Many, many Harwin supporters have and still do post on the blog. I post on the blog and find that James is the only one who goes into detail about town politics. As far as contributing money, I don’t remember a single request for monetary contributions. I vote issues. Susan and Mike have accomplished much. But the recent Lehman and Harwin fliers are the worst I’ve seen in our local elections ever. A vote for the challengers brings back the old guard( Aronsohn and company) along with Voigt who thinks he is our next mayor. Now there is another reason to vote on May 8th for Knudsen and Sedon!
photo is Abraham Godwin the Patron Saint of the Ridgewood blog
April 30,2018
the PJ Blogger and the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, in Ridgewood It takes a village ,It takes a village to raise a child, It takes a village to worship Groupthink, It takes a village to become a lynch mob, yes it takes a Village . According to Thomas Sowell , “One of the most pathetic—and dangerous—signs of our times is the growing number of individuals and groups who believe that no one can possibly disagree with them for any honest reason.”
In the heat of the political season , the staff of the Ridgewood blog thought it would be a good time to review how the Ridgewood blog actually works .
The guiding principle of the Ridgewood bog can best be summed up by former New York Mayor Ed Koch, “If you agree with me on nine out of 12 issues, vote for me. If you agree with me on 12 out of 12 issues, see a psychiatrist.” The second principle can best be summed up with a quote from local landscape architect James Rose, “the problem is you live here” . Meaning that the issues you face in your community are your own fault ,not Trump, Bush, Anonymous posters or anyone else.
The nature of the Ridgewood blog is to generate discussion from a multitude of sources and contributors .We don’t expect everyone to love the blog. It is not a public service . Some of our biggest critics are often the best commentators. The fact that so many people in the Village are so engaged in the schools or the Village Council is part of what makes Ridgewood a great community.
Todays controversial post becomes yesterdays news; for example the blog questioned the use of parking meters ,was berated and years later someone was caught stealing the money from the very parking meters.
Anonymity is used to protect the posters from fear of retribution . Anonymity also equals the playing field forcing the reader to focus on the content rather than the posters standing in life .People only complain about anonymity because they are looking to exact revenge on the poster and stifle dissent. Everyone knows there are occasionally nasty comments , the nasty comments come from the same people that make them in town, at Village Council meetings and at sporting events . People who complain about comments not being represented or posted or censored are the people who make the nasty comments . Trolls and stalkers get blocked .
Just to be clear while the Mayor Knudsen , like other Village Mayors has been the subject of many posts on this blog , she is not a contributor to the blog as has been alleged. She has however on occasion graciously asked us to remove something or complained that a post was inaccurate or unfair to her one of her collogues . She would not be the only resident to do so.
The Ridgewood blog has also run articles and posts on Governor Phil Murphy and he is not a contributor either.
If you are the subject of a post on the Ridgewood blog , no one expects to answer every anonymous comment posted .
The Ridgewood blog is not a Newspaper .You are directly responsible for what you write . There are no protected sources. The Ridgewood blog is a peer to peer forum , with several administrators trying and sometimes failing to keep a balance . Those of you who use Facebook understand how quickly things can get out of control.
We are always promoting diversity in town , the Ridgewood blog represents diversity of thought and opinions.
The Ridgewood blog is not a Republican blog or Democrat blog , doubt it just ask the Bergen County Republican Organization. Yes the blog does have a tendency to represent non mainstream points of view . Its says right on the mast head ” The Ridgewood Blog Brings a Free Market Laissez-faire Point of View to Local, New Jersey State and National Issues ”
I know totally radical , as bad as Kanye West’s declaration of support for President Donald Trump.
Much of the content is meant to be both informative and provocative, if that’s stirring the pot so be it. Periodically a post causes some public outrage, we suggest you save the outrage for the $110,000,000 school budget .
There are many contributors to the Ridgewood blog ,some write articles, some advertise, some send in pictures and comments, some comments become posts , some people live in the area and some are ex pats.
Because you contribute to the blog does not mean you agree with everything on the blog , once again , “If you agree with me on nine out of 12 issues, vote for me. If you agree with me on 12 out of 12 issues, see a psychiatrist.”
Opposing a particular idea ,like turf fields in flood zones, Valley Expansion , Ridgewood Train station expansion , cement bottom pools , high density housing , destruction of historical significant properties, and Garagezilla’s to name a few does not imply the Ridgewood blog is somehow against the organizations that propose theses ideas. We like Ridgewood Sports , just not turf fields in flood zones, we like Valley Hospital but the expansion was just far to big for the lot, we like development but the high density housing projects in the CBD are just too big and too nom conforming with the spirit of the towns downtown.
