May 8th 2018
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, the Ridgewood Village Council Election is today May 8th, 2018 ,Polls open 6:00am – 8:00pm .
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May 8,2018
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood Nj, according to Anne Loving on Facebook ,”Candidate Harwin was at the train station this morning. She introduced herself to councilwoman Bernie Walsh, and said she is running for office and she will represent the commuters. (Mind you, councilwoman Walsh is completing her sixth year serving on the council. She herself is a commuter and she represents the commuters.). So what does this tell us? Ms. Harwin never attends council meetings although she wants to serve on the council. She has stated that she watches meetings from home after she gets her kids to bed. Ok, I cannot believe this. She would know councilwoman Walsh and her distinctive smile and thoughtful commentary if she ever watched meetings. So Ms. Harwin does not watch meetings, does not attend meetings, does not know who is serving now, does not know who she would be serving with if elected. How could anyone consider voting for someone who I so completely disinterested and uninformed? KNUDSEN AND SEDON.”
You see it does to pay to go to council meetings , you might even get to know the other members of the council .
may 7,2018
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, the Board of Education budget vote is tonight. The BOE will be voting on a $110,000,000 school budget and to increase the school tax by 3.62%. The meeting starts at 7:30, & public comment is first. I know people have busy lives, but anyone who does not speak up now, should have no excuse to complain later.This number gets compounded year after year after year.
The school budget is 65% of our tax dollars, so this is going to be a big hit. 2 of the 5 board members believe they can keep the budget within the cap, and without losing any teachers/programs at the schools. I would like to see the entire board to work together to achieve that.
e-mail addresses are as follows: [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected]
To vote for the woman stating flat out lies because you are tired of the Mayor’s friends rebuking Alexandra is really a sad case of affairs. The Mayor’s friends would have no need to defend her or attack Ms Harwin if Harwin’s speeches and her printed mailings said something about her campaign, what she wants to do to help Ridgewood, etc. instead of doing nothing but slandering the other candidates, the Catholic Church (while she claims we are attacking Jews), the Police and Fire Departments etc. If you plan to vote for Harwin would you please list a few positive things that would encourage you, and us, to do so. Think really hard about voting for Harwin. Her platforms seem to be only a bigger garage than planned and to do whatever Aronson wants her to do. If you lived here during the Aronsohn reign think really hard about returning to it. It’s not just a “poor woman, everyone seems to hate her so I’ll vote for her to make her feel better.” It actually is a clear choice of wanting Ridgewood to continue to grow in an orderly manner or if you want it to grow with immediate speed and heavy development. Please, look at what she has presented as her platforms. Read her mailers. She says nothing to show you how she would add to Ridgewood rather than simply tearing it apart. I too was ready for “change” but not for the destruction the only other candidates offer.
May 7,2018
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, In honor of Air Quality Awareness Week, The Department of Environmental Protection and the Ridgewood Health Department would like to share some tips to reduce air pollutants:
• Turn off vehicle engines while waiting in line to save money, fuel, and benefit public health. Do not idle your car.
• Develop good driving habits. Combine automobile trips to reduce “cold starts.” Choose a cleaner commute by carpooling, using public transportation, bicycling or walking.
• Have your vehicle’s emission codes read if the check engine light comes on, to determine what maintenance issues need to be addressed. Ensure personal or fleet vehicles are properly maintained and inspected at licensed inspection facilities when required. For more information, visit: www.njinspections.com/
• Refuel vehicles during cooler evening hours to reduce evaporation of gasoline, a volatile organic compound capable of forming ozone. Ask the gas station attendant to stop refueling your car when the nozzle clicks off, and to avoid overfilling or dripping fuel. Any additional gasoline after the first click may not reach your vehicle’s gas tank, although you will pay for it. Tighten gas caps securely.
• Maintain an energy-efficient vehicle. Keep vehicle tires properly inflated to increase gas mileage and reduce emissions.
• Turn off lights when leaving a room. Turn off the air conditioning and turn up the thermostat while away from home. These actions can save money, as well as reduce pollution.
