Mountainside Nj, Hugin campaign chimed in upon hearing the news that Senator Bob Menendez’s co-defendant, “best friend,” and biggest campaign donor, Sal Melgen, had his motion for a new trial denied today, U.S. Senate candidate Bob Hugin’s campaign released the following statement:
“We applaud Judge Marra’s decision to ensure that Sal Melgen is held accountable for his crimes,” said Hugin Communications Director Megan Piwowar. “Now it’s time for Bob Menendez to be held accountable, too. Menendez violated federal law by taking $1 million in illegal gifts and abused his office to intervene in the Obama Justice Department’s investigation into Melgen’s Medicare fraud scheme. Menendez is refusing to amend his financial disclosure and pay back Melgen’s dirty money as ordered by the bipartisan Senate Ethics Committee. When is Menendez going to comply? It’s time for him to come clean and pay up.”
“The Court finds that Defendant has not demonstrated, by clear and convincing evidence, that he is not a flight risk,” Marra wrote. “Although Defendant complied with the conditions of pretrial release before the verdict was rendered, circumstances have changed significantly with his conviction. In view of the length of Defendant’s sentence and his age, there is great incentive for Defendant to flee.”(Matt Friedman, Politico, Judge denies Melgen bail, new trial as he awaits appeal, 07/30/2018)
Florida eye doctor Salomon Melgen, the friend of Sen. Bob Menendez who was his co-defendant in the federal government’s unsuccessful corruption case, will stay locked up as he appeals a separate conviction for Medicaid fraud. (Matt Friedman, Politico, Judge denies Melgen bail, new trial as he awaits appeal, 07/30/2018)
North Bergen NJ, New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT) officials today announced the lane closures necessary as part of the rehabilitation of the Route 495 Bridge over Route 1&9 and Paterson Plank Road in North Bergen are expected to begin in mid-August.
The work is scheduled to start on Friday, August 10, with the closure of the 31st Street ramp from Kennedy Boulevard to Route 495 westbound, with traffic detoured onto Patterson Plank Road. A week later, on Friday, August 17, one lane of Route 495 in each direction will be closed, limiting the roadway capacity and causing severe congestion. NJDOT will provide more detailed information as the start of the lane closures nears.
The exclusive bus lane (XBL) will remain operational during construction. This construction is expected to last for about two and a half years while the entire bridge deck, parapets, light fixtures, guiderail, and drainage are replaced. The entire project is expected to be completed in summer 2021.
The $90.3 million state-funded project began in September 2017 with local street improvements. The work in the first phase, which was necessary before the lane closures could be implemented, has been taking place under the bridge and along the Paterson Plank Road – Union Turnpike corridor.
The project to rehabilitate the nine-span viaduct includes repairs and reconstruction of the bridge deck, replacement and strengthening of deteriorated structural steel, and the repair and painting of the substructure. Construction will be accomplished in stages by first making improvements to local streets in the surrounding areas that will need to handle some of the diverted traffic during bridge construction
The problem is neighbors constantly reached out to council & others usually no one responded to concerns. That’s why neighbors got falsely accused of harassment because someone in village hall is forwarding emails to Stacey or she OPRAs them. Stacey is just an awful person who thinks the park is hers. Someone needs to say enough is enough!!!!! Supporting Healthbarn barn is supporting bad behavior Council needs to step up and put the taxpayers 1st not this horrible business.
2. Statement of Compliance with Open Public Meeting Act
Mayor: “Adequate notice of this meeting has been provided by a posting on the bulletin board in Village Hall, by mail to the Ridgewood News, The Record, and by submission to all persons entitled to same as provided by law of a schedule including the date and time of this meeting.”
