Downtown for the Holidays and Tree Lighting Celebration Friday, December 6, 2013
New this year – “for the kids” 5:30-6:30pm – Santa in the Park for the “wee tots” and a “Kids Corner” offering holiday Arts & Crafts in front of the Park along with live entertainment by the “clock” and in the stores and restaurant along E. Ridgewood Ave. Featuring the RHS Marching Band, RHS Singers, RHS Orchestra 7-8pm “on stage-live” Live Entertainment and Tree Lighting Celebration Featuring performances by Porch Light Productions, From the Top Studio, Art of Motion and Arthur Murray Dance Studio. 8:00-9:00pm “merriment” on E. Ridgewood Ave. Shh – Santa will be back in the Park Lots of music on the Avenue – two live bands, carolers, musicians Stores will be having special sales, restaurant reservation suggested.
Ridgewood NJ, Last night on Halloween the Ridgewood Police Handed out Halloween Safety Treats. In addition to their patrol duties.
Officers were handing out safety glow sticks to young Trick or Treaters for Halloween . Above Officer Mark Butler helps these young ladies accessorize their costumes.
Bob Pressner : Brogan’s performance on Tuesday night was sadly predictable
Brogan’s performance on Tuesday night was sadly predictable. She took the vanilla position on the Valley expansion. I knew she would walk the tightrope of non committal; she can’t be counted to cross swords with the mighty Valley. From the start of her comments she spoke of school construction that has taken place while she’s been on the Board, the fix was clearly in. Sorry, what Valley has presented as their vision in no way resembles what our schools have accomplished in construction over the past 10 – 12 years. To compare students’ experiences during the school construction and Valley’s proposed renovations is a reach too far. What Valley proposes for their 15 acre parcel is ridiculous, and the impact will be dramatic.
The expectation of 10 years as the time frame for construction, is also short sided. The effects of this expansion, but more importantly the changing of the Master Plan will have far reaching effects on all of our children’s learning experiences. The area around Valley will be changed forever. In my opinion, not for the better. Changing the Master Plan will also allow for developers to challenge our future concerns regarding growth based on the precedent that will have been established. We are at a cross roads in the future of Ridgewood, and it is time for all of our fellow residents to step up, speak up, and be heard.
Reader says Sheila Brogan has been doing Valley’s bidding since 2002.
Ridgewood BOE and Valley Hospital, hand in hand, a long tainted history together.
(Some of this is a bit hazy so if anyone remembers the details fill in the blanks)
Over the years I have attended many planning board hearings for the Valley Hospital H-Zone. The many memorable meetings at BF and the infamous 2010 meeting at GWMS. I sat through and listened to Village council meetings at the RHS Campus Center. And here we are again at BF listening to more about this ridiculous expansion proposal. Hearing Sheila Brogan’s statement and reading this blog reminded me of the disgraceful and tainted BOE/Valley relationship. Of course, people need to be reminded Sheila Brogan has been a board member for far too long. For newer residents, or those who weren’t in the news loop so many years ago, this is a history lesson.
Many, many years ago, maybe around 2002, Sheila Brogan sat on the BOE along with Mark Bombace, Linda Gilman, Bob Hutton and Charles Reilly. At the time John Porter was superintendent. Valley Hospital had a proposal and was pushing hard to buy part of BF property using the field area for an underground parking lot and subsequently expanding the hospital buildings. If memory serves, the BOE would no longer own the property but the ground level open space could be used as a sports fields. The big offer was Valley would do much for the BF community and offer a state of the art facility IF they were able to purchase the BF property. The Board of Ed, along with John Porter, were positioned to complete the transaction when, unfortunately for them, the residents began to show up at BOE meetings. Over a few short weeks the standing room only crowd mobilized and stopped the infamous Valley/BF land grab.
Because the BOE was anxious to consummate the deal, and Valley was relying on the property for its expansion, it appears a new plan evolved. Within months of the Valley/BF land grab derailment the RHAP program was in the works. Ultimately rolled out in 2004, the program was put together as an effort to buy the BOE and Ridgewood Community. Other less prominent programs were funded by Valley as well. Those too are within our Village schools, internships, summer programs, follow a professional, scoreboard advertising, etc. Some of these programs may have ended or been replaced, however, coupled with the $500,000 the BOE accepted from Valley, it is clear the BOE and Valley are in bed together.
