 100 percent preventable, 100 percent of the time. MADD’s Campaign to Eliminate Drunk Driving is helping create a future with No More Victims®. The campaign includes advocacy for stronger drunk driving laws including all-offender ignition interlocks, support for high-visibility law enforcement, support for advanced vehicle technologies and public support for these initiatives.

MADD reminds everyone to take personal responsibility by using taxis, public transportation, rideshare services or calling a non-drinking friend if their plans include alcohol this Independence Day and every day.

 

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The Ridgewood Police Wrap Up the 5th Annual Chief Michael Feeney, Jr. Police Academy

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photos courtesy of the Ridgewood Police Department

July 3,2018

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, The Ridgewood Police Department held the 5th annual Chief Michael Feeney, Jr. Police Academy from Friday June 22nd through Friday June 29th 2018, at Benjamin Franklin Middle School. The Academy was open to Ridgewood residents entering 5th 6th and 7th grades in the fall of 2018.

The cadets begin their first day of the Ridgewood Police Chief Michael Feeney Jr Police Academy with a meet and greet . Then the Cadets visited the Bergen County Law and Public Safety Institute in Mahwah where they participated in tactical driving, firefighting an obstacle course and a swat team demonstration.

The cadets watched an Army National Guard Helicopter land in Ridgewood and then off to  Newark Airport where they learned how the TSA operates to keep passengers safe while traveling. The students then visited MetLife Stadium to learn about security from the stadium staff and the the New Jersey State Police.

Ridgewood Resident Melanie Whobin praised the event  , “Never in my life have I ever seen such a wonderfully presented, well oiled machine of a camp. Everyone ***everyone*** could take a lesson from how this was put together and how it was executed. Every detail was considered, but most importantly,The motivation for the camp- Michael Feeney present in every detail. The Ridgewood Police and Fire, along with every other entity in Bergen county, which took part in this camp, have wowed me- and this cadet, Amazing job.”

 

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EARLY GETAWAY SERVICE SET IN ADVANCE OF INDEPENDENCE DAY HOLIDAY

bike_at_rtrainstation_theridgewoodblog

July 3,2018

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ,  NJ TRANSIT will offer “early getaway’’ rail and bus service on Tuesday, July 3, for the benefit of customers leaving work early in anticipation of the Independence Day holiday on Wednesday, July 4. In addition, there will be service changes throughout the NJ TRANSIT system on July 4.

To help speed the getaway, customers are reminded that they can enjoy the convenience of purchasing tickets through the MyTix feature on the NJ TRANSIT mobile app.

IMPORTANT NOTE: Beverages of any kind, in any type of container, open or closed, will not be permitted on board train/bus/light rail cars. This policy will be strictly enforced. As a reminder, beverages of any kind are not permitted at any time on board buses regardless of the event.

On Tuesday, July 3:

Starting at approximately 1:00 p.m., extra outbound service will operate on the Northeast Corridor, North Jersey Coast, Raritan Valley, Morris & Essex, Pascack Valley and Port Jervis lines to accommodate early customer departures. Visit www.njtransit.com for details.

Many bus lines will feature service adjustments throughout the day. Visit www.njtransit.com more information.
All light rail systems will operate on regular weekday schedules.

On Independence Day, Wednesday, July 4:

Trains will operate on a weekend/major holiday schedule on all lines, with these additions:
Additional Bay Head-Long Branch trains on the North Jersey Coast line (which began service 6/24); see NJCL timetable for details HERE.
An additional train departing Port Jervis at 4:09 p.m., which makes all stops to Suffern, then operates express to Secaucus Junction and Hoboken.
NJ TRANSIT will adjust Hudson-Bergen Light Rail (HBLR) for the Jersey City Freedom Fireworks Festival at Exchange Place.

Between 10 a.m. until 2 p.m.

At the request of public safety officials, beginning at 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. light rail vehicles will travel through Exchange Place but will bypass the Exchange Place stop. Customers will not be able to board or exit light rail vehicles at Exchange Place during this time. Customers may use Essex St. or Harborside as alternates.