3. Roll Call – Village Clerk
4. Flag Salute/Moment of Silence
5. Public Comments (Not to Exceed 3 Minutes per Person – 40 Minutes in Total)
6. Discussion
a. Ridgewood Water
1. Partial Award of Contract – Southside Reservoir Rehabilitation
2. Additional Award of Contract – Pipes, Appurtenances and Service Materials
3. Partial Award of Contract – Ames Tank Rehabilitation
4. Award Professional Services Contract – Passaic Valley Water Commission Pipeline Project
b. Parking
1. Ordinances #3660 and #3661 – Parking Meter Rates and Hours
2. Parking on Overbrook Road
c. Budget
1. Award State Coop Purchasing Contract – Portable Radio Purchase – Police Department
2. Award State Coop Purchasing Contract – Two Tahoe Pursuit Vehicles – Police Department
3. Award State Coop Purchasing Contract – UHF Vehicle Radios – Police Department
4. Award State Coop Purchasing Contract – Emergency Vehicles Lights and Equipment – Police Department
5. Declare Surplus – Bullet Proof Vests – Police Department
6. Award County Coop Purchasing Contract –Chipper Truck Chassis – Parks
7. Award County Coop Purchasing Contract –Lawn Mower – Parks
8. Award Contract – HVAC Upgrades at Village Hall
9. Award Contract – Treatment Chemicals –WPCF
10. Award Contract – Laboratory Services – Water Pollution Control Facility
11. Capital Ord. – Redesign Train Station Parking Lot
12. Capital Ord. – Reappropriation of Funds – Ord. #3644 – Acquisition of Stretchers
13. Capital Ord. – Purchase of Hook Lift Body – Parks Department
14. Discuss Award of Contract – Epic Management – Hudson Street Parking Garage
d. Policy
1. Ordinance #3655 – Smoking
2. Licensing Sellers of E-Cigarettes
3. Amendment to A-Frame Sign Ordinance to Allow Displays
4. Proposed Zoning Amendments – Encroachment of Stairs, Front Yard Setback –District B2
e. Operation
1. Memorializing Changes to Bus Stops on Route 17
2. Bus Station at Van Neste Square
3. 2019 Village Council Meeting Schedule
7. Review of August 8, 2018 Public Meeting Agenda
8. Manager’s Report
9. Council Reports
10. Public Comments (Not to Exceed 5 Minutes per Person)
photo courtesy of Village of Ridgewood Mayor Ramon Hache
July 30,2018
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, its been far too long but it that time of year we like to pay a visit to Van Dyk’s Ice Cream. Many insist its best ice cream in Bergen County if not all of the northern new jersey area. Van Dyk’s Ice Cream is home made, old school ice cream. The Portions are large and plentiful. Van Dyk’s Ice Cream is an institution in Ridgewood .
Van Dyk’s Ice Cream
145 Ackerman Ave
Ridgewood, NJ 07450
Noooooooo! Never fear. The supt and BOE are careful with tax payer’s money. They will only do what is absolutely necessary and in the best interests of the students in the school.
The electrical system in every Ridgewood school will be replaced and modernized.
Many many neighbors contact the council the right way about their concerns which are safety, fire code, the amount of large busses and chartered buses, lights and intensity of use of a small park. Stacy Antine owner of the private business Healthbarn accused 2 neighbors of racism. It is terrible that people stoop so low!
RIDGEWOOD CHAMBER OF COMMERCE ANNUAL *CHARITY GOLF CLASSIC
New for this year…we will be partnering with the Paramus Chamber of Commerce
Paramus Golf and Country Club on Wednesday, September 26, 2018
RAIN DATED-October 3, 2018 RSVP by August 31st, 2018
Included for the day:
Registration – 11am-12:30pm
Putting Practice – 11:45am-12:15pm
Putting Contest-12:45pm*
*Putting contest: sink a 50ft putt-WIN $5,000
LUNCH 11am -12:45pm
SHOT-GUN Start-Scramble-Best Ball 1:00pm
Mini Golf & Networking – 3:30-5:30pm
Happy Hour 5:15pm – 6:15pm
Dinner &Awards – 6:15pm**
**takes place across the street at
“The Terrace” at Biagio’s Ristorante
Invited:
Foursomes, Individuals, Sponsorship opportunities,
Mini golfers, Longest Drive & Closest to the Pin,
Hole-in-one winners,
Raffle items, Donations
This year, with both chambers, we are offering
a fantastic, double power networking opportunity for
you and your business partners.