In 2011 Bob Hutton spoke, as a BOE member, in support of the Valley H-zone expansion. His comments were made at Village Council H-Zone hearings at RHS Campus Center. Soon thereafter Hutton was voted off the BOE. Good riddance to him.
Of the original BOE, that was ready to sell BF property to Valley, only Sheila Brogan remains. Don’t ever let Brogan try to convince you she stands for our students or that she opposes this expansion. Brogan fully supports Valley, their massive expansion, and was willing to sell out our kids years ago! As for Valley Hospital, the current H-Zone efforts are the same “idea” without the BF property. Valley’s animus towards Ridgewood and the BF community is palpable.
Concerned Residents question benefits of Valley proposed expansion
Thursday October 31, 2013, 3:23 PM
BY DARIUS AMOS
STAFF WRITER
The Ridgewood News
Impassioned speeches by the final three fact witnesses for the Concerned Residents of Ridgewood addressed the various quality of life elements that would be impacted by a hospital expansion, and they posed the collective question to the Ridgewood Planning Board: How will doubling the size of The Valley Hospital benefit village residents?
After weeks of objections and other legal challenges by the hospital’s project attorneys, the grassroots group comprised of more than 150 members voiced its concerns Tuesday night. CRR’s testimony, including president Pete McKenna’s audience-rousing summation, went on without any lawyer interruption.
McKenna admitted that his worries related more to the final product of Valley’s proposal instead of other points of contention previously raised by residents, such as prolonged construction and the effect it would have on the learning environment at nearby schools. But those concerns, he said, are just as vital to the residents’ case.
“Driver seriously injured in late night Ridgewood crash” arrested on drug possession charges
October 29,2013
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ , Ridgewood Police report that on October 29, 2013 at 11:35 PMa patrol responded to a motor vehicle accident on Fairfield Avenue. The responding officers found a single vehicle that had crossed into the opposite lane of traffic and left the roadway striking a tree. The driver was transported to Hackensack Medical Center by the Ridgewood Ambulance Corp.
During the investigation the investigating officers, Ptl Joseph Dibenedetto, Joseph Youngberg, and Sgt Heath James found what appears to be synthetic marijuana, heroin and hypodermic needles in the vehicle.
The driver Nicholas Demetro 25 of Ridgewood was arrested and charged with Possession of Marijuana, Possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of heroin. He was also charged with Drugs in a motor vehicle, failure to maintain lane, Failure to keep right, improper display of plates, and unsafe tires. The accused was released pending an appearance in Ridgewood Municipal Court.
Driver seriously injured in late night Ridgewood crash
10% in N.J. may be forced to switch health coverage
Tuesday October 29, 2013, 11:01 PM
BY LINDY WASHBURN
STAFF WRITER
The Record
One in 10 New Jerseyans will need to change their health coverage over the next year under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, industry experts say, despite repeated assurances from the Obama administration that those who liked their current plan could keep it.
Their policies currently do not include all of the health benefits required by the new law, such as pediatric dental and vision care, and had to be redesigned and repriced before the main part of the law takes effect in January.
Governor Christie added his voice to the mounting criticism from Republicans on Tuesday, saying that “people weren’t told the truth” about the Affordable Care Act.
“They were told they would be able to keep their policies if they liked them,” he said in an interview with “CBS This Morning.” “Now you hear hundreds of thousands of people across the country being told they couldn’t. The White House needs to square that with what was told to the American people and told to the Congress beforehand.”
About 150,000 New Jersey residents who buy their own insurance and 650,000 who get coverage through businesses with fewer than 50 workers have learned — or will learn over the next year — that they need to choose another option, said Ward Sanders, president of the New Jersey Association of Health Plans.
– See more at: https://www.northjersey.com/news/10_in_NJ_may_be_forced_to_switch_health_coverage.html#sthash.mQPPefjw.dpuf
‘So much wrong’: Aetna CEO blasts Obamacare tech debacle
Published: Monday, 14 Oct 2013 | 12:57 PM ET
By: Dan Mangan | Health Care Reporter
Aetna’s CEO gave a harshly critical review Monday of the federal government’s Obamacare marketplace, saying, “There’s so much wrong, you just don’t know what’s broken until you get a lot more of it fixed.”