• Check the local forecast using the Air Quality Index (AQI) at www.njaqinow.net/ before painting, mowing the lawn or doing other activities that cause air pollution. If it’s an orange or red day, which typically means the temperature is hot or uncomfortable, postpone projects that use solvents or engines.
• Get a low-cost air quality sensor and monitor local air quality.
• Consider an electric vehicle when it’s time to buy your next car. Visit www.drivegreen.nj.gov to assess affordability, find state and federal incentives, and learn about charging options.
• Plant trees and support programs that help maintain a healthy tree canopy.
May 7,2018
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood Nj, don’t think this Village Council Election is all about high density house and forced over development ,think again ,Harwin is bragging all over the internet on her endorsement of “high density” Senator Loretta Weinberg.
Weinberg has continually promoted over development in Bergen County .
Harwin: So grateful to be endorsed by Loretta Weinberg, NJ State Senate Majority Leader and women’s leadership pioneer.
“Now, more than ever, we need to elect strong, progressive women, and it is in that spirit that I hope Alexandra Harwin gets elected to the Ridgewood Council. She’s smart. She’s thoughtful. And she would bring to Village Hall a welcome mix of energy, passion and integrity. Ridgewood is lucky to have Ali Harwin. I hope you vote for her on Tuesday, May 8.”
— Senator Loretta Weinberg — with Alexandra Harwin and Loretta Weinberg.
Senate Democrats Block Cardinale’s Efforts to Provide Affordable Housing Relief
June 20, 2017
Citing pleas from both local officials and residents who are concerned with the cost and impact of building thousands of new units of affordable housing on their little remaining open space, Senator Gerry Cardinale (R-39) attempted to force Senate votes yesterday on a pair of bills he sponsors that would provide temporary relief to municipalities. Both efforts were immediately blocked by the majority Senate Democrats.
Senate Democrats blocked votes on a pair of bills sponsored by Sen. Gerry Cardinale that would provide affordable housing relief to municipalities. (Pixabay)
“We’ve heard repeatedly from mayors, councilmembers, and residents that their towns cannot absorb the thousands of units that the Fair Share Housing Center has demanded they build,” said Cardinale. “It’s clear that the Legislature must regain control of a housing policy that the New Jersey Supreme Court has recklessly advanced beyond its mandate and at the expense of property taxpayers and local communities. I’m saddened that New Jersey Democrats continue to support an activist Court that wants to pave over New Jersey.”
The bills Cardinale attempted to advance, S-3080 and S-3081, would impose a moratorium on affordable housing litigation and establish an “Affordable Housing Obligation Study Commission,” respectively.
Senate Majority Leader Loretta Weinberg stood on both occasions for Senate Democrats to table Cardinale’s motions to relieve his bills from the stalled committee process and bring them to the Senate floor for consideration.
“There aren’t too many people in Bergen County who are happy with the expensive affordable housing policies that Majority Leader Weinberg continues to defend,” said Cardinale. “I’m surprised she’s fighting so vigorously for overdevelopment, crowded schools, and higher property taxes throughout Bergen County.”
Cardinale’s efforts on the Senate floor followed a well-attended public meeting held by the 39th District legislators last week to hear the substantial concerns of public officials.
Assemblywoman Holly Schepisi and Assemblyman Bob Auth (both R-39) sponsor the identical versions of Cardinale’s bills in the General Assembly, A-4666 and A-4667, and have been strong advocates for affordable housing reform.
“The Fair Share Housing Center has issued local municipal obligations that would require just about every open field and every wooded lot in Bergen County to be replaced with high-density housing,” added Cardinale. “Democrats may be happy with that, but we’re not. We’ll keep fighting to preserve our towns and protect our property taxpayers.”
April 7,2018
the staff of the Ridgewood
Ridgewood NJ, Fair share housing is driving all the high density housing in Bergen County and the rest of the state ,destroying neighborhoods and communities in their wake. . Anyone who is saying I am progressive and I want to run for higher level office in NJ, and at the same time saying “I will oppose” high density development, is not being honest with voters. This and the “rainbow flag” is the only progressive cause where they can show their voting record in Ridgewood to gain a ticket for higher office in NJ. This is exactly with Harwin’s mentor Paul Aronsohn did in 2008 and what a mess that made.
