>We received our “junk mail” letter from Valley Hospital asking us to sign and mail the Renewal card endorsing them in their endeavor. We placed both cards unsigned in their prepaid envelope to send a message loud and clear that we are not interested.
>THE RECORD, Friday, February 15, 2008
BY KIBRET MARKOS
A Ridgewood police lieutenant was admitted into a one-year probation program Thursday, the result of allegations that he groped a woman at a party last year.
Richard Whitehead, will have no criminal record if he completes the Pretrial Intervention program without any violation of the terms, which include resignation from the Police Department and not having contact with the woman.
Whitehead can request termination of the program after six months. His lawyer, Merick Limsky, said at a hearing Thursday in state Superior Court that he will make such a request, arguing that Whitehead has a long record of public service.
“I think his unblemished career of 25 years speaks for itself,” Limsky said.
Assistant Bergen County Prosecutor David Calviello said: “This disposition was done with the consent of the victim and was also done at her request.”
Whitehead was accused of touching a police dispatcher at a colleague’s retirement party in June 2007 at the Elks in Ridgewood. The woman, whose name is being withheld by The Record, told detectives that Whitehead slid his hand under her skirt and groped her as she walked past him.
After speaking to detectives, the woman agreed to call Whitehead and try to get him to talk about the incident while investigators listened in.
Whitehead said he was drinking at the party and did not recall touching the woman. He also apologized repeatedly and said he felt bad for “what happened.”
Whitehead had been with the Ridgewood Police Department since 1981 and was a lieutenant for seven years. He has been on vacation since Jan. 23, with a retirement date of March 1. His base salary is $123,000, records show.
>By a 3-2 vote, Village Council members last night approved a resolution authorizing acceptance of The Bolger Foundation’s $500K grant to purchase a closed circuit television security system for the Central Business District.
The final plan calls for 16 cameras to be mounted at 8 separate downtown locations. Images captured by the cameras will not be viewed in real time. Instead, they will be stored electronically, to be viewed by an authorized police department supervisor only for investigative purposes.
Council members voted as follows:
Harlow – No
Mancuso – Yes
Pfund – Yes
Ringler-Shagin – No
Wiest – Yes
>This blog is great because it demonstrates that given an issue a provided a forum the citizens of Ridgewood can be expected to present arguments, consider each other’s point of view, and educate each other about the topic of discussion (which seems to be math a lot of the time on this blog). What is really sad is that our Board did not consider other points of view, did not have a discussion, and did not do any research on the math issues in our town before the changes were made- what is troubling is the consistent lack of oversight by that body which is supposed to be performing the function of this blog (idea collection, research, debate, critical analysis, benchmarking). Whether or not everyone on this blog agrees which math program is best at least you are having a debate about the issue, whch is better than our Board of Ed which doesn’t bother itself with meaningful debate.
>Parking Garage Closer to Reality ; Ridgewood Project Also Would Add Retail
Source: Record, The; Bergen County, N.J.
Publication date: January 18, 2008
By EVONNE COUTROS, STAFF WRITER
RIDGEWOOD The village is one step closer to building a multi- level parking garage on North Walnut Street that would ease parking problems in the business district and add 10,000 square feet of stores in an area devoid of retail businesses.
The Village Council gave the nod this week to the North Walnut Street redevelopment plan, which could bring the 378-space garage to town by July 2009.
“We began a project to create a redevelopment district about a year ago, which encompasses almost the whole block,” said Village Manager James Ten Hoeve.
The redevelopment zone is mostly owned by the village and is bordered by East Ridgewood Avenue, Oak Street, North Walnut Street and Franklin Avenue, Ten Hoeve said.
The plan does not include the redevelopment of properties on the East Ridgewood side of the block, he said.
A developer of the property could be hired by May with construction beginning in July, according to a timeline for the development
“The ultimate plan is a ground level plus three stories of parking with open parking at the roof level,” Ten Hoeve said. “The conceptual drawings of the retail in 2005 called for 10,000 square feet of retail on the first level. It could be more. The plan also allows housing up to 12 affordable housing units.”
The dimensions of the garage call for the acquisition of portions of property between Oak Street and North Walnut for a rear access road to the new stores.
The plan also includes the acquisition of a service garage on Franklin Avenue owned by Ridgewood 120 LLC and currently for rent.
“We have an appraisal for $1.245 million,” Ten Hoeve said of the sum McGuire Associates of Jersey City the village’s appraiser company has offered the owners of the service garage property.
“We meet with the property owners and their attorney next week, and we hope we can come to an agreement,” Ten Hoeve said.
