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Ridgewood’s Gold Star Mother’s Day Commemoration

goldstar_mothers-day_theridgewoodblog

August 25th 2016
the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, On Sunday, September 25, 2016 our Nation honors our Gold Star Mothers and families. The Presidential Proclamation in 2011 commemorating this day pronounces, “As members of a grateful Nation, we owe a debt we can never repay, but hold this sacred obligation forever in our hearts, minds, and actions. We honor their sacrifice, and stand with our service members, military families, and Gold Star families as they have stood for us.”

The American Legion Post 53 and Ridgewood NJ’s Blue Star Families are committed to bringing awareness to our community and to commemorate the sacrifices these mothers and their families have made for our Country.In the aftermath of World War I, Washington D.C. resident Grace Darling Seibold formed an organization called Gold Star Mothers to support the moms who had lost sons and daughters to the war. Grace’s son, First Lieutenant George Vaughn Seibold, was an aviator killed in combat over France in 1918. In 1928, the small D.C.-based group decided to nationalize its efforts. In 1936, a joint congressional resolution established the last Sunday in September as

Gold Star Mother’s Day. The Gold Star Mothers grew from a support group of 60 women to today’s extensive nationwide network with tens of thousands of members and hundreds of local chapters.

In Ridgewood, NJ the Gold Star Mother’s Day Committee will sponsor our fourth annualevent commemorating Gold Star Mother’s Day on Sunday, September 25, 2016. There will be a short ceremony starting promptly at 7:00 p.m. and hundreds of luminaries will be lit to honor Gold Star Mothers and their families. But in addition, our goal is to see thousands of other luminaries lit throughout Ridgewood and other towns on September 27th to honor the Gold Star Mothers and families!

Luminaries will be available for a donation before the ceremony at the following

location:

Residence of Bob Paoli, Commander American Legion Post #53,at 368 N. Pleasant Avenue, Ridgewood, NJ. 07450

Call 201-445-1738 to arrange time to pickup

Everyone also can stand with us in honoring the Gold Star Mothers and families by

helping to raise awareness through:

 talking to your family, friends, and neighbors about the event;

 joining us at Van Neste Park; and,

 supporting this event with a donation (please make checks payable to the American

Legion Post #53, write “Gold Star event” on the memo line, and send it to the American Legion Post #53, P.O. Box 1525, Ridgewood, NJ 07450).

Thank you for your support and cooperation,/s/ Ridgewood, NJ Gold Star Mother’s Day Committee.

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How about Changing things that are Broken in Ridgewood instead of what is not

Abraham Godwin Ridgewood
August 25,2016
the staff of the Ridgewood blog

“Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it”  George Santayana

Ridgewood NJ, by destroying Village history and discarding those who made sacrifices in our past are we not trampling on the very foundations of what made the Village of Ridgewood ,the Village of Ridgewood?

There are hundreds of commemorative bricks in Van Neste Memorial Park and large commemorative markers associated with the 1995 restoration project, are we so willing to disregard the people and the past ?

And if you are willing to sacrifice the past,who’s decision is it anyway ? A Village employee trying to make political points?
History is what makes you who you are. In Van Neste Square there is a memorial dedicated to Abraham Godwin. Abraham Godwin was born July 16, 1763. He was a Soldier, Statesman, artist, poet, engraver, and a very talented musician. As a soldier Abraham went to Fishkill joining his brother, Captain Henry Godwin’s regiment, the Fifth of the Line, January 17, 1777, as a fife major. The regiment was ordered to Fort Montgomery to lay the chain across the Hudson River. He was in the Governor’s life guard at Schenectady protecting the frontier at Lake Otsego under General Sullivan during the Finger Lakes campaign and at Yorktown, where he witnessed the surrender of Cornwallis to Washington.

Before Ridgewood got its name, it was called Godwinville in his honor. Godwin Avenue is now named after him. There are various other war memorials in Van Neste Square as well.

No one is against “change” but why is it the politicians always look to “fix” things that are not broken ? Why must we always “change” the good but never change the bad?
Why must we destroy and denigrate our history but put up with a “3rd world water system” ? If your looking for change how about changing Ridgewood Water instead, so we do not have water restrictions every summer?

Reader says Brigadier General Abraham Godwin should be the Patron Saint of this blog
https://theridgewoodblog.net/reader-says-brigadier-general-abraham-godwin-should-be-the-paitron-saint-of-this-blog/
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Reader says We should memorialize Hudson Garage caper with a village plaque to hubris and for the future generations

Village of Ridgewood : Van Neste Memorial Park "Revival" project

We should memorialize this caper with a village plaque to hubris and for the future generations to Trust but first Verify.Could have turned out quite differently without the hard and determined efforts to overcome those developers and some whom they called to dance to their opportunistic tune.