The Ridgewood blog attempts to focus on issues and ideas, however , bad behavior is bad behavior and no one is above reproach or given a free pass to act like a “jerk” . Unfortunately Some people can not separate themselves from issues they are passionate over and take everything personal.
If you have ever been upset be something on this blog , keep in mind that on this blog a commenter from town defended a child molester , someone defended children buying drugs from an armed drug dealer , many have defended driving 50 mph over the speed limit crashing their vehicle and complained about being photographed , many have defended hitting pedestrians , someone even defended the old parking meter system of stealing all the money , just to name a few things that upset most of the staff.
While the blog has many critics , its amazing how they come running when Valley Hospital or NJT looks to pave over their house for a project.
And finally we don’t confuse critics of content with enemies of the blog. The fact is that the real enemies of this blog are enemies of free speech and free thought .
Ridgewood NJ, The Ridgewood Singers proudly presents: NATURE SINGS,Sunday, May 6th at 3:00PM at Ridgewood United Methodist Church. The address is 100 Dayton St. Ridgewood, NJ 07450.
Susan LaFever is the Conductor
Erik Clark will be the Pianist
The Ridgewood Singers invite you to their spring concert, “Nature Sings,” on May 6. Songs play with aspects of how nature exhibits herself in spring, through water, sky, and that perennial favorite ‘spring fever.’ So, let me “Colour My World” (and hopefully, yours) by weaving a few of our song titles into this invitation, as follows:
For instance, come out of your “Castle on a Cloud” so you can be “Flying Free” while you “Follow Rain and Rivers” to our concert! Our “Serenade to Spring” is in the afternoon, after “Morning Has Broken” and any churchgoers have been “Down to the River to Pray.”
You’ll hear music of the Beatles, Sondheim, Simon and Garfunkel, Cat Stevens, and more… composing a nice variety of light pieces about nature, moonlight…. and (Everything’s Coming Up) roses.
This uplifting spring concert,
TICKETS:
General Admission $18.00
Senior/Student $15.00
Tickets are available in advance
Call: Cynthia at 201-692-9899
Email: theridgewoodsingers@yahoo.com
At the door: On the day of the performance
The Ridgewood Singers Present Nature Sings Sun, May 06, 2018 Time: 3:00 PM Location: Ridgewood United Methodist Church, 100 Dayton St. Ridgewood, NJ 07450
Ridgewood NJ, Ridgewood Arts Council in conjunction with Ridgewood Guild’s Film Festival presents an evening of conversation with Hollywood Producer: Scott Rosenfelt
Scott is one of Hollywood’s most acclaimed film producers whose credits include Home Alone, Mystic Pizza, Smoke Signals, Teen Wolf and Extremeties. He is a member of the Directors Guild of America and the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Scott holds a degree from NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts.
Tickets on sales at the door or in advance from an RAC Member
Ridgewood Arts Council Presents an Evening of Conversation with Hollywood producer Scott Rosenfelt
Thu, May 10, 2018
Time: 6:30 PM
Location: Bow-Tie Warner Theater, 190 E. Ridgewood Ave, Ridgewood, NJ 07450
Registration is Open for the Family Promise Hike or Bike event.
April 29,2019
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, Join us on Sunday, May 6th as we Hike or Bike to support Family Promise of Bergen County. Choose your route – 3 mile hike or bike OR 15 mile bike. We begin and end at Van Neste Square in Ridgewood. Fun for everyone with food, music, games, prizes, giveaways and more!
Form a team with your family, friends, colleagues, school,
congregation, scout troop, sports team, etc.!
Create your own fundraising page! Have fun!
Family Promise is the only organization in Bergen County that provides shelter and support to homeless, working families with children. Thank you for your support.
Family Promise of Bergen County Hike or Bike Event
Sun, May 06, 2018
Time: 12:00 PM
Location: Van Neste Square in Ridgewood, Van Neste Square in Ridgewood, NJ 07450
Ridgewood NJ, On May 6, the stellar Neubauer-McDermott Family will bring our eleventh season to an exhilarating conclusion. Violist Paul Neubauer (of the Lincoln Center Chamber Music Society), violinist Kerry McDermott (of the New York Philharmonic), and their children, violinists Oliver and Clara Neubauer, will be joined by Kerry’s sister, CMS pianist Anne-Marie McDermott, in music of Bach, Dvořák, Ravel, and Schumann.
The concert will include the World Premiere of Gilad Cohen’s* Quintet for Three Violins, Viola, and Piano, commissioned by PCC especially for this event. Inspired by the familial theme, Cohen’s work will focus on children’s songs from Israel and America.