In the past, the property owners have asked for $2.1 million, Ten Hoeve said.
“If we come to terms then it’s a purchase,” Ten Hoeve said. “If not, then we will undertake the process of eminent domain.”
The next step is to hire a redeveloper, Ten Hoeve said.
A 2002 study had put the cost of construction at $5.6 million. The cost in the study included all property acquisition and 340 garage parking spaces, almost 40 spaces shy of what is called for in the current plan.
“Construction costs are up since 2002,” Ten Hoeve said. “The cost of steel has quadrupled probably. It will be a more expensive job, but we will see what we can do with the redeveloper.”
The intent by the council was to keep the structure from looking like a garage, Ten Hoeve said.
“Their goal was to have people drive down the street and never see a garage,” Ten Hoeve said. “The facade will be a little more expensive than most garages, and we hope it looks like brownstones.”
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(c) 2008 Record, The; Bergen County, N.J.. Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning. All rights Reserved.
>1:50 PM EST, February 10, 2008
RIDGEWOOD, N.J.
An NJ Transit worker is dead after being hit by one of the agency’s trains.
NJ Transit says Simplicio Nino was struck by a train on tracks in Ridgewood at about 8:15 a.m. Sunday.
NJ Transit spokesman Dan Stessel says the 58-year-old Clifton man was a welder who worked on tracks, and had 36 years of railroad work experience.
The roughly 20 passengers on the Main Line train were transferred to another train, which completed the route from Hoboken to Suffern, N.Y.
Stessel said the exact details of the workers’ death weren’t immediately clear.
Copyright 2008 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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As dumb as this might seem, home baked cookies may play an important role in deciding who wins at least one of the seats in this year’s election for Village Council.
Last week, Deputy Mayor Betty Wiest revealed that she’d recently been baking cookies for Ridgewood’s career fire fighters. And, it should come as no secret to those who know former Deputy Village Clerk Laura Graham that she is an expert cookie baker too.
Rumor has it that Ms. Graham recently picked up a nominating petition packet at Village Hall. So, it would appear that our Deputy Mayor might have some serious competition in the kitchen as well as the voting booth.
The Fly wants to know who bakes the better cookie; Ms. Graham or Ms. Wiest? Have any of you tasted product made by both? If so, what say you?
All Village department heads and directors should make certain that their doorbells are working, because there could be a cookie delivery heading your way soon from either one or more candidates!
>From the Bergen Record:
Regarding “Overstating impact of hospital height” (Your Views, Feb. 3), on The Valley Hospital’s renewal proposal:The hospital’s plan calls for a combined building height increase of 15 feet, making the total building height 80 feet. What makes the impact far greater than just the height increase is that the proposed new north and west buildings would be only 40 feet from the property line, not the 120-foot setback of the hospital’s Cheel Building today. With the new buildings brought so close to homes and the adjacent streets, the adjective towering is an appropriate description.
A longer-term concern is the fact that, if approved, Valley’s proposed master plan would allow the hospital to more easily achieve zoning changes to expand even more in the future — bulkier and taller!
I have spoken to most of the immediate neighbors of Valley. They point out that they continue to endure all of the daily inconveniences — the noise and traffic — of living near the hospital without complaint.
Valley is a non-profit hospital offering high-quality health care and has more than $225 million of available liquid assets. There is no threat of Valley closing or going bankrupt.
Concerned Residents of Ridgewood believes that the hospital should continue to modernize to serve the neighborhood. However, this goal can be achieved using alternatives that are more sympathetic to the village than the “renewal” proposal.
Paul Gould
Ridgewood, Feb 4
>Characteristics Associated with Cultic Groups – Revised
Janja Lalich, Ph.D. & Michael D. Langone, Ph.D.
Concerted efforts at influence and control lie at the core of cultic groups, programs, and relationships. Many members, former members, and supporters of cults are not fully aware of the extent to which members may have been manipulated, exploited, even abused. The following list of social-structural, social-psychological, and interpersonal behavioral patterns commonly found in cultic environments may be helpful in assessing a particular group or relationship.
Compare these patterns to the situation you were in (or in which you, a family member, or friend is currently involved). This list may help you determine if there is cause for concern. Bear in mind that this list is not meant to be a “cult scale” or a definitive checklist to determine if a specific group is a cult. This is not so much a diagnostic instrument as it is an analytical tool.
The group displays excessively zealous and unquestioning commitment to its leader and (whether he is alive or dead) regards his belief system, ideology, and practices as the Truth, as law.
Questioning, doubt, and dissent are discouraged or even punished.