Fair Share Housing using the “Mount laurel Doctrine” clams to be helping working families but instead seems to be the DEVEOPERS BEST FRIEND. Forced over development creates more demand for police, fire, schools, roads ,sewers ,electric and water. , Often over whelming the infrastructure of the target town.
The back ground ,the New Jersey Supreme Court, in Mount Laurel I (1975) and Mount Laurel II (1983), declared that municipal land use regulations that prevent affordable housing opportunities for the poor are unconstitutional and ordered all New Jersey municipalities to plan, zone for, and take affirmative actions to provide realistic opportunities for their “fair share” of the region’s need for affordable housing for low and moderate-income people. Peter J. O’Connor, founder and Executive Director of Fair Share Housing Center, was one of three attorneys who brought the original Mount Laurel litigation.
The Mount Laurel Doctrine, which prohibits economic discrimination against the poor by the state and municipalities in the exercise of their land use powers, was the first case of its type in the nation and is widely regarded as one of the most significant civil rights cases in the United States since Brown v. Board of Education (1954). The Mount Laurel Doctrine today is a cornerstone of land use courses in all of our nation’s law schools.
In 1985, the New Jersey Legislature, in direct response to the Mount Laurel decisions, enacted the Fair Housing Act, which created the Council on Affordable Housing (COAH) to assess the statewide need for affordable housing, allocate that need on a municipal fair share basis, and review and approve municipal housing plans aimed at implementing the local fair share obligation.
A new Village Master Plan document will guide Ridgewood’s development 40 plus years into the future making it critically important for trusted, experienced Council members to be active participants. Council members with a proven track record of protecting resident property values, Ridgewood neighborhoods, and the character of the Village we call home. Mayor Knudsen is the most experienced Council member in the area of Municipal Land Use making her participation important to the future of the Village. Experienced Council members with a comprehensive understanding of Municipal Land Use patterns, development and zoning, will serve the community best as we begin the exciting Master Plan process.
May 7,2018
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Philadelphia PA, Ridgewood Crew had another incredibly impressive weekend of rowing at the Philadelphia City Championships.
?1st Place: Amanda Perez, Alexandra Walton Roth
Girls Varsity 2x
?1st Place: Spencer Campbell and Joe O’Keefe
Boys Varsity Ltwt 2x
?1st Place: Alexander Melarti, Drew Johnson, Tommy Montgomery, Sebastian Rivero
Boys JV 4x
?2nd Place: Anna Soderlund, Holi Sisco, Nicole Kye, Alexandra Liu
Girls JV 4x
?2nd Place: Gabe Martinez
Boys JV 1x
?3rd Place: Maddie Gibson
Girls Varsity 1x
?3rd Place: Ed Hida, Alex Saladuca
Boys Varsity 2x
?3rd Place: Kimberly Rahnefeld, Jean-Marie Thomas, Diya Vij, Sara Wong
Girls Novice 4x
Photo credit: Judy Wong
photos courtesy of Boyd Loving’s Facebook page
May 7,2018
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, Ridgewood Police, Fire Department, and EMS personnel responded to aid the adult male driver of a 4-door Nissan Maxima who was injured after crashing head on into a utility pole on Sunday afternoon, 05/06. The incident occurred in front of 33 East Glen Avenue, Ridgewood. A Ridgewood EMS ambulance transported the victim to The Valley Hospital. The wreck was removed from the scene by a flatbed tow truck.
May 7,2018
PJ Blogger and the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, as previously reported by the Ridgewood blog , Ridgewood’s six largest grassroots advocacy groups have released their Village Council endorsements and all support incumbent Mayor Susan Knudsen and Deputy Mayor Michael Sedon for good reason .