*Gilad Cohen is a Ridgewood resident and a music professor at Ramapo College. A Princeton Ph.D., he is the winner of the 2016 Barlow Prize and the 2010 Israeli Prime Minister Award for Composers.
Johann Sebastian Bach Preludio from Partita No. 3 arranged for 3 violins & viola
Antonín Dvořák Terzetto in C, Op. 74 for 2 violins and viola
Maurice Ravel Tzigane for violin and piano
Gilad Cohen World Premiere for 3 violins, viola and piano
Robert Schumann Sonata No. 1 in A minor, Op. 105 for violin and piano
Mark O’Connor F.C.’s Jig for violin and viola
Charles Dancla Variations on Ah! Vous dirai-je, Maman for three violins and viola
Y. Donbon Zowie! Goes the Weasel for 3 violins and viola
Parlance Chamber Concerts:
West Side Presbyterian Church
6 S. Monroe Street, Ridgewood, NJ
Adults $40, Seniors $30, Young Adults $20, Students $10.
for more info call 800-838-3006
https://www.parlancechamberconcerts.org/2017-2018-season/may-6-2018.
https://www.parlancechamberconcerts.org
Visit parlancechamberconcerts.org for ticket info
Parlance Chamber Concerts Presents Neubauer-Mcdermott Family Concert Sun, May 06, 2018 Time: 3:00 PM Location: West Side Presbyterian Church, 6 South Monroe Street, Ridgewood NJ 07450 Cost: 40
Ridgewood NJ, Emmy Award Winning Actor William Daniels appearing in Boy Meets World, Girl Meets World and St. Elsewhere among others, will sign his new book on Sunday, April 29th @ 2:00pm: There I Go Again
Appearing authors will only autograph books purchased at Bookends and must have valid Bookends Receipt.
Availability & pricing for all autographed books subject to change.
First In Line Certificate use is the discretion of Bookends. Blackout dates may apply.
Bookends cannot guarantee that the books that are Autographed will always be First Printings.
Autographed books purchased at Bookends are non-returnable.
While we try to ensure that all customers coming to Bookends’ signings will meet authors and get their books signed, we cannot guarantee that all attendees will meet the author or that all books will be signed. We cannot control inclement weather, author travel schedules or authors who leave prematurely.
Bookends, 211 E. Ridgewood Avenue, Ridgewood, NJ 07450 201-445-0726
Ridgewood NJ, This is a year of momentous anniversaries for The Ridgewood Choral! Celebrating 90 years of song and service, the Choral will present its Annual Spring Concert on Saturday, May 5 at 7:30 p.m. at West Side Presbyterian Church, 6 South Monroe Street, Ridgewood, NJ.
Under the direction of Marjorie Vandervoort, who is celebrating her 25th year as Music Director, the choral will sing classics by Purcell as well as modern pieces such as A Spring Bouquet written for the Choral by our beloved friend and former accompanist, Richard Lane. To make our 2018 concert even more unique, the Northern Highlands Regional High School concert choir, under the direction of Thomas Paster, will join us.
Susan LaFever, pianist is celebrating 10 years with the Choral. She will also accompany the choral on French Horn in two Emily Dickinson poems set to music by James Mulholland.
Jazz Saxophonist, Isaac Ketter of Fair Lawn, winner of the 2018 Florence Reinauer Memorial Music Award, will perform at the concert. The scholarship is presented annually for excellence in vocal or instrumental music.
The Marjorie Vandervoort Vocal Award was instituted this year in honor of Marjorie Vandervoort’s 25 years as Music Director. The winner Alto Tiffani Rivera of Suffern, NY will also perform at the concert.
A reception with light refreshments will follow the performance. Join us as we welcome Spring with this beautiful blend of choral pieces.
Tickets are $20 advance sale; $25 at the door. For advance tickets, call 201-327-8184. For more information on The Ridgewood Choral, visit www.ridgewoodchoral.org.
from Facebook , Marla Glick-Sherman :Below is a letter I sent to Alexandra Harwin, her husband, Rabbi Noah Fabricant and for publication in northjersey.com media. It is in direct response to a recent mailing sent to all Ridgewood residents inferring our Mayor, Susan Knudsen, is sympathetic to Nazism and Hitler Youth. It is a false and repugnant claim that has brought Ms. Harwin’s campaign for Village Council to a new low.
Your views on a garage, multi-family housing, or commuter parking should not eclipse the unconscionable use of antisemitism to win an election. Ms. Harwin’s campaign is built on lies and platitudes. The campaign of Susan Knudsen and Michael Sedon is built on experience and honesty. Read the real facts here: https://voteridgewood.com/.