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Reader says Village Manager, Human Resource, Village Engineer, Superintendent of Parks and Rec. are running this town not the new council

3 amigos

First of all why is Christopher Rutishause e-Mailing plans for the park to Bill Gilsenan? Why is Gilsenan getting involved in the park? Im tired of all the so called Demigod running this Village. Paul Vagianos, John Saraceno Ed Sullivan, Tom Hillman and now Bill Gilsenan. Their names were not on the Village ballot for council. This council has to watch very closely what goes on because there has always been a small group self proclaimed Demigod who try to run this town from behind the scenes. Simply voting out the 3 Amigos is not going to stop this because its Systemic.

VM, Assistant to the VM, HR, Village Engineer, Superintendent of Parks and Rec. and the above named are running this town not the new council. Poster just need to reflect back to some of the fiascos that have happen in the last 4 years to find the common thread. Wise up new Village Council and get a grip on this. Don’t let them distract you while they plan or plot.

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More subterfuge from Village Hall in Ridgewood?

Village of Ridgewood : Van Neste Memorial Park "Revival" project
file photo by Boyd Loving
August 25,2016

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, Another bombshell uncovered as a result of a recent Open Public Records Act request –

In an e-mail dated July 27, 2016 from Village Engineer Christopher Rutishauser to Bill Gilsenan, the Subject of which is: “Van Neste Park,” Mr. Rutishauser writes:

“We are thinking of renovating the brick walkways, relocating some of them, installing a small protective fence along the South Walnut Street wall area (so no one falls off the wall), maybe crate [sic] a small stage area, upgrade/add water fountains, and maybe even turn the monument eagle to the correct orientation.”

Screenshot 2016 08 25 at 6.33.44 AM

No “small stage area” was ever mentioned during the Village Council Work Session of August 3, nor during the Village Council Public Meeting of August 10, nor is a “small stage area” included as part of a proposed project plan diagram prepared by the Village of Ridgewood Engineering Division, Christopher J. Rutishauser, P.E. (initials J.M. also noted on the plan).  However, the aforementioned plan does indicate that walkways now located in the center of the park will be removed, creating a moderately sized, circular shaped, open/vacant space.

The staff of The Ridgewood Blog surmises that this open/vacant space is the intended location for the “small stage area” referenced in Mr. Rutishauser’s July 27, 2016 e-mail, and that for some as yet unknown reason, this fact was kept under wraps – not mentioned to Village Council members, not included as part of a project plan diagram, and definitely not mentioned during two (2) separate open public meetings.

What is the intent of this “small stage area” and why was it never mentioned?  Did Mr. Rutishauser himself come up with the idea, or was it brought to him by someone else?  Fenced off park, small stage area – it would seem this sets the stage (no pun intended) for concerts/performances/shows to be regularly held at this location.  If this is the case, what organization(s) will be sponsoring them?  Might this explain the need to build an $11.5 million parking garage two (2) blocks away?

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Ridgewood Planning Board Meeting

village-hall-theridgewoodblog

PLANNING BOARD AGENDA – AUGUST 30, 2016

PLANNING BOARD PUBLIC MEETING AGENDA

Tuesday, August 30, 2016

Village 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.Roll call: Knudsen, Voigt, Altano, Joel, Reilly, Patire, Thurston, Scheibner, Torielli, McWilliams
  2. 7:35 p.m. – 7:40 p.m. – Public Comments on Topics not Pending Before the Board
  3. 7:40 p.m. – 7:45 p.m. – Committee/Commission/Professional Updates for Non Agenda Topics, Correspondence Received by the Board
  4. 7:45 p.m. – 9:30 p.m. – Executive Session
  5. 9:30 p.m. – 9:45 p.m. – Appointment of Legal Counsel
  6. AdjournmentIn 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, Kevin Reilly, David Thurston, Isabella Altano, Debbie Patire

    Professional Staff: Blais L. Brancheau, Planner; Gail L. Price, Esq., Board Attorney; Christopher J. Rutishauser, Village Engineer; Michael Cafarelli, Board Secretary

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Readers Analyse Ridgewood “Garage Vote”

pro garage signs 2

 

The first election was presumably simply for a parking garage. Many of us voted “yes” because we do need a garage. When Aronson and crew decided that we voters “really meant” to vote “yes” on that monstrosity that he wanted, a second vote was held. On that we voted “No” because it was supposed to be “Did we want to bond money for ‘A’ garage” but Aronson inserted the amount for the largest garage that he wanted. He also set the vote on the earliest possible date, while he was still in office so he could presumably still break the ground for his dream. And yes, our new Council members did say they wanted a garage but not “that” garage. So, to me, what the voters wanted was still a garage, but not something of that size. And they wanted the new Council to handle the details with input from the residents of Ridgewood.

