Please tell me why and how anyone running for Village Council is not regularly and diligently attending council meetings at this point? Actually, for months and years leading up to this???
Planning Board meetings as well! It’s not as if the budget and village issues are not long standing, hard fought, deep seated and complicated!
Considering 2 of the 4 candidates are currently sitting council members (Susan Knudsen and Mike Sedon) you can be SURE they’re here. **Taking time from their families and putting in WELL beyond full time hours VOLUNTEERING to be here. No one, not in regular, long standing attendance, has any business asking for our votes.
What do you expect from this group of self loathing, wannabe Ridgewoodites- – this is the same group of people attacking the Catholic Church in town by claiming it paid a cash bribe to the Mayor to stop the town from building a six story garage in the in the middle of Hudson street. These people have no moral decency or moral core.
These vicious attacks by the Willet / Harwin puppet masters detract us from the real issues. Read the first post about Valley wanting to rezone all of its properties as housing projects. Where do the candidates stand on these substantive issues that threaten our housing prices and will drive up our tax payments?
I would like each candidate to state where they stand on turning all of Valley’s current properties in Ridgewood into apartment projects. Or any other substantive issue for that matter. I don’t need to hear them attack (throughout surrogates) the ability of our police and fire department employers to run into a burning building or tangle with a burglar.
Reader responds ,”Susan Kehoe, so nice that someone from out of state reads the blog. Croton On Hudson. Really? You care about our local election? Guessing that Paul Arohsohn got in touch with you, that is his typical sc#m-bag style of dirty politics. Bear Hunting, or any hunting, is not a local issue. And if you actually lived in town, which thank God you don’t, you would know that Deputy Mayor Sedon long ago straightened out that bad joke he made and clarified his position on responsible hunting.”
Ridgewood NJ, a big thank you to Saurabh Dani for pointing out Jeff Voigt’s change of heart on the Ridgewood blog . If you don’t like “nasty anonymous posters ” , the staff suggest that you and all your coconspirators quit making them. Its just that simple .
Jeff Voigt – two years ago, vs today. One screen shot is from two years ago from his views on the blog. The lead one is from few days ago from his letter to the editor in Ridgewood News.
Ridgewood NJ, the Ridgewood BOE seats in recent years have come up for re-election unopposed. While many have asserted that the Ridgewood Board of Education does its best to keep the public off the board and is only looking for more yes-men or yes-women. With the Ridgewood School system in what appears to be rapid decline , an over zealous budget and huge tax increases on the horizon a call to action would seem necessary to preserve both the quality of life in the Village and property values.
Board seats are three year terms and are up for re-election in the following order :
Ridgewood NJ, John Hersperger commented on the Ridgewood Master Plan on Facebook , “The master plan is the blue print for how all the land in the Village should be zoned and used. The Planning Board is the Village body empowered to write the plan, and to amend it. It’s vital we have the right people on the Council, since two council members sit on the Planning Board, and since the Council selects the other board members. Though the plan is already undergoing a major review, our planners’ job has gotten more complicated. Although the Valley Hospital, CRR and the Village have settled their law suit and have agreed that the Valley site at Van Dien and Linwood will be zoned to keep the Hospital the exact same size as it is now, a new issue has arisen that we all need to watch.
In a separate lawsuit between Ridgewood and Fair Share Housing (FSH), FSH is asking the Village to rezone ALL of the Valley Hospital’s Ridgewood properties to permit high density housing on all of them. This is called “overlay” zoning, which essentially means that all those sites could be developed into high density housing sites. For those who aren’t aware, Valley owns several large tracts in town, in addition to the Van Dien/Linwood main campus.
I have confidence that Susan Knudsen and Mike Sedon will have our backs on this. But I fear the other two candidates (Willets and Harwin), should they prevail, would put us back on the perilous path toward yet more high density housing.”
Ridgewood NJ, In a recent biased article by Northjersey.com, formerly known as the Bergen Record , the “Record “once again attacked the Village of Ridgewood Mayor Susan Knudsen and the hiring of her sons on the Ridgewood police force .The article by Deena Yellin goes out of it way to quote dubious sources such as “Rurik Halaby” who has no standing on the issue what’s so ever and Councilman Jeff Voigt who resorts to name calling of residents from the dais and is more well know for his outburst at council meeting than any serious policy discussions .
The article reads ,”In Ridgewood, tempers flared over Mayor Susan Knudsen’s support of a 2014 ordinance that retained residency preferences in police and fire department hires. That ordinance allowed her sons to be bumped up ahead of other candidates, said Rurik Halaby, a longtime resident and banking executive.” Omitting the fact that Susan was not the mayor at that time and represented only one vote out of five .
The simple fact is “Ridgewood is a state of New Jersey Civil Service municipality,” ,meaning candidates are ranked based on standardized test results. The list exists and any one can access it . Not knowing her sons were on it is meaningless. In Ridgewood the village manager is the hiring authority for the village and is required to adhere to state hiring regulations. Council members are prohibited from any involvement.