Dear Ms Harwin,
The type of village council campaign you are running is not becoming of Ridgewood, the Jewish community or Temple Beth Or. As a member of all three groups I am embarrassed to be associated with you or what your campaign stands for. If you truly believe in inclusion, civility and making Ridgewood a better place, you are not setting an appropriate example. Your latest mailer (with references to Nazism) was shameful and contains dangerous and libelous inferences that have no place in our local election, our Village or our country.
Becoming a Ridgewood Village Councilwoman demands a genuine interest in participating in the matters of our Village. I might be convinced of your sincere interest in running if you regularly attended village council meetings or if you had ever publicly expressed an opinion on the issues facing our village up until now. But to base your candidacy on a false assertion and then forge a smear campaign and attack someone’s character without attempting to learn the facts, is neither respectful nor does it follow the basic tenents of Judaism. Jewish law reveres truthfulness, and to paraphrase Rabbi Shimon ben Gamliel, it is truth, justice and peace that are the three pillars of Judaism. I do not believe your campaign demonstrates or attempts to achieve any of these basic principles. Your own campaign mailer states, “As a civil rights attorney, I know there is no excuse for bullying and abuse, online or anywhere.” How can you honestly make that claim and then spew vulgar and offensive propaganda on the very same piece of paper?
I have no doubt you will go after the goal of winning this election with the same intensity that has earned you your résumé. I only wish that you would choose to stick to the real issues facing our Village with more than mere platitudes, stop spreading lies and remove the inflammatory inferences from your campaign material. It undermines your credibility and embarrasses Ridgewood, our Jewish community and the reputation of the Temple Beth Or family.
Ridgewood has had controversial elections before but what is being produced by a candidate who hasn’t lived here long enough to know anything about Ridgewood is absolutely nothing but scandalous, probably illegal, libel. I actually feel sorry for her husband and the members of his Temple. I am sure they, or most of them, are as embarrassed by having to witness this behavior as I am. I am normally in favor of letting every person have their say, but this is so indescribable that I can definitely see some limitations should be placed on free speech when it consists of nothing but libel and scandalous statements created only out of the mind of one person when no fact is behind them. There is no way that an Easter Bunny or placing flags on graves can be considered evil behavior. I do believe that Alexandra misunderstood her political classes or transformed what they said to the evil her mind has become.
Harwin is portraying Ridgewood as some sort of hostile community in which people are marginalized for being jewish, gay, black, etc. This is completely untrue and horribly inflammatory. I am a minority, my skin is DARK. No one bothers me, no one ever has, no one bothered my kids, this is a wonderful community filled with educated easy going people. Harwin thinks she needs to save us from inequality what a crock of shit. She is trying to make trouble where none exists.
Ridgewood NJ, Ridgewood Health Department would like to remind residents that 2018 dog license renewals are due during the month of June. A $20 late fee will be charged for all renewals received after June 30, 2018.
The Ridgewood FREE dog rabies clinic and micro chipping event will be held on Wed. May 16 from 5:30 pm to 6:30 pm at the Graydon Pool Parking Lot on North Pleasant Ave.
The health department will be sending renewals notices via email. If you do not have an email address please call our office and request a renewal to be mailed to you.
Renewal applications may also be obtained by visiting our website at www.ridgewoodnj.net or coming in person to the Ridgewood Health Department, 131 North Maple Ave. The office hours are Monday to Friday from 8:30 am until 4:30 pm. Please call 201 670-5500 ext. 502 with questions.
New Jersey law requires owners of all dogs seven months of age or older to be registered with the town where they live. In order for the license to be issued, the owner must present proof that a licensed veterinarian has vaccinated the dog against rabies and that the duration of immunity from that vaccination does not expire before May 1, 2019. To receive the discount for a spayed or neutered pet, proof must also be provided.
Ridgewood NJ, Knudsen and Sedon continue to stack up the endorsements. They have been endorsed by Ridgewood citizen groups and Village residents. Knudsen and Sedon will continue to run a positive and respectful campaign based on facts!. Susan and Mike have a proven track record of supporting all Ridgewood residents, shared values, smart development, protecting and enhancing our environment, protecting Village neighborhoods and residents, keeping municipal taxes low, delivering quality services, and more.
Read full endorsements and letters to the editor at https://voteridgewood.com/endorsements.html
-Ridgewood Residents for Reasonable Development -Citizens for A Better Ridgewood
-Concerned Residents of Ridgewood
-Friends of Schedler
-Ridgewood Wildscape Association
-Ridgewood Chinese American Association
Ridgewood NJ, Why is it that Erin Chung and her ever growing face book group “women for progress” is involving herself in our local election?
