WATER EVENT – MARCH 29TH PRESENTED BY RIDGEWOOD ENVIRONMENTAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE
March 17,2017
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, The Ridgewood Water service area is under a State drought warning and continued Stage 2 watering restrictions. Changes in local municipal water restrictions are proposed which will make these conservation efforts permanent.
The Ridgewood Environmental Advisory Committee (REAC), in conjunction with Ridgewood Water, will be hosting a presentation on issues relating to local water resources. Mike Furrey, Chair of the New Jersey Section of the American Water Works Association and president of AGRA Environmental & Laboratory Services will address the audience on the state of the water industry and Ridgewood Water’s “Journey from Rain to Drain”. Information on what customers can do to conserve water will also be presented and made available. Wednesday, March 29th, 2017 from 7:30-9:00 p.m. in the Senior Center at Village Hall, 131 N. Maple Avenue, Ridgewood, New Jersey, on the first floor. Attendance is free.
REAC is a board of volunteers, appointed by the Village Council, to assist in developing long-range planning on environmental issues.
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
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Ridgewood NJ, Lost water is a serious issue in North Jersey, where drinking water is an increasingly scarce resource. Utilities are caught between the clashing realities of rising demand and chronically low reservoirs. The watershed is under so much stress that some utilities have been forbidden by the state from drilling new wells in their search for more water.
This story was first published July 15, 2012. United Water is now called Suez.
Drinking water going to waste
James M. O’Neill , Staff Writer, @JamesMONeill112:10 p.m. ET Nov. 23, 2016
In 2011, Ho-Ho-Kus couldn’t account for 33 percent of the water it pumped and treated — one of every three gallons — according to state documents. Oakland lost 28 percent, while Ridgewood Water lost 20 percent. In fact, across the nation, water utilities lose billions of gallons of drinking water each year because of their aging infrastructure.
Ridgewood NJ, NJ TRANSIT will operate extra bus service on selected routes to and from the Port Authority Bus Terminal (PABT) on Friday, March 17, to accommodate customers traveling to the annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade in New York City. Trains will operate on a regular weekday schedule. Hudson-Bergen Light Rail, Newark Light Rail and River Line will also operate regular weekday schedules.
Please note: liquid containers of any kind, open or closed, will not be permitted on any train to and from New York/Hoboken on March 17. Beverages of any kind are prohibited at all times on board buses.
NJ TRANSIT will have Ambassadors will be on hand at Secaucus Junction, Aberdeen/Matawan, Middletown, N.J., and Penn Station New York to assist customers.
The NYC St. Patrick’s Day Parade is one of New York City’s greatest traditions. The first parade was on March 17, 1762 — fourteen years before the signing of the United States Declaration of Independence. The first NYC St. Patrick’s Day Parade was comprised of a band of homesick, Irish ex-patriots and Irish military members serving with the British Army stationed in the colonies in New York. This was a time when the wearing of green was a sign of Irish pride but was banned in Ireland. In that 1762 parade, participants reveled in the freedom to speak Irish, wear green, sing Irish songs and play the pipes to Irish tunes that were meaningful to the Irish immigrants of that time.
Extra trips to and from New York will be offered on the following bus routes:
No. 163 (Ridgewood – New York) additional local trips from Hackensack (Summit Ave. and Essex St.) to PABT from 8:46 a.m. until 10:42 a.m. operating via the Boulevard in Hasbrouck Heights, Wood-Ridge, Carlstadt, and East Rutherford. Additional Turnpike Express (T) trips from Paramus (Paramus Rd. and Ridgewood Ave.) to NY/PABT at 8:57 a.m. and 9:17 a.m.
Ridgewood NJ, Last weekend the Ridgewood Library wrapped up the Friends Of the Ridgewood Library READING MARATHON Month with our first ever Ridgewood Comic Con.
The Library had cosplay actors and comic book artists, crafts, games, face painting, raffle prizes and a FANTASTIC costume contest.
The Ridgewood Library offered a ,”Congratulations to all participants from preschool to 8th grade, and thank you to everyone who attended our event and to Whole Foods for providing delicious snacks!”
Customers are welcomed to taste, learn and explore from an Italian artisan showcase
March 16,2017
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, Kings Food Markets (Kings) is excited to take its customers on an authentic culinary journey through the regions of Italy with an eight-day tasting and entertainment event called Piazza Italia, beginning March 31. The exclusive showcase will recreate a traditional Italian market, or “piazza” across 12 Kings’ stores, featuring a collection of hand-curated products that customers will be welcomed to sample and learn about directly from the Italian artisans. The showcase will feature 25 artisans from 12 regions across Italy, bringing over 75 products for customers to explore including traditional products spanning centuries of history, alongside innovative concepts that will intrigue and please even the most discriminating palates.