DSCF4131

file photo by Boyd Loving

We voted against the monster garage.People were duped into voting for the monster garage in November. We were reassured that we were voting for A garage, not any specific design.
Then some hard working residents started a petition drive against the monster garage. No one ever said that they were against building a garage. They just want the right size in the right location.
Council members who were elected said that they would look into a redesign/relocation. No one running said that they were against a garage. There will be a garage.

DSCF2054

file photo by Boyd Loving

One current council member admitted publicly during the campaign in the spring that he had been among those bamboozled by lies and omissions about the garage (he did not put it quite that way) and voted yes in the November referendum. He was among many. Had a true depiction and description been made available, including the fact that the thing was going to Occupy Hudson Street, and if it had been explained, as was the case, that a “yes” vote was not for a concept, but for the largest drawing–formally “approved,” by mayoral fiat, by the Historic Preservation Commission’s relatively new chair (appointed by the then-mayor), without checking with the members, and by the mayor’s personally created and hand-picked Financial Advisory Committee–how many residents would have agreed to it? Only those with something to gain, those who pay no attention, and those whose finger slipped in the voting booth. I think the “yes” votes would have amounted to about 150, including mistakes.

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Clearly, the time has come for the Village of Ridgewood Manager Roberta Sonenfeld to move on

Village_Manager_Roberta_Sonenfeld_theridgewoodblog

file photo by Boyd Loving

What school of management did this woman go to?

August 24,2016
the staff of the Ridgewod blog

Ridgewood NJ, In an undated e-mail obtained via a recent Open Public Records Act request, Village Manager Roberta Sonenfeld refers to taxpayers’ comments about the proposed Van Neste Memorial Park revitalization project as being “ridiculous” and “malicious.”  The e-mail was sent by Sonenfeld to all members of the post July 1 Village Council.

The genesis of Sonenfeld’s bizarre, inappropriate, and offensive remarks can be traced to comments made during the Council’s August 3 Work Session by taxpayers Saurabh Dani and Jaqueline Hone, who both questioned a request by Sonenfeld for Council members to make an overnight (literally) decision with respect to applying for a Bergen County Open Space Grant in connection with the proposed Van Neste project in advance of any public hearing about the initiative.

In questioning the planned project at Van Neste and the need for an immediate decision from the Council regarding a  grant application, Mr. Dani and Ms. Hone both cited the way in which “after the fact” public hearings were held during the Fall of 2015 in connection with Schedler Field and Healthbarn USA initiatives.  In fact, in the case of Schedler, the grantor was falsely advised that a public hearing had been held, when in reality it had not.

roberta sonefeld email

The full text of Ms. Sonenfeld’s e-mail follows:

I would like each of you to get back to me individually as to whether you agree with submitting the attached intent. It is due by 4:00 tomorrow. A Council resolution is not needed to submit the Intent to Apply. A Council resolution will be needed once we submit the formal grant application and after we hold a public meeting on the subject. That submission is due in mid-October.

Additionally I would remind you that two residents referred to this grant process as unethical and/or fishy* I would expect that once you are behind this grant that you would publicly end such ridiculous and malicious speculation.

Thanks, Roberta

Best regards,

Roberta Sonenfeld

Village Manager

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Reader says People Need to Get Control of Their Dogs in Ridgewood

dogs_4th_of_July_theridgewoodblog

I have an observation that people around here are taking out their anger and aggression with their pet dogs.

I have been accosted by dogs on their leash on side walk!! when taking walks. The dogs will attempt to run up to me and jump on me. The owners are sloooow to pull dog away, physically or verbally.

Just last Sunday a man let his huge dog jump on me on Meadowbrook. I think this should be against the law and justifiable reason to call the police. I have never walked with cell phone before, as I only walk a few blocks, near my house, but for now on I will never leave house without my cell phone.

Please don’t say I don’t like dogs; I love love love dogs; I regularly dog sit a family dog from out of state, when it comes to Ridgewood, very well behaved dog; and I grew up with a dog.

Dog owners around here ARE NOT training their dogs not jump on people. And it is sooooo easy to do. They are not training dogs because they HATE PEOPLE and its aggression. They say, hey, it’s not me; it’s my dog. But it is you, because it is sooooo very easy to train a dog not to jump on a stranger, or run up to a stranger. And you guys aren’t you the smartest as well as the richest. You know better than me. Any dog that touches me or comes within one inch of me is going to get that police call, dog owner.