Networking, networking, and
***help children, while having some fun!
Ridgewood NJ, Sizzle into Summer……Ridgewood’s Famous Summer Sidewalk Sale Days are fast approaching…do not miss this one!
Side Walk Sale Days…
– If raining-sales will be in side…
– call store to see if they will be
extending sale until Monday.
Mark your calendars!
Thursday, Friday, Saturday
August, 2nd, 3rd and 4th 2018
Traditional store hours
When shopping make sure you visit E. Ridgewood Ave., the side streets all through the business district and the West side business district.
E. Ridgewood Ave. stores participating…
Gardiner and Co.
Beauty Plus Salon
Lucky Brand
P. Smith
Bookends
Jekyll & Hide
Loft 41
Shoe Inn
Victors Men’s store
Red Velvet Luxe
Duxiana
P. Smith
Learning Express Toys
Little Skye
Double Take Consignment Boutique
Savvy Chic Consignment Boutique
Hot Jewelry Box
Femmebot Clothing
GAP
Jack Rabbit
Parks Wealth Management
Woofgang Bakery, Grooming & Spa
Ridgewood Bootery
Oasis
East Your Spinach-if rain SALE on Monday
GiGi’s
Biltmore Tuxedo
Town and Country
Side Streets
DPARZ – 112 S. Broad St.-if rain will extend to Monday.
RACEFASTER-11 N. Broad St.
S. Walnut St.
Just Our Shoes/Mephisto
No Walnut
201
West Side
Olive R Twist Olive Oil-34 Wilsey Squ.
Lora Celli Salon – 39 Godwin Ave.
WOSTBROCK – 225 Goffle Road
In front of the park – if the weather is OK
Charlotte King
Coldwell Banker
Iron Side Fitness
Advance Family Eyecare
Mothers In Training
Venture Studios
Endless Possibilities
Primrose School
Huntington Learning Center
Thu, August 02, 2018– Sat, August 04, 2018
Time: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Location: Ridgewood Business District, E. Ridgewood Ave and Side Streets
Ridgewood NJ, Valley Hospital presents in partnership with the Ridgewood Chamber of Commerce Summertime Restaurant Week 2018 For ten days, participating restaurants and caterers are offering you the chance to “experience” dining in Ridgewood or in your home.
Each chef is preparing a tantalizing 3-course, prix-fixe menu at $30.17. Call the restaurant for selections.
Sunday-Thursday
August 12-16 and August 19-23rd, 2018
Participating Restaurants:
-Cravings
-Finca
-Latour- lunch only
-Leon Mexican- Dinner only
-Lisa’s Mediterranean Cuisine
-Manjal Indian Cuisine
-Office Tavern Grill
-Park West Tavern
-Pearl Restaurant
-Piccolo Bistro Italian
-Raymond’s
-Roots Steakhouse-lunch only
-Smoked
-Steel Wheel Tavern
-Truly Sichuan
-White Maple Café
Small classroom fire at Willard School is quickly contained:
July 25, 2018
Dear Ridgewood Public Schools community:
Today, Wednesday, July 25, a small electrical fire occurred in a classroom at Willard School. The Ridgewood Fire Department, Police and Office of Emergency Management responded and quickly extinguished the fire. Minor damage to the classroom and materials resulted. A professional service that specializes in fire and water damage has been engaged to properly clean the affected classroom.
Willard School will be open as usual on Thursday, July 26.
I would like to take this time to thank our first responders for their prompt response to today’s incident and great work always.
Ridgewood NJ, August can be very hot . Reader says , “The pool is lovely this year. The water is crystal clear. In the deep end (12 feet deep) a lifeguard recovered a person’s sunglasses that had dropped to the bottom. Love Graydon so much. And the flags are helpful. No complaint about that minor addition.”
Starting August 1, half-price season passes ($60/adult, $55/ages 2-15, free/under age 2) will be available to Ridgewood residents through CommunityPass or in person at the Graydon badge office until half an hour before closing. Nonresidents may still buy season passes at original prices.