“At Kings, we’re always looking to delight our customers with new and authentic options,” said Judy Spires, chairman and CEO of Kings Food Markets. “Our passion for food is what drives us and programs like Piazza Italia are what inspire us. We can’t wait to share this inspiration with our customers and give them the opportunity to taste the highest quality products and engage with these skilled Italian artisans.”
Featured products, hand selected from almost 100 producers, will feature:
· Olive oils from four different Italian regions including Liguria, Tuscany, Umbria and Apulia
· Giusti Balsamic Vinegars, the oldest producer of balsamic vinegar established in 1605
· Rich and succulent specialty sauces direct from Sicily
· Genuine artisanal pasta from different Italian regions including Marche, Campania and Apulia
Additional Italian delights will be available: marinated vegetables, decadent sweets including chocolates, cookies and coffee/tea. There will even be a selection of craftsman ceramic dishes as well as pots and pans to purchase. Kings customers’ will have the opportunity to vote on the top artisan products to bring to its stores and enter to win one of four $250 gift cards, creating yet another exclusive offering with a brand new line of Italian goods.
To celebrate this distinctive showcase, Judy Spires, chairman and CEO of Kings Food Markets, will kick off the event with an opening ceremony that includes Francesco Genuardi, the General Consul of Italy in New York, as well as partners of Italian Products USA at 11:00 a.m. in the Kings’ Short Hills, NJ location. Following the ceremony and throughout the eight-day event, customers will be able to enjoy:
· An operatic flash mob with young promising talents on the rise
· Two centuries of Italian Music with the musical duo Kristine Massari and Enrico Granafei
· A musical Grand Finale with the Ron Aprea Big Band
Customers will also be able to meet Rossella Rago, the star of the Cooking with Nonna Show, and listen to Julia della Croce, distinguished as one of America’s best cooking teachers and food historians by the James Beard Foundation, talk about the regional differences of pastas and sauces as well as the traditional sweets of Easter. The Kings Short Hills Cooking Studio will also be offering an Italian Boot Camp Class, on Friday, March 31 at 6:30 p.m. Tickets to the class can be purchased athttps://kingsfoodmarkets.com/in-store-events/italian-boot-camp.
To help shoppers learn more, Kings will have information posted on its site beginningMarch 17, sharing specific times and locations for each of the in-store events occurring during the eight-day artisan showcase, here: www.kingsfoodmarkets/Italian. Additionally, customers can look to take part in the conversation in real-time on Kings’ social media channels via Twitter (@KingsFoodMkts) and Facebook (www.facebook.com/kingsfoodmarkets).
Ridgewood NJ, The Board of Education and Superintendent Dr. Daniel Fishbein will host residents for coffee and casual conversation on Tuesday, March 28. The casual meeting will take place from 7-8:30 p.m. at the Education Center, 49 Cottage Place, Ridgewood. All residents are invited to drop in to share their thoughts, questions, suggestions and concerns.
The final 2016-2017 Coffee and Conversation is planned for Wednesday, May 17.
Superintendent’s Monthly Column: What’s Your Story? Click here to read Dr. Fishbein’s monthly column for The Ridgewood News, March 10 edition.
Preliminary 2017-2018 School Budget
At the March 6 Board of Education meeting, Business Administrator Dr. Alfredo Aguilar presented the preliminary 2017-2018 budget, which is based on a .97% local tax levy increase. The total preliminary budget is $105,565,593, which would mean a $184.39 annual tax increase on the average assessed Ridgewood home of $696,093.
Click here to view the preliminary budget presentation as a PDF.
Following discussion, the Board approved the following resolution for Adoption of the 2017-2018 Preliminary Proposed Budget for Submission to the Executive County Superintendent of Schools:
BE IT RESOLVED, by the Ridgewood Board of Education, to approve the 2017-2018 school district preliminary proposed budget, as follows, for submission to the Executive County Superintendent of Schools:
There should be raised for the General Fund Tax Levy $91,519,173 for the ensuing School Year: (2017-2018).
Full-day Kindergarten update from the BOE 2.27.17 meeting
Elementary school principals are getting ready for full-day Kindergarten this fall. The goal is to expand the day so that the children can have better time to apply what they are learning rather add more to the curriculum. There will be continuing professional development on May 12 for all teachers, including the newly hired, and six teachers will go to the Paramus Parkway School to observe the program there. Furnishings and libraries are also being carefully researched. Click here for the presentation.