Beginning at 2:00 p.m.:

Tonnelle Avenue and Hoboken Terminal southbound trains will terminate at Harborside.
West Side Avenue and 8th Street northbound trains will terminate at Essex Street.
There will be no direct light rail service from 8th Street to Hoboken Terminal or from Tonnelle Avenue to West Side Avenue.
Normal HBLR service will resume when the New Jersey Transit Police Department determines it is safe to reopen Exchange Place to light rail traffic.
Newark Light Rail will operate on a Saturday schedule.
River Line will operate on a Sunday schedule.
Bus service levels will vary by line. Visit www.njtransit.com for more information.

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Summer has arrived! The Farmer’s Market in Ridgewood is open Every Sunday

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July 2,2018

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, the summer has arrived . The Ridgewood Farmer’s Market is now open from June 24th to November 18, 2018
Sundays from 9:00am to 3:00pm (weather permitting)

Enjoy Farm to Table fresh Produce!

The Ridgewood Train Station Parking Lot West Side

For more information contact the Ridgewood Chamber of Commerce Office at (201)445-2600 or email us at info@ridgewoodchamber.com

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National Weather Service has issued and Air Quality and Excessive Heat Alert for Today

Graydon Pool Ridgewood

July 2,2018

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, the National Weather Service has issued an…AIR QUALITY ALERT IN EFFECT FROM 10 AM TO 11 PM EDT MONDAY…

The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection has issued an Air Quality Action Day for the following counties…

Bergen…Essex…Passaic…Union…Hudson.

An Ozone Action Day has been declared! Ozone is forecast to reach the unhealthy for sensitive groups category state-wide due to light southerly winds, hot temperatures, and abundant sunshine. Sensitive individuals including the very young, the elderly, and persons with respiratory diseases such as asthma, should avoid strenuous outdoor activities during the afternoon and early evening hours.

There is also an …EXCESSIVE HEAT WARNING IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 PM EDT THIS EVENING…

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for northeast New Jersey and southeast New York.

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RIDGEWOOD PLANNING BOARD REORGANIZATION & PUBLIC MEETING

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PLANNING BOARD REORGANIZATION & PUBLIC MEETING NOTICE/AGENDA
Tuesday, July 3, 2018
Village Hall Court Room – 7:30 P.M.
(all timeframes and the order of agenda items below are approximate and subject to change)
1. 7:30 p.m. – Call to Order, Statement of Compliance, Flag Salute, Roll Call – In accordance with the provisions of Section 10:4-8d of the Open Public Meetings Act, the date, location, and time of the commencement of this meeting is reflected in a meeting notice, a copy of which schedule has been filed with the Village Manager and the Village Clerk, The Ridgewood News and The Record newspapers, and posted on the bulletin board in the entry lobby of the Village municipal offices at 131 North Maple Avenue, and on the Village website, all in accordance with the provisions of the Open Public Meetings Act.
2. 7:35 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. – Reorganization of Planning Board
Appointment of Board Attorney
Swearing of Board Members
Election of Officers
Selection of Experts
Appointment of Board Committees and Designees
Resolution re: Open Public Meetings Act and Annual Meeting Schedule
3. 8:30 p.m. – 8:40 p.m. – Public Comments on Topics not Pending Before the Board
4. 8:40 p.m. – 8:50 p.m. – Committee/Commission/Professional Updates for Non Agenda Topics; Correspondence Received by the Board
5. 8:50 p.m. – 8:55 p.m. – Calbi, Minor Subdivision and Permit for not Abutting Street, 315 East Glen Avenue, Block 2106, Lot 20 – Adoption of Memorializing Resolution of Approval
6. 8:55 p.m. – 9:30 p.m. – Land Use Liability Seminar Presentation by the Planning Board Attorney
7. 9:30 p.m. – 9:35 p.m. – Approval of minutes from February 7, 2017
8. 9:35 p.m. – Executive Session (if needed)
9. Adjournment – In accordance with the Open Public Meetings Act, all meetings of the Ridgewood Planning Board (i.e., official public meetings, work sessions, pre-meeting assemblies and special meetings) are public meetings, which are always open to members of the general public.
Members: Susan Knudsen, Jeff Voigt, Joel Torielli, Melanie McWilliams, David Scheibner, Richard Joel, Debbie Patire, Frances Barto, James Van Goor, Alysson Wesner, and Matthew Bandelt
Professional Staff: Christopher Martin, Esq., Board Attorney; Christopher J. Rutishauser, Village Engineer; Brigette Bogart, Planner; Michael Cafarelli, Board Secretary

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The Village Council Moves Forward on Bond Ordinance for Hudson Street Parking Garage in Ridgewood

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July 1,2018

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, the new Village council move quickly on a $12,000,000 financing for the Hudson Street garage.