Her group stemmed out of the outrage people felt after Trump was elected. It claims to promote women involving themselves in politics and the political process- as long as they’re Democrats. That advances a percentage of women, but not all. Leave one behind, you may as well leave us all.
She has actively worked to promote Harwin and flat out refused to meet or speak with Susan Knudsen. How and why? Unless she has determined which person promotes her viewpoint- in our NON PARTISAN election!?
Beyond that, what stake does she have? That she has now opted to delete and censor any comments on that page which are against Harwin, she has removed members of that group who support Knudsen Sedon and she will not accept in to her group many members of our Indian community. Why? Is it her personal involvement with Phil Murphy and Paul Aronsohn? Again, this is a non partisan local election. Not the next coming of the Democratic Party.
What actually is going on behind the scenes at women for progress, and what actually is Erin Chung looking to gain from a non partisan election in a town she doesn’t live in? Another notch in the belt? She can claim she helped advance another dem woman in to an office- at ANY expense. At OUR expense. For a national political party which should not matter to any of us here in Ridgewood.
Stay out of it Erin Chung, you are taking your good idea and turning in to a power hungry, monster on the backs of neighboring towns. This is one fight you’re going to have to stay the heck out of. My guess is as smart as you are, you can’t even speak to the pressing issues here in town, and why should you? But since you can’t, then stay out of it! And for gods sake, fact check these people. You’re involving yourself in the spread of lies and slander in the name of progressing women.
That Mayor Knudsen felt the need to graciously respond on your page- despite the utter disrespect you’ve shown HER as a woman and a community leader, says so much about her, and the campaign she and Mike Sedon are running, and not much at all about you, Erin.
Long story short, Harwin is not qualified to sit on the council in Ridgewood at this time. She isn’t versed in the issues- although she may be rehearsed. Her campaign is being run by Paul Aronsohn, Roberta Sonenfeld and Al Pucciarelli. 2 of those people have pending ethics violations with the state. All of them were seen out of their positions in shame after they marred the landscape of this village permanently. We don’t want them back. Not in the form of Harwin, or any form for that matter.
Vote Mike Sedon and Susan Knudsen on May 8th. They’ve put in the time, they have the experience, they’re dedicated and they have not had to run a campaign based on lies and horrible slander, rather their track record of service and knowledge.
Ridgewood NJ, Dana Glazer posted in the Facebook group “It Takes a Ridgewood Village” of his ejection from the Women for Progress Facebook group:
Dear It Takes A Ridgewood Village Members,
I want to share that I have been removed by Erin Chung from her Women for Progress FB group for posting the below message.
I bring this to your attention not out of spite but to make you aware that not everyone who professes to progressive/democratic ideals is necessarily truly aligned with them and that they should be seen for who and what they are.
As you know, Ridgewood is having a Village Council election in a matter of days. Given that we have a non-partisan local government, the candidates should be evaluated on their own merits and not in relation to their national affiliations. I’m a strong supporter of Mayor Susan Knudsen because she has been nothing but honest, reliable and hard working in her stewardship of Ridgewood. Having interacted with her for several years now, I know her heart is in the right place and that she is a good and well-meaning person. So, for a candidate like Alexandra Harwin to oppose her with an intentionally disingenuous smear campaign to rile up Democrats against her and use our ‘Blue Wave’ as a weapon is flat out wrong.
Women For Progress has been working hard to support Ms. Harwin, ignoring Ridgewood’s non-partisan framework. That is misguided. But to do so with the knowledge of her tactics is to condone this wrongful behavior – and that needs to be addressed.
I hope that you will share this note with other Democrats in our area so that people can know the truth about the situation. Thanks for doing your part.
Sincerely,
Dana
_______________________________________________________
Fellow Progressives,
As a Ridgewood resident, I am deeply concerned about Women for Progress’ involvement in the upcoming Ridgewood Village Council election and how it could negatively impact our common goals for November.
Today I received a flyer in the mail from ‘Harwin for Council’ that grievously associates Mayor Knudsen with Nazism.
This is wrong.
This is not who we are as progressives, Democrats or frankly, Americans.
This is what we are fighting against: Trumpian smear tactics that viciously and falsely attack the character of the opposition.
In the same way that it is important to call out and denounce such tactics when it comes from the Conservative side, so too is it essential for us to speak out against a candidate who professes to have progressive values but chooses to use these same attacks.
To have Women For Progress associate with this candidate in any way will only damage the group’s reputation when it comes to November because to support such a candidate is to support an individual willing to go low to win – and that we cannot abide.
Thank you for your time and for doing the right thing by speaking against this wrongful behavior.
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