A letter from Dr. Fishbein on inclusiveness in the Ridgewood Public Schools Click here to read a letter from Dr. Fishbein sent on February 2, 2017.
A letter from Dr. Fishbein, Dr. Gorman, Mr. Orsini and Dr. Kashmanian
The superintendent and principals of RHS, BFMS and GWMS wrote a letter to middle school and high school parents and guardians regarding the uptick in abuse of prescription drugs by students. Click here to read the letter, which was sent on January 30.
Superintendent’s January Column: New Year, New Website and New Ideas for Beating the Winter Blues Click here to read Dr. Fishbein’s January column for The Ridgewood News.
HIB District and School Grade Reports
Please click here to view the Ridgewood District and School Grade Report for 2015-16, a self-assessment required under the Anti-bullying Bill of Rights.
Attention: Ridgewood Water Customers in the Village of Ridgewood
March 16,2017
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, Ridgewood Water is proposing ,Stage II restrictions (2 days a week irrigation) were imposed in June 2016 and are still in effect in Glen Rock, Midland Park, Ridgewood and Wyckoff. Without these restrictions, the use of drinking water for irrigation will continue increasing toward levels that are unsustainable regardless of drought conditions. To reverse this trend, an ordinance was introduced on March 8, 2017 to amend the provisions governing Water Emergencies in the Village of Ridgewood Code. Changes proposed include:
Making 2 days a week irrigation permanent year round,
Restricting irrigation hours to limit losses to evaporation,
Restricting irrigation using private wells to 2 days a week,
Adding new exemptions, including drip irrigation and smart controllers.
This ordinance applies only to Ridgewood, but it is expected that the Boroughs of Glen Rock and Midland Park, and the Township of Wyckoff will follow suit as they have in the past. Below is the proposed ordinance. Questions can be directed to Ridgewood Water at 201-670-5521 or cswater@ridgewoodnj.net
Ridgewood NJ, Several weeks ago residents of Bogert and Cambridge noticed that the police were in the neighborhood posting no parking signs. The No parking signs say :
No stopping or Standing 7:30 Am -4pm Mon-Fri Sept1-June 30th
A resident group contacted the Ridgewood blog looking to voice their concerns, “All the residents of Bogert and Cambridge afflicted by this were quite unaware of any potential ordinance which would prohibit us parking in front of our own homes. In fact I recieved a ticket in February when my husband moved the car early one morning and didn’t move it back.
My concern is that this ordinance was passed without any input by the people affected by it save for one person. There was a petition circulated around the neighborhood which garnered about 50 or 60 signatures. I’d like to get the word out that if people are upset by this they need to attend the next VC meeting and have their voices heard.”
A Village Council Meeting is scheduled to discuss the ordinance on March 22nd. Lately there seems a lot of complaints have been voiced about unilateral decisions made perhaps the by product of all these “committees” in the decision making progress.
Ridgewood NJ, The adult male driver of a 4-door KIA sedan that crashed into a snowbank near Ridgewood High School was taken into custody by Ridgewood PD officers after he failed a sobriety test that was administered on Brookside Avenue, Ridgewood, just moments after the crash occurred on Wednesday afternoon, 03/15. The driver appeared to have been uninjured in the crash. His KIA was removed from the scene by a flatbed tow truck.
Researchers say cozy clothes are emerging as a source of plastic that’s increasingly ending up in oceans and possibly contaminating seafood.
March 15, 2017, at 10:28 a.m.
By JENNIFER KAY, Associated Press
KEY LARGO, Fla. (AP) — Comfortable clothes are emerging as a source of plastic that’s increasingly ending up in the oceans and potentially contaminating seafood, according to Gulf Coast researchers launching a two-year study of microscopic plastics in the waters from south Texas to the Florida Keys.
The project , led by the Mississippi-Alabama Sea Grant Consortium, will rely partly on volunteers participating in coastal cleanup events. It also will expand a year’s worth of data collected around the state of Florida that predominantly found microfibers — shreds of plastic even smaller than microbeads flowing down bathroom sinks and shower drains.
Yoga pants, Patagonia’s cozy jackets, sweat-wicking athletic wear and other garments made from synthetic materials shed microscopic plastic fibers — called “microfibers” — when they’re laundered. Wastewater systems flush the microfibers into natural waterways, eventually reaching the sea.
“Anything that’s nylon or polyester, like the fleece-type jackets,” University of Florida researcher Maia McGuire said.