3650 – Bond Ordinance – Hudson Street Parking Garage
($12 million)- Appropriates this money for the design, management, construction, furnishing and equipping of the Hudson Street parking garage
3651 – 2018 NJDOT Grant – Hillcrest Road Capital Ordinance – Appropriates $215,000.00 for the Hillcrest Road Streetscape project, which will be reimbursed through a $215,000.00 grant from the NJ Department of Transportation
3652 – 2018 NJDOT Grant – North Pleasant Avenue Capital Ordinance – Appropriates $165,627.00 for the North Pleasant Avenue Streetscape project, which will be reimbursed through a $165,627.00 grant from the NJ Department of Transportation

24. RESOLUTIONS

THE FOLLOWING RESOLUTIONS, NUMBERED 18-196 THROUGH 18-210 ARE TO BE ADOPTED BY A CONSENT AGENDA, WITH ONE VOTE BY THE VILLAGE COUNCIL. THERE IS A BRIEF DESCRIPTION BESIDE EACH RESOLUTION TO BE CONSIDERED ON THE CONSENT AGENDA. EACH RESOLUTION WILL BE READ BY TITLE ONLY:

18-196 Appoint Village Attorney (NTE $275,000) – Appoints Matthew Rogers as the Village Attorney under a no bid contract from for a term of 7/1/18-6/30/19. The required Pay to Play forms have been filed.
18-197 Appoint Village Bond Attorney (NTE $60,000) – Appoints McManimon, Scotland, and Baumann, L.L.C., 75 Livingston Avenue, 2nd Floor, Roseland, NJ as the Village Bond Attorney from 7/1/18-6/30/19 under a no-bid contract. The required Pay to Play forms have been filed.
18-198 Appoint Village Professional Planner (NTE $60,000) – Appoints Brigette Bogart or Brigette Bogart, Planning and Design Professionals, LLC, 648 Godwin Avenue, Suite 2, Midland Park, NJ as the Village Professional Planner from 7/1/18 – 6/30/19, under a no-bid contract. The required Pay to Play forms have been filed.
18-199 Appoint Professional Planning Consultant for Declaratory Judgment Litigation – Affordable Housing and Related Matters (NTE $65,000) – Appoints Elizabeth McManus, LEED, AP, PP, AICP and Clark, Caton and Hintz, 100 Barrack Street, Trenton, NJ as the Village Professional Planning Consultant from 7/1/18 through 6/30/19, under a no-bid contract. The required Pay to Play forms have been filed.

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July 4th Ridgewood Parade and Fireworks

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July 2,2018

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, The Ridgewood July 4th Committee invites you to “Support the Tradition” !

At 10AM (rain or shine)  a Parade of bands and festive floats will march  from the Westside of the Train Tracks ; down E. Ridgewood Avenue to N. Maple Ave., past Village Hall ending at Graydon Pool.

Fireworks will take place around 9PM on Veterans Field. The evening festivities start at 6PM with entrainment at the Kasschau Shell. Fireworks tickets are available in advance for $10 in Backyard Living, Hillmann electric, ConnectOne Bank, Bookends, Daily Treat, The Wine Seller, Goffle Brook Farm, Town & Country – and the Ridgewood Library – June 28 – 30  9am to 3pm.  Fireworks tickets at the gate are $15 for adults and $$10 for children.

www.RidgewoodJuly4th.com

Information: 201/602-1922

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Ramon Hache Sworn in as Village of Ridgewood Mayor !

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July 1,2018

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, congratulations to Susan and Mike on the big win . The Village Council Reorganization Meeting, was held today Sunday, July 1, 2018 at Noon in the Sydney V. Stoldt, Jr. Court Room. Susan Knudsen and Michael Sedon will be sworn . A special congratulations to Ramon Hache who was sworn in as the new Mayor of Ridgewood and Susan Knudsen who was sworn in as the Deputy Mayor .

In attendance was Father Ron , Congressmen Josh Gottheimer , Bergen County Executive James J. Tedesco, III , Bergen County Freeholder Tracy Zur and Acting Bergen County Prosecutor Dennis Calo .