The article goes on to say “Shortly after Knudsen’s vote, she helped swear her children in.” Shortly after was 2017 her vote was 2014 , 3 years is shortly after ??? ,not in the New York Metro area.
A state ethics panel recently rejected a complaint against Knudsen, saying it was a Civil Service matter, end of story and is not dependent on Don Delzio , or Rurik Halaby point of view.
The article failed to mention that former Mayor Paul Aronsohn and his side kick former Village Manager Roberta Sonenfeld were found guilty of ethics violations. The article also failed to mention the phone call to Mike Sedon employer ,the former Manager interfering with a lawful petition drive and the former manager hiring her friends and giving a preferential commercial lease to friend of hers as well as making a mess of the park mobil deal.
The article did quote Village Attorney Matt Rogers “There are standards used,” said Ridgewood Borough(Village not Borough) Attorney Matt Rogers. “The mayor can participate in discussions of the department budgets, but cannot participate in discussions pertaining to her sons’ raises. She had nothing to do with their hiring.”
Then the article goes totally off the rails once again attacking the Village Police Department and it personnel , “But questions linger. Councilman Jeff Voigt wondered how a fire chief or police chief would be able to properly supervise the mayor’s kids, even if she is not directly involved in overseeing the department. It raises thorny issues, he said. And again letting Voigt make fallacious assertions , “That puts them in an uncomfortable situation,” he said. “They [the kids] may even get preferential treatment.”
No Councilmen what makes people uncomfortable , is see you throw away you political career siding with a bunch of failed ethically challenged losers.
Political sign ordinances CANNOT be more restrictive than ordinances restricting other signs.
So tell me, are garage sale signs, street fair signs, open house signs, save Graydon signs, children playing signs, etc. allowed on the planting strip between the curb and the sidewalk?
Here’s the chapter & verse regarding garage sale signs:
163-6: Temporary signs are permitted only on the days of the sale and only on the premises on which the sale is to take place. No temporary signs are permitted on public property or within any public right-of-way or sidewalk. This requirement extends to trees, telephone poles and street or traffic signs. All temporary signs are to be removed simultaneously with the ending of the sale. No more than two signs advertising the garage sale shall be permitted on the premises, and no sign shall be more than four square feet in size.
that’s great news. So this November I expect strict enforcement of the sign ordinance.
Should cut down on the Tedesco for County Executive and Josh Gottheimer, for Congress signs that litter public property.
Ridgewood NJ, Ridgewood resident Rebecca Rosenthal , a sophomore at Swarthmore College, competed in the “Jeopardy! College Championship” in Culver City, Calif., this spring. The College Championship tournament will air April 9-20 at 7 p.m. ABC. Rosenthal’s segment can be seen Thursday, April 12. She’s not at liberty yet to say how she fared on the show.Over the course of the two-week event, 15 of America’s sharpest students will vie for the $100,000 grand prize and a berth in the next edition of the Tournament of Champions.
Rosenthal turned 20 years old on March 12, the day the show was taped. The only child of Rick Rosenthal, a retired computer programmer,and Dori Rosenthal, a Registered Nurse, she grew up watching “Jeopardy!”
“My family has been watching ‘Jeopardy!’ forever,” Rosenthal stated. “I always play along so I was really excited to have a chance to play it on air.” ,Rosenthal told the Daily Times News
She auditioned for a slot on the show three times before becoming a contestant. After taking an online test, she was invited to an in-person audition three times, once for regular “Jeopardy!” and the other two times for the college tournament. She auditioned in person twice in New York City, and the other time in Boston. Each time that she auditioned, she was required to take another written test, different than the one that she took online, and to play a live game with other contestant wannabees.
Ridgewood NJ, With Arbor Day right around the corner on April 27, let’s take this opportunity to discuss planting trees. The benefits of planting trees extend environmentally, economically, and socially.
Trees improve air quality by filtering harmful dust and pollutants such as ozone, carbon monoxide, and sulfur from the air while also releasing oxygen .
In a tree census, or urban forestry assessment, done by the Morton Arboretum in cooperation with the U.S. Forest Service, trees of the seven-county Chicago region remove approximately 18,080 tons of carbon from the air each year. For more information on the census, follow the link here.
Trees reduce the amount of stormwater runoff, reducing erosion and pollution in our waterways .
Trees serve as homes for wildlife, and provide them with other resources that they need .
Appropriately placed trees can reduce your cooling costs in the summer by shading the south and west sides of your home .
According to “Urban Trees and Forests of the Chicago Region” done by The Morton Arboretum and U.S. Forest Service, the trees of the Chicago region reduce residential energy costs by about 44 million per year. To view the census, follow the link here.
Trees have the potential to increase residential and commercial property values by improving the appeal of the local area .
Trees can separate and define space, providing a sense of privacy, solitude, and security .Studies have identified a direct correlation between the amount of trees and grass in community common spaces and the use of those common spaces by residents, which leads to more opportunities for informal social interaction and greater relationships between neighbors .