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Ali Stroker will be hosting a series of special theater workshops for teenage performers in Ridgewood on August 26th and 27th

Ali Stroker Theater Workshop

August 23,2016

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, the incredibly talented & inspirational Ali Stroker, a Ridgewood native who has appeared on Broadway & TV. Ali made her Broadway debut in the Tony Award-nominated Spring Awakening revival last year where she became the first-ever performer in a wheelchair to perform in a Broadway show .Ali also appeared on FOX’s Glee and as a finalist on The Glee Project.

Ali Stroker is hosting a series of special theater workshops for teenage performers in Ridgewood on August 26th and 27th with a few other Broadway & TV actors .

Ali Stroker’s been up to a lot this summer including being a keynote speaker in Boston at the American Alliance for Theatre and Education in addition to traveling across the country speaking at hospitals and other rehabilitation centers. Last month she was also a guest camp leader at an incredible camp for special needs kids called Camp Tatiyee in Arizona & earlier this summer did a reading of a new musical, Other World.

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Some Readers Still Believe a super majority of your neighbors and out of town shoppers/diners would say Parking is the biggest problem in the Ridgewood

Ridegwood parking Town  garage 12:10 5 24 2016

We should probably all accept that our form of government allows a small minority to rule the day. Whether you’re for or against parking that’s what essentially happened twice with four years in between events. Lost in these small minorities exerting their will is the fact that we cannot make progress on parking; an issue that, like it or not, a super majority of your neighbors and out of town shoppers/diners would say is the biggest problem in the CBD. So we fight over specific solutions.

Anyone that’s been here more than a week and a half laughed out loud when someone recently had the genius idea to build parking at the Town Garage site. Why? Because 10 or so years ago, we went through this same process with a design, bonding, etc. for a garage there. What happened? A small group of people objected and the project was killed. Fortunately our spasm this year happened before we bonded so we don’t need to service debt that won’t be used. Anyone care to go back into the meeting minutes to see if someone suggested Hudson Street as a better alternative then? Round and round we go.

So we may seem to be left with glacial progress on big issues. But maybe not. Let’s have the argument once and be done with it: let’s form a Charter Commission to review the town charter. Maybe we need a ward system, allowable under the terms of our charter, to ensure single issue (again, for or against, no difference here) council-people from one section of the village don’t rule the day. Perhaps a different charter altogether is in order. But something needs to change or we’ll find ourselves with a different kind of village leadership: leadership that wears black robes and doesn’t ever need a single vote for re-election. It’s already begun.

 

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Ridgewood firefighters quickly extinguished a fire inside a document shredding truck at Valley Hospital

Ridgewood firefighters quickly extinguished a fire inside a document shredding truck at Valley Hospital

photos courtesy of Boyd Loving’s Facebook page

August 23,2016

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, Ridgewood firefighters quickly extinguished a fire that occurred inside of a document shredding truck that was operating in the parking lot of The Valley Hospital on Monday morning, 08/22. No injuries were reported in the incident and the truck sustained very minor damage. Ridgewood Fire Chief James Van Goor, who was present at the incident, stated that firefighters and truck’s driver were unable to determine what caused the fire.

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Linwood Ave at Washington Township Boarder Shut Down due to Fallen Tree Monday

Linwood Ave at Washington Township Boarder Shut Down due to Fallen Tree Monday

photos courtesy of Boyd Loving’s Facebook

August 23,2016

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, Both directions of Linwood Avenue east of Route 17 in Paramus to the border of Washington Township and Ridgewood were closed for approximately two (2) hours on Monday morning, 8/22 because of a fallen tree near 1127 Linwood Avenue, Ridgewood. Ridgewood PD and FD, along with Paramus PD personnel, responded to the incident. A PSE&G trouble shooter disconnected electric service to a single family home in order to facilitate removal of debris on the roadway. Cable TV and telephone services to the same home, which sustained slight damage when the tree fell, were also disrupted. A Village of Ridgewood Shade Tree Division crew cleared the roadway. No injuries were reported.

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Reader says Ridgewood Does Not Need Monstrous “Investments”

Hudson Street Parking Garage

Thank God people spoke. I want to Thank all of those who took the lead on this. Those who so forcefully pushed this monster are the worst enemies of our village. I have been driving around all weekend day or night and have found PLENTY of parking at every corner and not farther than 5 mins away to walk to ant restaurant or store. Our village is lovely the way it is, it just needs improvements but nothing major. I hope the new council identifies the obvious and doesn’t try to reinvent the wheel with monstrous “investments”.