Mind-altering practices (such as meditation, chanting, speaking in tongues, denunciation sessions, and debilitating work routines) are used in excess and serve to suppress doubts about the group and its leader(s).
The leadership dictates, sometimes in great detail, how members should think, act, and feel (for example, members must get permission to date, change jobs, marry—or leaders prescribe what types of clothes to wear, where to live, whether or not to have children, how to discipline children, and so forth).
The group is elitist, claiming a special, exalted status for itself, its leader(s) and members (for example, the leader is considered the Messiah, a special being, an avatar—or the group and/or the leader is on a special mission to save humanity).
The group has a polarized us-versus-them mentality, which may cause conflict with the wider society.
The leader is not accountable to any authorities (unlike, for example, teachers, military commanders or ministers, priests, monks, and rabbis of mainstream religious denominations).
The group teaches or implies that its supposedly exalted ends justify whatever means it deems necessary. This may result in members’ participating in behaviors or activities they would have considered reprehensible or unethical before joining the group (for example, lying to family or friends, or collecting money for bogus charities).
The leadership induces feelings of shame and/or guilt iin order to influence and/or control members. Often, this is done through peer pressure and subtle forms of persuasion.
Subservience to the leader or group requires members to cut ties with family and friends, and radically alter the personal goals and activities they had before joining the group.
The group is preoccupied with bringing in new members.
The group is preoccupied with making money.
Members are expected to devote inordinate amounts of time to the group and group-related activities.
Members are encouraged or required to live and/or socialize only with other group members.
The most loyal members (the “true believers”) feel there can be no life outside the context of the group. They believe there is no other way to be, and often fear reprisals to themselves or others if they leave (or even consider leaving) the group.
This checklist will be published in the new book, Take Back Your Life: Recovering from Cults and Abusive Relationships by Janja Lalich and Madeleine Tobias (Berkeley: Bay Tree Publishing, 2006). It was adapted from a checklist originally developed by Michael Langone.
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Chapter 222: POWER TOOLS, LANDSCAPING AND YARD MAINTENANCE EQUIPMENT
§ 222-1. Commercial use.
A. Commercial use of power tools or landscaping and yard maintenance equipment and motorized construction equipment is permitted in the Village of Ridgewood in all residential zones or within 200 feet of a residential property line when such use is conducted on a commercial or industrial property during the following times only: (1) From Monday to Friday, between the hours of 7:30 a.m. and 6:00 p.m.; and
(2) On Saturday, between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m.
(3) Such operation is prohibited entirely on Sundays.
B. The Village Manager shall have the authority to permit the otherwise prohibited uses in the case of an EMERGENCY and on Sundays pursuant to rules and regulations promulgated by the Manager and approved by the Village Council.
§ 222-2. Exceptions.
This chapter shall not apply to power machinery used for ice and snow removal.
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In addition to the current lack of local funds designated for open space purchases, Village Manager James Ten Hoeve disclosed last night another issue that might complicate purchase of the 7-acre Schedler property, located at the intersection of West Saddle River Road and Route 17.
The property is expected to be sold to the highest bidder sometime during 2008. Estimated sale price, originally reported by Ten Hoeve’s office to be between $3.5 and $4 million, is now being projected as $2.5 million.
Open Space Committee members had targeted three Village properties for purchase in a master plan developed quite some time ago. Two of the three properties have already been purchased; the former Habernickel estate on Hillcrest Road, and the Bozzo property at 54 South Monroe Street.
Ten Hoeve revealed last night that a single family house sits mid-property, and it has been discovered that the house is registered on a locally maintained list as being “historic.” Thus, it might not be possible to simply demolish or move the structure to make room for playing fields (the intended purpose of the Open Space Committee).
The entire property is now zoned residential. Councilwoman Kim Ringler-Shagin, who also serves on the Planning Board, hinted last night that the property might be better utilized as a location to build housing in support of the Village’s current and future COAH obligations.
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On Wednesday, February 13, Village Council members are expected to pass two resolutions intended to resolve deficiencies that resulted in removal of the Northwest Bergen Central Dispatch organization’s access to state motor vehicle and criminal records databases.
In order to restore database access, Bergen County Prosecutor John Molinelli demanded that the civilian managed dispatch center be overseen by a law enforcement official, and that a municipal advisory board be established to guide the organization.
Both of Molinelli’s demands were agreed to by Council members, and resolutions detailing the specific names of those appointed to the aforementioned positions will be announced next week. The Interlocal Agreement between the Borough of Glen Rock and the Village of Ridgewood will be amended accordingly.