The basis for these unanimous endorsements is the tireless and incredibly ethical work Susan and Mike are doing on behalf of the community. They brought a town that was becoming so painfully divided back together in only two years with an agenda of openness, sharing of information, pragmatic compromise, fiscal intelligence and acting always on behalf of their Ridgewood’s Residents.
The challengers have embarked one of the most slanderous, negative , dishonest campaigns the Village of Ridgewood has ever witnessed . Filling their campaign with a never ending stream of hate filled ,bigoted ,ignorant ,clueless and stupid accusations leveled against not only the Mayor and the Deputy Mayor but also the Ridgewood Police, Ridgewood Fire Department , Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church, Jamboree, Graydon pool, Irish residents and the Wildscape Association just to name a few.
While the Ridgewood blog has also been attacked , the blog is well organized to dish it right back unlike some of the Villages over civic organizations they are focused on a far higher purposes.
The challengers and their surrogates have though there very behavior demonstrated a complete lack of fitness to run ,hold or even contemplate public office and represent the kind of future the Ridgewood blog warned about with the interjection of Paul Aronsohn and his types into the Ridgewood as well as Bergen county political spectrum .
At this juncture the Ridgewood blog is fully endorsing Mayor Knudsen and Deputy Mayor Sedon as the best suited to represent the Village of Ridgewood into the future. It is time once again for Ridgewood to emerge from the darkness set the standards as to what is expectable in civic behavior and discourse by voting to absolutely reject at every single level the type of garbage being tossed about by the challengers .
We also ask at this time for the removal Hans-Jurgen Lehmann , the Chair of the Village Board of Adjustment who’s behavior and bigoted remarks make him totally unsuitable to serve on any committee or governing body . His outrageous behavior now brings into question ever single decision made by the Board of Adjustment and should be investigated by the Village Attorney to protect taxpayers as well as property owners.
May 6,2018
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood Nj, The Jersey Jubilation Handbell Choir will be presenting their 14th Annual “Ring in the Spring” event.
A Professional Community Choir Ringing a Dazzling Selection of Beautiful Handbell Music.
With instrumental performance by:
Elizabeth Hartman; Flute
Brian Tricoli; Solo Handbells
For more information call (201)447-2751 or email
[email protected]
The Jersey Jubilation Handbell Choir is Presenting “Ringing in the Spring” on Friday, may 18th at 8:00 pm
Fri, May 18, 2018
Time: 8:00 PM
Location: Ridgewood United Methodist Church, 100 Dayton St. Ridgewood, NJ 07450
May 6,2018
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood Nj, the Ridgewood Chamber of Commerce invites you to enjoy three days of experiencing Ridgewood with excellent shopping, discounts and selections galore. Stop by for lunch or dinner at one of Ridgewood’s finest restaurants. Please contact the Chamber with any questions.
(201)445-2600, [email protected]
Participating Stores-all 3 days
Alba Boutique – 10 S. Broad St.
Double take Consignment Boutique
189 E. Ridgewood
DPARZ Shoes – 12 S. Broad St.
Eat Your Spinach – 42 E. Ridgewood
Femmebot Clothing-203 E. Ridgewood
Fox’s-230 E. Ridgewood
GiGi’s Boutique-48 E. Ridgewood
Hot Jewelry Box – 203 E. Ridgewood
Jekyll & Hide – 7 E. Ridgewood
Little Skye – 171 E. Ridgewood
Lucky Brand – 67 E. Ridgewood
Oasis – 80 E. Ridgewood
Panges Coins & Jewelry 35 E. Ridgewood
Peachy Keen – 136 E. Ridgewood
Pink Bungalow- 185 E. Ridgewood Ave.
P. Smith & Co. – 65 E. Ridgewood
Red Velvet – 59 E. Ridgewood
Savvy Chic Consignment – 30 Cottage St.
Shelly Glam – 82 E. Ridgewood
Shoe Inn- 53 E. Ridgewood
Suite 201 – 11 S. Walnut St.
The Gap – 235 E. Ridgewood
Racefaster – 11 N. Broad St.