Day passes and guest passes , many queries each summer from people in other towns who want to visit Graydon for the day without buying a season badge. Day passes ($10/day) for the buyer’s own use are sold on site to Ridgewood residents only. Guest passes($10/day) are sold to any current Graydon badge holder, who must remain present during the visitor’s stay.
Not everybody who complains about something is a racist, anti-disabled (whatever that means), etc. That is pure hogwash but unfortunately, becoming fairly common–too common to be true. The claim that residents who fought the new apartments are prejudiced, for example, is similarly flawed. It’s the number of new people, not who they are, that’s the problem. In fact, we don’t know who they will be. But we hate them anyway–even if they are white and able bodied and all went to Harvard!
Responding to complaints with accusations of bias is deeply offensive and demonstrates that the speaker has no better argument. In fact, most people would rather do anything than get embroiled in these things. They don’t speak out until the problem has become untenable. Then they’re accused of awful intentions. It’s a ploy used by bullies to silence their opponents and prevent others from joining them. Won’t work.
Trenton NJ, The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) is suing 12 school districts in New Jersey, alleging that the districts’ policies requiring an identification card are unconstitutional.
The 12 districts are ; Northern Valley Regional High School District in Bergen County; Bellmawr School District, Sterling Regional High School District and Winslow Township School District in Camden County; East Orange Community Charter School in Essex County; West New York School District in Hudson County., Sea Girt School District in Monmouth County; Harding Township School District in Morris County; Watchung Hills Regional High School District in Somerset County; Montague School District in Sussex County; Cranford School District in Union County; and Allamuchy School District in Warren County.
In a lawsuit file Thursday the group said that the districts are preventing children from going to school by requiring that they have an ID card that includes a Social Security number or valid immigration status.
The ACLU clams ,“It is not possible for immigrants who lack Social Security numbers or a valid immigration status to obtain such identification,” state the lawsuits. “Therefore, these residents and their children are prevented from registering for school and are denied equal protection of the laws.”
New Jersey state law mandates that school districts cannot deny a public school education to students based on their or their parents’ immigration status.
“In a state where one in five residents is foreign-born, at a time when our president has made the exclusion of immigrants a key part of his policy agenda, it’s more important than ever for every school district in New Jersey to meet its obligations, both to New Jersey’s families and to the Constitution,” ACLU-NJ Staff Attorney Elyla Huertas, who filed the lawsuits, said in a statement.
Several of the school districts pushed back against the suit, arguing they do not base enrollment decisions on a student’s immigration status, according to NBC News.
“The Watchung Hills Regional School District does not condition entry into our District based upon a student’s or parent’s immigration/visa status or any other discriminatory reason,” Elizabeth Jewett, the superintendent Watchung, one of the schools hit with the lawsuit, said in a statement.
Some of officials from schools hit by the lawsuits told the outlet that they were reviewing their districts’ paperwork and policies posted online to ensure they were in line with the policies in place.
In an email to NBC, Northern Valley schools Superintendent James Santana called the claims “misleading.” He said his district complies with all state and federal regulations, and that “we are going to vigorously defend ourselves against these baseless charges,” according to NBC News.
Well it would seem progressives in those districts will quickly cave and sell out tax payers , the fact is you need to prove you live in a district to send your kids there. Secondly , as for immigrants, there is a huge difference between legal immigrant s and illegal immigrants regardless of what the main stream media would want you to think.
Trenton NJ, Attorney General Gurbir S. Grewal today named the members of a working group of criminal justice stakeholders that will review the scope and appropriate use of prosecutorial discretion in marijuana-related and other offenses in municipal court, as well as other issues relating to the role of municipal prosecutors.
The 20-member working group will represent prosecutors from the state, county, and municipal levels; defense attorneys; police; civil rights organizations; and other community leaders. This broad spectrum of stakeholders reflects the collaborative approach that Attorney General Grewal has taken with respect to all policy initiatives he has spearheaded during his tenure.
The Attorney General first announced that he would convene a working group to study and advise him on the scope of municipal prosecutors’ discretionary authority in a letter issued earlier this week. The Attorney General will consider the working group’s advice when he prepares a directive—expected in August—that will provide guidance about the scope and appropriate use of prosecutorial discretion in marijuana-related cases in municipal court.