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Prior to last night’s Village Council approval for the purchase of two replacement police cruisers, Village Manager James Ten Hoeve revealed that annual expenses to fuel the Village’s fleet of motor vehicles now exceeds $500K.
Following a rather lively discussion about the feasibility of using hybrid vehicles as police cars, Council members did eventually approve the purchase of 2 new Ford LTD Crown Victoria Police Interceptor vehicles. This despite the presence of report showing the police package Crown Vic’s generally achieve about 6 miles per gallon of gas.
Mr. Ten Hoeve commented that the Village’s experience with using hybrid vehicles for our parking enforcement agents has been a good one. However, he envisions that there would be a problem using hybrids for police patrol work since light bars can’t be installed on them (a battery issue).
The Fly recalls that Mr. Ten Hoeve’s previous official vehicle was a hybrid; a Toyota Prius. When he wrecked that car in a head on accident in Hawthorne, he replaced it with a Dodge Durango SUV. So much for leading by example
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During last night’s Village Council Work Session, Council members informally authorized Village Manager James Ten Hoeve to initiate an external performance audit/utilization study of Ridgewood’s Fire Department. The process will be conducted by the same firm now undertaking a similar audit of Ridgewood’s police department.
Ten Hoeve indicated that four (4) career firefighters are planning to retire during 2008. He suggested that it might be an opportune time to consider reorganizing the department, and staffing all fire prevention positions with civilians instead of career firefighters.
The audit/utilization study, estimated to cost $20.5K, is expected to begin shortly.
In an unrelated, rather bizarre fire department matter, Deputy Mayor Betty Wiest publicly chastised Fire Chief James Bombace during last night’s meeting saying that she’d recently tried delivering cookies to the Ridgewood Fire Headquarters and was quite frustrated because no one answered the door. She asked the Chief to make sure that the doorbells were properly working.
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Steven Tichenor, Manager of Maintenance and Custodial Services for the Ridgewood Board of Education (BOE), appeared before Village Council members last night to formally request a temporary exemption from the Village’s Ordinance prohibiting the outdoor use of power tools on weeknights, and during certain weekend periods. Mr. Tichenor’s request was related to the window replacement project at the Benjamin Franklin Middle School, which was scheduled to commence on Monday, February 4.
As explained by Mr. Tichenor, the BOE’s contractor is unable to work when students are present in the classroom due to safety concerns. Thus, all work had been scheduled to begin at 3:30 PM, and last until approximately 9:30 PM on weekdays. The contractor had also planned to work all day on Saturdays. The Village’s noise ordinance prohibits commercial use of power tools after 6 PM on weekdays, and allows Saturday use only between the hours of 9 AM and 1 PM. No outdoor power tool use for commercial purposes is permitted on Sundays.
Tichenor further explained that although window replacement work would be scheduled take place all day long during the upcoming school vacation weeks, February 16-20 and April 27-May 1, the entire project could not be completed exclusively during these recess periods. When asked why the work couldn’t be done entirely in the summer months, Tichenor said that the BOE’s budget cycle was such that the project had to be spaced out across two separate budget years, which necessitated that some work take place prior to summer recess.
Councilman Patrick Mancuso and Councilwoman Kim Ringler-Shagin were united in their opposition to any exemption being granted. Both expressed concern for the neighbors who lived close to the school and suggested the BOE go back to the drawing board and come up with an installation plan in which no “out of hours” work would take place. Mayor David Pfund and Deputy Mayor Betty Wiest were more receptive; they agreed that weekday work until 7:30 PM might be acceptable, but certainly work until 9:30 PM should not be permitted. Councilman Jacques Harlow was fine with Mr. Tichenor’s initial request.
Village Clerk Heather Mailander suggested that the temporary exemption be formalized via resolution and Village Manager James Ten Hoeve concurred (as did the entire Council). The resolution will be introduced and voted on during the Village Council’s scheduled February 13 Public Meeting.
Following the Council’s discussion and dismissal of Mr. Tichenor, BOE member Robert Hutton arrived in the audience (The Fly believes that Mr. Hutton was watching the event on Cable TV, saw Mr. Tichenor taking a beating, and decided to come to the meeting in person to lend a hand).
Hutton, visibly upset, said to Tichenor in the rear of the meeting room: “Did you just get screwed?” Following a private consult between the two, Hutton remained until the end of the meeting and was observed and overheard in heated discussions with both Village Manager James Ten Hoeve and Mayor David Pfund. The Fly isn’t sure what relief, if any, Mr. Hutton obtained during those two rather animated exchanges.