Little Nest Photographers –
Loft 41 Jewelry – 41 E. Ridgewood
Hillmann Lighting – 133 E. Ridgewood Ave.
Jackrabitt – 258 E. Ridgewood Ave.
Beauty Plus – 25 E. Ridgewood Ave
Duxiana – 63 E. Ridgewood Ave.
Bookends – 211 E. Ridgewood Ave.
Learning Express Toys-111 E. Ridgewood Ave.
Ridgewood Bootery – 200 E. Ridgewood Ave.
Just our Shoes – 16 N. Walnut St.
Victor’s Mens Clothing – 55 E. Ridgewood Ave.
E. Clare Travel – 122 E. Ridgewood Ave.
check in front of Memorial Park at
Van Neste Square
YWCA of Bergen County
Little Ivy Learning Center
more to come!
May 6,2018
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, This weeks (May 5th/6th, 2018) Our Lady of Mt. Carmel bulletin message from Fr. Ron :
“I was hoping I would not have to do this but because of a recent scurrilous mailer, which identified the parish (by name, if you went to the website) as the source of a “$25,000 prize—that’s right, $25,000! – from an organization at the center of the parking garage debate and a seemingly illegal meeting held—without any public notice or follow up minutes—to discuss the parking garage issue,” (factually incorrect). I am constrained to re-iterate the parish position, on the garage only, and I quote directly from my column in the bulletin of June 12, 2016: “For clarity again, and simply stated, relative to the parking deck, the parish opposes any plan that eliminates on-street parking on the church side of Hudson Street. The parish opposes the re-direction of Hudson and Passaic Streets. The parish is neutral on the aesthetics of the deck, its size, its proportionality to surrounding buildings and the streetscape it creates. This is a decision that should be made by the individual resident of Ridgewood.” I think that statement should be clear enough.”
May 6,2018
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, according to the NJ Health Department ,the number of Lyme disease cases increased by 17 percent from 2016 to 2017 and they’ve more than doubled since 2006, when the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported 2,432 cases in New Jersey. Last year, there were 5,091!
It seems every year we get dire warning of tick bits and Lyme disease, so what is a resident to do if you still want to enjoy the great outdoors during the summer months ?
The CDC has put out a Create a Tick-Safe Zone Through Landscaping. So if you can make your yard less attractive to ticks depending on how you landscape. Here are some simple landscaping techniques that can help reduce tick populations:
Clear tall grasses and brush around homes and at the edge of lawns.
Place a 3-ft wide barrier of wood chips or gravel between lawns and wooded areas and around patios and play equipment. This will restrict tick migration into recreational areas.
Mow the lawn frequently and keep leaves raked.
Stack wood neatly and in a dry area (discourages rodents that ticks feed on).
Keep playground equipment, decks, and patios away from yard edges and trees and place them in a sunny location, if possible.
Remove any old furniture, mattresses, or trash from the yard that may give ticks a place to hide.
Refer to the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station’s Tick Management Handbook[PDF – 8.53 MB] for a comprehensive guide to preventing ticks and their bites through landscaping.
Apply Pesticides Outdoors to Control Ticks
Use of acaricides (tick pesticides) can reduce the number of ticks in treated areas of your yard. However, you should not rely on spraying to reduce your risk of infection.
If you have concerns about applying acaricides:
Check with local health officials about the best time to apply acaricide in your area.
Identify rules and regulations related to pesticide application on residential properties (Environmental Protection Agency and your state determine the availability of pesticides).
Consider using a professional pesticide company to apply pesticides at your home.
https://www.politico.com/story/2016/08/george-soros-criminal-justice-reform-227519
Is Soros listed anywhere in Harwin’s contributions? Lots of chatter in this article from Emerge America president about Soros funding candidates for local district attorney races. Perhaps being on Village Council is the stepping stone for Harwin…she wrote an interesting paper in Law School on the very topic Soros is interested in backing.
“more local candidates should prepare for the shock of one of the biggest donors in American politics flooding their neighborhoods with ads”
No thank you Ali Harwin.