In creating the working group, the Attorney General is taking action to respond to recent developments that raise concerns about quality of justice being administered in New Jersey’s municipal courts. First, last week, a New Jersey Supreme Court committee released a report that makes a series of recommendations for policy changes and legislative proposals aimed at promoting the fair administration of justice in municipal courts. Also last week, the Attorney General issued a letter addressing the proper scope of municipal prosecutors’ discretion in marijuana-related cases and invalidating a memorandum issued by a municipal prosecutor who purported to decriminalize marijuana.
“I look forward to hearing from this working group about how we can improve the equal, impartial, and uniform administration of justice in our municipal courts,” said Attorney General Grewal. “Every day, my Department works with criminal justice stakeholders to build trust between law enforcement and the communities they serve. This working group will review how the municipal prosecutors under my supervision can contribute responsibly to the progressive solutions we are seeking.”
“Chief Justice Rabner has called on New Jersey’s municipal courts to adhere to the Judiciary’s high standards of integrity, independence, and fairness, without regard to any outside pressures,” Attorney General Grewal noted. “The working group that we are establishing today will kick start a parallel review of the scope and appropriate use of prosecutorial discretion in municipal court, including in prosecutions of marijuana offenses.”
The members of the new working group will include:
Veronica Allende, Director of the Division of Criminal Justice within the Department of Law and Public Safety, who will chair working group;
Matthew Berns, Counsel to the Attorney General;
Richard T. Burke, Warren County Prosecutor;
Pat Colligan, President of the New Jersey State Policemen’s Benevolent Association;
Claudia DeMitro, Deputy Attorney General, Department of Law and Public Safety, Division of Criminal Justice;
Annette DePalma, President of the New Jersey State Municipal Prosecutors’ Association;
Stephan Finkel, Director of Legislative Affairs for the Department of Law and Public Safety;
Charles Fiore, Gloucester County Prosecutor;
W. Reed Gusciora, Mayor of Trenton;
Jake Hudnut, Chief Municipal Prosecutor for the City of Jersey City;
Van Lane, Deputy Public Defender for the Monmouth Trial Region;
Robyn B. Mitchell, Deputy Attorney General, Department of Law and Public Safety, Division of Criminal Justice;
Jiles H. Ship, New Jersey Police Training Commissioner and Past President of the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives (NOBLE) and
Commissioner of the Law Enforcement Action Partnership (LEAP);
Ahmad Rasool, Municipal Prosecutor for the City of Newark (or a designee);
Amol Sinha, Executive Director of the ACLU of New Jersey (or a designee);
Richard T. Smith, President of the New Jersey State Conference of the NAACP;
Steven A. Somogyi, Assistant Director for the Municipal Court Services Division of the New Jersey Judiciary;
Sherry Stembridge, Assistant Essex County Prosecutor;
Esther Suarez, Hudson County Prosecutor;
John Zebrowski, Chief of Police, Sayreville Police Department.
The working group may offer recommendations to the Attorney General on issues including the proper scope of municipal prosecutors’ discretionary authority, in general and with regard to marijuana offenses in particular; the manner in which chief municipal prosecutors exercise their authority over other municipal prosecutors, subject to the supervisory authority of the county prosecutors and Attorney General; and the ethics, integrity, and independence of municipal prosecutors from improper outside influence.
Earlier this week, Attorney General Grewal asked all municipal prosecutors in New Jersey to pause marijuana-related prosecutions in municipal court until September 4, 2018, while the Office of the Attorney General solicits advice from the working group and develops statewide guidance. The Attorney General’s directive from earlier this week does not affect law enforcement officers’ authority to make marijuana-related arrests or County Prosecutors’ authority to prosecute marijuana-related offenses in Superior Court. The Attorney General’s forthcoming directive will address how marijuana-related prosecutions may proceed in municipal court after September 4, 2018.
While the working group will advise the Attorney General on municipal court prosecutions of marijuana-related offenses—in time for the Attorney General to issue his directive in August—the working group may offer advice on other topics, to inform longer-term, progressive reforms concerning the role of municipal prosecutors.