Signs are good because so many people have NO idea what is going on and who the good guys are so my friends and acquaintances and neighbors know I care and am educated about town issues so when they see my signs they know who to vote for because they trust me and my opinion. A small way to let people know how the people involved are voting and not to make the mistake of voting for the friends of VOIGHT
Ridgewood NJ, Benjamin Franklin Middle School Auditorium will host the next addition of the 2018-19 preliminary budget presentation, with final vote by the Board of Education on May 7. Public presentations are set for April 16 and May 7.Click here to view the 2018-2019 Preliminary Budget presentation, given at the March 20 Board of Education meeting. https://www.ridgewood.k12.nj.us/common/pages/DisplayFile.aspx?itemId=13032001
Regular Public Meeting for the Ridgewood Board of Education will be May 7 2018 7:30 PM to 10:00 PM ,Board Room, 3rd Floor, Education Center.
annual daffodil festival and earth day fair
Sun, April 22, 2018
Time: 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM
Memorial Park Van Neste Square, East Ridgewood Ave, Ridgewood
LET’S RECYCLE RIGHT….It takes a Village.
Please join us on Earth Day as we highlight ways to recycle better and increase the community commitment to a sustainable future through waste reduction, reuse, and improving the quality of our recyclables.
More information on event participation will follow on VillageofRidgewoodnj.net.
ridgewood public library is offering a workshop on genealogy Sat, April 21, 2018 Time: 10:30 AM Ridgewood Public Library, 125 N. Maple Ave, Ridgewood,NJ 07450
April 8,2018
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, Using familysearch.org, Saturday, April 21, 10:30am. Learn about the wealth of records and research help available free on familysearch.org. Instructor: Judy Kenney. Registration and fee required. Please contact Local History Librarian Sarah Kiefer at [email protected] or call 201-670-5600, ext. 135.
Trenton NJ, police throughout New Jersey will be targeting distracted drivers as part of a nationwide enforcement campaign called “U Drive. U Text. U Pay.,” which seeks to stop one of the most dangerous habits that motorists display.
The Division of Highway Traffic Safety has awarded $5,000 to 38 police departments for the initiative and many more agencies are expected to participate unfunded. The campaign runs through April 21. The crackdowns are similar in scope to the “Drive Sober, or Get Pulled Over” and “Click It or Ticket” mobilizations, which have targeted impaired driving and seat belt usage, respectively. The campaign is part of a nationwide effort, which was developed by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and will coincide with nationally-observed Distracted Driving Awareness Month.
“The dangers of driver inattention are staggering, placing drivers, passengers and pedestrians alike in harm’s way,” said Acting Attorney General John Hoffman. “Distracted driving is an incredibly significant issue on our roads and one that requires a total commitment from law enforcement to eliminate. To continue to make our roads safer, we must be as aggressive with distracted drivers as we have been with drunk drivers and people who refused to wear seat belts.”
“Driving and texting is illegal and irresponsible. People who break our distracted driving laws will be stopped and fined,” said Division of Highway Traffic Safety Acting Director Gary Poedubicky. “For those who say that driving and texting is an epidemic, we believe enforcement of our state texting law is part of the cure.”
In addition to the enforcement component, public service announcements recorded by Attorney General Hoffman will be broadcast on New Jersey radio stations throughout April and will urge drivers to put down their phone and just drive.
The national “U Drive. U Text. U Pay.” enforcement blitz will also be supported by a multi-million dollar national advertising campaign, designed to raise awareness about the enforcement effort and remind people about the deadly consequences of driving and texting.
Researchers have found that distracted driving is a major problem, especially for young drivers. According to the AAA Foundation, analysis of crash videos of teen drivers found significant evidence that distracted driving is likely much more widespread than previously known. The organization’s new findings, issued earlier this month, found that distraction was a factor in nearly 6 out of 10 moderate-to-severe teen crashes, which is four times as many as official estimates based on police reports.
Researchers analyzed the six seconds leading up to a crash in nearly 1,700 videos of teen drivers taken from in-vehicle event recorders. The results showed that distraction was a factor in 58 percent of all crashes studied; including 89 percent of road-departure crashes and 76 percent of rear-end crashes. NTHSA previously has estimated that distraction is a factor in only 14 percent of all teen driver crashes.
It is illegal in New Jersey to operate a motor vehicle while using a handheld electronic device. Violating this law subjects motorists to fines of $200 to $400 for a first offense and could increase to $800 and three insurance points in subsequent violations.
In last year’s “U Drive. U Text. U Pay.” campaign, police issued 13,478 summonses for illegal phone use, 5,908 for speeding and 1,211 for DWI.
![2017ST6[1]](https://theridgewoodblog.net/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/2017ST61.png "April as Tree Planting Month in the Village and April 27, 2018 as Arbor Day")
![alexander_hamilton_pic[1]](https://theridgewoodblog.net/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/alexander_hamilton_pic1.jpg "Ridgewood Public Library is offering a Workshop on Genealogy")