Asked on CNBC’s “Squawk Box” if he knew that the rollout of Healthcare.gov would be problematic, the insurer’s CEO, Mark Bertolini, said his giant company’s role as an alpha tester for the system gave it a sense of how many problems the health insurance marketplace faced on the eve of its launch.
“We were pretty nervous as we got further along,” Bertolini said. “As they started missing deadlines, we were pretty convinced it was going to be a difficult launch.”
(Read more: Rx for Obamacare? Feds mull rebuilding website)
His fears have been realized, he said, and the technological debacle seen at Healthcare.gov is one similar to just the handful he’s witnessed in his career.
“It’s nothing you ever like to repeat,” Bertolini said. “Because it’s very difficult. I’ve been there. It’s career-ending in a lot of cases.”
Reader: Valley expert will be invited back to answer to his contradictions an “undue BURDEN” on Valley. What????
When Valley’s experts testified last Spring, no one informed the public that the sessions were “quasi judicial”, and no one was given written information, power points or brochures ahead of time. How could any of us have “objected” or “cross-examined” these experts? And, of course, we could not afford to have legal representation during all of those meetings; we are living beyond our means as it is.
Now when there is the possibility that a Valley expert will be invited back to answer to his contradictions, we are told that this would cause an “undue BURDEN” on Valley. What???? What about the burden on us?
Often by going door to door, we have scraped up the $ to hire a lawyer and and expert for their precious time—time that is wasted by Drill. Many of us have children in college, and face a lousy return on the houses in which we invested–because of Valley. Many of us are caring for aging, ailing parents. We have left our children to the face their homework woes alone countless times to attend PB meetings (these started when my daughter was 8. She is now learning to drive, but still doesn’t understand when I can’t be there for her).
What about the burden on us? What about the burden we will be asked to bear if this ludicrous expansion happens????
Reader says the final decision resides with the Village Council the focus should shift to the Council Members.
One of the first things you learn in business is; “who is the decision maker?” That is the person you need to get to. If I remember correctly no matter what the Planning Board decides the final decision resides with the Village Council. If that is correct then the focus should shift to the Council Members.
Forget dealing with the hired gun Valley has sitting at the table objecting to what kind of coffee is going to be served. Start attending Village Council meetings and in the time allocated for open comments bring the arguments directly to the Council. No one from Valley is going to object, interrupt, or even show up. Let the puppets on the Planning Board continue their charade of “trying to follow the rules.” Focus on the Council Members who are going to have the final say. If I’m not mistaken we have another election in the not too distant future. I would assume the Valley debacle and the Urban Jungle that will be Ridgewood will be items #1 and #1A for anyone running for office or re-election.
Reader says Valley has bought influence at every level of government in town.
Don’t be naive people. The only remaining explanation to the surreal proceedings on the Valley expansion is money. Valley has bought influence at every level of government in town. They also have deep enough pockets to be a threat to the town legally if they don’t get their way.
And where there aren’t direct cash transactions, there are conflicts of interest everywhere. Councilwoman Hauck was a Valley Vice President and ran their black tie fundraisers for several years. PB Member Mr Grant works for Turner Construction and only makes a living when projects like this get approved. Councilman Pucciarelli has done work for Valley as well, and while he has temporarily recused himself, he’s making noise about rescinding his recusal .
Driver seriously injured in late night Ridgewood crash
Boyd A. Loving
12:32 AM
Ridgewood NJ, The driver of a white Nissan Sentra was transported by ambulance to Hackensack University Medical Center following the late night crash of his vehicle head on into a tree on Fairfield Avenue near Oxford Place in Ridgewood.
photos by Boyd Loving
Ridgewood PD, FD, and EMS units all responded to the scene of the accident upon receipt of multiple 911 calls. A minor fluid spill was contained by FD units as Ridgewood EMS personnel, with the assistance of paramedics from The Valley Hospital, worked to stabilize the victim on scene prior to transport. The wrecked Nissan was removed by flatbed tow truck. The accident remains under investigation by Ridgewood PD. The victim’s condition is unknown at this time.