The Village Council is the governing body of the Village of Ridgewood. There are five Council members who are elected at large, on a non-partisan basis. The Municipal Election for Village Council takes place on the second Tuesday in May, in even numbered years. The term of a Council member is four years. The Mayor is chosen by the Village Council every two years, after a Municipal Election. The Reorganization meeting,which is when the new Council members take office is held on July 1st.

Village Council members serve part-time, and most have full-time jobs. They appoint a Village Manager to oversee the day to day operations of the Village, to handle personnel, citizen inquiries and complaints, and to handle the administrative duties of the Village.

The Village Council passes local laws, makes appointments to various Boards and Committees, and awards various contracts for purchases of goods and services used by the Village.

They also review, amend, and adopt the annual budget for the Village prepared by the Village Manager and Chief Financial Officer.

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Glen Rock Mayor Bruce Packer : “Ridgewood Water rates continue to reflect rate increases that a judge struck down because the Village decided that she was wrong”

Glen Rock Mayor Bruce Packer

July 1,2018

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Glen Rock NJ, Glen Rock Mayor Bruce Packer had some choice words on his Facebook page for the Ridgewood Village Council and Ridgewood Water .

Packer states, ” The Ridgewood Village Council chose to ignore the facts set out by the expert hired by Glen Rock, Midland Park, and Wyckoff which made it clear that the Ridgewood Water rate increases of the past were not justified as previously pointed out by a judge and they have reinstated the rate increases that the judge had voided.
In short, your Ridgewood Water rates continue to reflect rate increases that a judge struck down because the Village decided that she was wrong. The Village was empowered by the judge to make this decision and, to me, this outcome is no surprise as they had a choice between admitting that money was historically misappropriated or not admitting that money was misappropriated. They chose the former as they continue to dispute clear facts that have now been laid out in court and during the rate hearing.
The meetings from 6/24 (7 hours long) and the one from a couple of days ago where the decision was made, are now on YouTube (see below).
Once I know our next steps, I will let you know.
**Please note that all views expressed in this post are solely my own.**”

https://www.youtube.com/c…/UC8BZwzy4YPgi_NgvSZ2q9wQ/featured

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Reader says we are led by people that don’t know that eventually you run out of other people’s money

murphphil1

This is a great example of why this state is failing. The Federal government increases the pain we all feel by changing the property tax deduction which lowers our property values and the state increases the taxes on the decreasing value of our property. This in turn makes staying in NJ less viable, which again, lowers our property values. Instead of realizing that we need real structural changes in the state to bring the fiscal house in order, we are led by people that don’t know that eventually you run out of other people’s money.

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Reader says Voigt Will Never be Mayor of Ridgewood

Jeff Voigt Ridgewood Council

“That said, Voigt will never ever get that honor because one must have respect of his or her colleagues to be voted in and Voigt has ZERO respect or credibility.”
Mr. Voigt deliberately forewent the possibility of gaining credibility or the respect of his colleagues when, mere months after his mid-2016 election to office, he embarked upon an incredibly cynical campaign to destroy the personal and political reputations of the mayor and deputy mayor (most particularly those of the mayor).
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And yes, this mini-campaign of his was absolutely intended to be a stepping stone on the way to Mr. Voigt becoming mayor himself. It was clear to those with eyes to see as early as December 2016 that Mr. Voigt intended with his cantankerous behavior and insulting words to bring about the replacement of the Mayor and Deputy Mayor with two new Voight-dependent lackeys willing to combine their votes with his, and thereby eventually (i.e., right about now) elevate him to the office of mayor.
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That’s how one becomes mayor of Ridgewood without bothering to gain any credibility or the respect of one’s Village Council colleagues.
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Don’t fool yourself, 11:14am. Mr. Voigt’s plan could have worked. And it certainly would have, absent the disinfecting action of copious amounts of sunshine to which he was exposed from December 2016 onward, courtesy of his unimpressed neighbors and TheRidgewoodBlog.net.

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Village Council Reorganization Meeting Today at Noon !

Ridgewood Village Council

July 1st 2018

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, Even a state shut down will not stop the Village reorganization meeting. The public is invited to the Village Council Reorganization Meeting, scheduled for Sunday, July 1, 2018 at Noon in the Sydney V. Stoldt, Jr. Court Room. Susan Knudsen and Michael Sedon will be sworn in for their new 4 year terms. Village Council members will vote to determine the offices of Mayor and Deputy Mayor for the new Village Council.