Ridgewood NJ, while Ridgewood residents were pretty happy with the Village response to Stella, a readers sentiments were that ” All the roads could use salt! Even schools are sheets of ice and still mounds of snow. Sidewalks not cleared. Should have been no school today too. Just sayin.” Many also felt the schools could have done a better job with the clean up .
Maybe next time the Village can take Pornhub up on its offer :
“Pledging to assist anyone who “wants to get plowed,” the adult entertainment site says it is sending out a fleet of branded trucks to clean the city’s streets and parking lots for free.
“The Pornhub team understands that by this time of year, most cities have run up their budget in snow removal,” Pornhub Vice President Corey Price tells Boston, “and we thought we’d lend a hand in getting our fans plowed.”
The cheeky service, which is only being offered in Boston and New Jersey, is slated to begin when the flakes start falling overnight and continue for the duration of the storm, Price says. Each of the trucks—he says there are more than two dozen of them—will have the porn website’s black, white, and orange logo on their plows and doors.”
Ridgewood Nj, Ridgewood Emergency Services reported their activity for Storm Stella. For the entire period of the storm, 3 ambulances were fully staffed. Fortunately, it was a quiet day and just a few storm related calls. “Ridgewood Emergency Services is the only volunteer agency in Bergen County that operates an emergency utility truck with a snow plow ahead of the ambulances or other department vehicles in the storms”, stated Public Information Officer Bob Krane. “Our Volunteers also will shovel the walkway as well on location. Between the plowing and the shoveling, the EMS crews and other responders have a safe work zone.”
Ridgewood NJ, Please join the Ridgewood High School Alumni Association in celebrating the 125th anniversary of RHS. Come celebrate under the stars as we “Party in the Park” on Friday, May 19, 2017.
pictures courtesy of the Ridgewood Police Department
March 15,2017
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood Public Schools will have a delayed opening today as well as the Village Hall and The Stable and will have a 9:30 a.m delayed opening .
While the Blizzard came in a bit short of the 18-24 inches of snow totals expected, snow rian and sleet and dangerous winds led to white out conditions.
The Ridgewood Police reported that heavy wet snow took down some trees, taking powers lines with them. Racetrack road was closed between route 17 and northern Parkway for a transformer on fire in the roadway. Power outages were reported in the area. Public service has been notified.
Heights and Phelps was closed while a tree was removed .
Ridgewood Fire department reminds you that If you should lost power during the storm and needed to use a portable generator, please use it with care and according to the instructions for that device.
Heard a great Shoveling tip yesterday, spray PAM on the shovel blade before shoveling.The Snow slides right off and doesn’t stick.
photo courtesy of Jennifer Artz Contrucci
And of coarse a huge shout out to the village employees today. Thank you!!
Ridgewood NJ, As road conditions improve following today’s storm, NJ TRANSIT anticipates increasing service levels across Bus, Rail, Light Rail and Access Link for Wednesday March 15th. Customers are strongly advised to check the status of the system on njtransit.com prior to making their trip, particularly bus and Access Link customers.
Rail service will operate on a President’s Day schedule on Wednesday. President’s Day service is more robust than a weekend schedule, with additional service on some lines including service west of Dover on the M&E and west of Bay St. on the Montclair-Boonton Line. However, trains do not operate out of Jersey Avenue on the Northeast Corridor or west of Raritan and Lake Hopatcong.
Metro-North west of Hudson service, operated by NJ TRANSIT, on the Port Jervis and Pascack Valley lines will operate on a President’s Day schedule.
Hudson-Bergen Light Rail, Newark Light Rail and RiverLINE will all operate on regular weekday schedules.
Systemwide Cross-Honoring in Effect: To give customers additional travel options, NJ TRANSIT will offer full systemwide cross-honoring, enabling customers to use their ticket or pass on an alternate travel mode including rail, light rail, bus and PATH. For example, customers who normally take the bus from Rutherford to the Port Authority Bus Terminal may use their bus pass or ticket on the train from Rutherford to New York Penn Station. Similarly, customers who normally take the bus between Atlantic City and Lindenwold may use the Atlantic City Rail Line instead at no additional charge.
For the latest travel information, customers should visit njtransit.com, access NJ TRANSIT’s Twitter feed at @NJTRANSIT or listen to broadcast traffic reports. Additionally, NJ TRANSIT will provide the most current service information via the My Transit alert system (www.njtransit.com/mytransit), which delivers travel advisories to your smartphone. Service information is also available by calling (973) 275-5555
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