A black box in your car? Some see a source of tax revenue
The devices would track every mile you drive —possibly including your location — and the government would use the data to draw up a tax bill.
By Evan Halper
October 26, 2013, 7:11 p.m.
WASHINGTON — As America’s road planners struggle to find the cash to mend a crumbling highway system, many are beginning to see a solution in a little black box that fits neatly by the dashboard of your car.
The devices, which track every mile a motorist drives and transmit that information to bureaucrats, are at the center of a controversial attempt in Washington and state planning offices to overhaul the outdated system for funding America’s major roads.
The usually dull arena of highway planning has suddenly spawned intense debate and colorful alliances. Libertarians have joined environmental groups in lobbying to allow government to use the little boxes to keep track of the miles you drive, and possibly where you drive them — then use the information to draw up a tax bill.
RHS Students pursue recycling initiative for the 2013-2014
10/27/13
Ridgewood NJ, The Students for Environmental Action Club (SEA) applied for and were the recipients of an Environmental Awareness Challenge presented by the Bergen County Utilities Authority, worth $1,000. RHS Principal Dr. Tom Gorman and SEA Advisor Alison Reeg attended the grant presentation ceremony and were inspired by many other environmental grant challenges.
Now placed throughout the school are blue recycling bins (for plastic) and green recycling bins (for paper). SEA will continue to pursue their recycling initiative for the 2013-2014 school year in the hope that the RHS recycling program will be truly successful. (l. to r.) BCUA Commissioner George P. Zilocchi, BCUA Commissioner Richard D. Schooler, BCUA Vice Chairman Ronald Phillips, Bergen County Freeholder Tracy S. Zur congratulate RHS Principal Tom Gorman and SEA Advisor Alison Reeg.
Benjamin Britten: A Centennial Celebration
Fri, November 08, 2013 – Fri, November 08, 2013
Time: 8:00 PM – 8:00 PM
Location: West Side Presbyterian Church, 6 South Monroe Street, Ridgewood NJ
Cost: $23 per person
The Pro Arte Chorale will honor Benjamin Britten’s Centennial with a performance of several of his best known compositions, including works such as Festival Te Deum, Hymn to the Virgin, and more!
Purchase tickets online at www.proartechorale.org. Email: [email protected]
The Pro Arte Chorale strives to be one of New Jersey’s foremost volunteer choruses and to be among the top rank of regional choruses in America. The Chorale is committed to enriching the lives of its members, its audience and the broader community by exploring many musical traditions in a variety of venues, presenting performances of the highest artistic quality, and supporting educational endeavors.
Founded in 1964, the Pro Arte Chorale is celebrating its 50th season as one of the Northeast’s most prominent choral organizations. The Chorale has appeared in major concert venues across the region including the New Jersey Performing Arts Center, Avery Fisher Hall, Alice Tully Hall, Carnegie Hall, and the South Orange Performing Arts Center. In addition to its own subscription series, the Chorale has appeared with the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra, New York Philharmonic, American Symphony Orchestra, Westfield Symphony Orchestra, and the Mark Morris Dance Company. In May 2008 the Pro Arte Chorale traveled to Liverpool, UK to peform with the Liverpool Welsh Choral at Mossley Hill Church, as part of Liverpool’s celebration as Cultural Capital of Europe. In May 2009 the Liverpool Welsh Choral traveled to the U.S. to join the Pro Arte Chorale and Westfield Symphony Orchestra in performances of Verdi’s Requiem in Ridgewood and Westfield, NJ.
The Chorale has been conducted by William Memmott, John Nelson, Roger Nierenberg, Bart Folse, David Crone, and Joshua Greene. In addition, the Chorale has sung under the batons of Nicholas McGegan, Zubin Mehta, Julius Rudel, Hugh Wolff, Zdenek Macal, Yuri Temirkanov, Leon Botstein, Gerard Schwartz and David Wroe.
Be sure to check out our Special Events page for our latest updates on events throughout the year.
Pro Arte Chorale is a proud recipient of funding from the New Jersey State Council on the Arts.
