Village Office Closed – February 12, 2018
February 12,2018
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, All Village offices will be closed on February 12, 2018 in observance of Lincoln’s Birthday. There will be no garbage or recycling pickup on this day, and the Recycling Center will also be closed. All Village offices will open on February 13, 2018 at 8:30 a.m. As always, the Police Department, on the second floor of Village Hall, will be open on this Holiday.
Ridgewood has obviously been using the water department as a favorable placement for all their patronage appointments. Unfortunately, none of their patronage appointments know the first thing about managing a water utility. We set ourselves up for a justified suit, and when we lose we scurry rapidly to find someone who hopefully has a brain. If the council actually thinks that not only are the other towns going to happily withdraw their suits and may even be forced to pay more because “Sorry, we made yet another mistake.” I have a bridge I can sell you. Council members don’t run on their expertise. As a result, the Village should hire people who do have the expertise. And that is a major failing. The idea that the town can save money by letting unqualified people without the proper backgrounds and ability run things has cost us a fortune in the past. It’s time to put a stop to it before it costs us fortunes in the future. (Saving the Schedler house is an example. Very little, if any, of that house is original and fixing all it’s deficits would be a financial nightmare .)
It always amazes me when someone who has hit someone with a car, presumably by accident, drives away. Everybody knows that’s a crime. Maybe drivers who have been drinking, using drugs, or even texting are too scared that they will get in trouble. But to leave the person lying in the street is almost unimaginable. In this case the driver “stopped to check on the victim” but didn’t wait for emergency help to arrive before departing. Where’s the humanity?
February 11,2018
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, Saturday was a big day for the future of American soccer and the United States Soccer Federation. Yesterday the federation selected its next president at its Annual General Meeting in Orlando, bringing an end to an a very public campaign process that has seen a great deal more attention than in past years.
Status Quo candidate Carlos Cordeiro, was elected as the new president of U.S. Soccer on Saturday after three rounds of voting and a historic and contentious eight-candidate campaign.
An unprecedented eight candidates stood for election and none of them are the incumbent Sunil Gulati, who has held the position unopposed since 2006 and declined to run for office.
Less than an hour before the Cordeiro election, fellow candidate Hope Solo blasted the federation for its faults, and criticized two candidates who, in her opinion, were complicit – two candidates who represented the status quo , Carlos Cordeiro and Kathy Carter.
Solo entered the race for United States Soccer Federation president less than a week before the nomination deadline back in December. Throughout the past two months, she has been outspoken in her criticism of the federation and the two establishment candidates.
Among the eight candidates was Ridgewood Resident Michael Winograd . Winograd was considered a blend of previous soccer experience and organizational talents. He played college soccer at Lafayette College and was a pro in Israel. He was also a coach and founder of a short-lived professional franchise, serves on the board of his local soccer organization and has a law degree from the University of Pennsylvania.
He was not considered as radical as some of the candidates, but he wanted to reform the structure of youth development on a state-by-state basis. He also has a plan for implementing promotion and relegation in American soccer that would also allow current MLS teams to remain in the top flight in perpetuity.
As the Cordeiro victory seemed imminent , Winograd withdrew after the second round as did several others.
Mike’s wife Siobhan Crann Winograd, said in a Facebook post, “Mike did a great job. Ran a honest, sincere, impressive campaign that we are all so proud of. His platform was bold, focused and raised a lot of the key issues ( especially the inequality for women). Without a doubt he was a major influencer.”
In other words, Gov. Murphy wants you to participate in a transparent tax avoidance scheme that will certainly result in you getting fined out of your wazoo by the IRS. How can people justify their vote for this obvious disaster-in-advance? Christie was a complete jerk, but electing someone who will outdo Corzine, McGreevey and him and as a joke is no solution.
Can we please address the numerous Ridgewood Water issues? How could we have approved new housing and then find out the water infrastructure is wholly inadequate. This was not a surprise and completely ignored by the council. Why are we allowing money to be spent on a new building for the water department and new software that will do nothing to,address the underlying capacity issues? The issue is not a drought or supply, rather storage and delivery. When will we get leaders that idenify and resolve real problems? The solution is not restrictions or penalities This requires real leadership to stop spending on useless projects and get a real plan and solution for now and the future.
Get real leadership to make tough decision
file photo by Boyd Loving
February 10,2018
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, the National Weather Service in Upton has issued a
* Flood Watch for a portion of northeast New Jersey, including
the following areas, Eastern Bergen, Eastern Essex, Eastern
Passaic, Eastern Union, Hudson, Western Bergen, Western Essex,
and Western Union.
* A prolonged period of rain is forecast tonight through Sunday
evening as a frontal boundary stalls near the area with multiple
waves of low pressure tracking along it. Rainfall amounts will
average around 2 inches by the time the event ends, with
localized higher amounts possible.
* Minor flooding of smaller streams and rivers is possible along
with urban and poor drainage flooding.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…
A Flood Watch means there is a potential for flooding based on
current forecasts. You should monitor later forecasts and be
alert for possible flood warnings. Those living in areas prone to
flooding should be prepared to take action should flooding
develop.
Art of Motion Studio Theatre presents love letters starring Sally Ann Tumas and Stephen Innocenzi
Sun, February 11, 2018
Time: 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM
Location: Art of Motion Studio, 17 Chestnut St., 2nd floor, Ridgewood, NJ 07450
February 19,2018
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, Art of Motion Studio Theatre invites you to their presentation of Love Letters starring Sally Ann Tumas and Stephan Innocenzi
Join us for a touching evening of theatre, music and dance….
Live Piano, Vocals and Dance
-Wendy Lane Bailey-Vocalist
-Janette Dishuk &M.A. Taylor, AOMDT
-Gabriel Plotkin, Jazz Pianist
Reserved Tickets:
$14 (before 2/4)
$20 (between 2/4-2/10)
$25 (day of/at the door)
To purchase tickets online please go to Evenbrite.com, https://www.eventbrite.com/e/love-letters-play-by-ar-gurney-tickets-42591261610?aff=efbeventtix
Complimentary refreshments post-performance talk-back with the actors.
Dinner seating reserved at Piccolo Bistro with special prix fix menu for Love Letters guest.
7:15pm Dinner Seating
Prix Fix $25.18 (with Love Letters validated ticket)
Piccolo Bistro is located at 29 Chestnut St. Ridgewood, NJ 07450
Lora Celli Salon Exciting Valentine’s Day Special Event
Thu, February 01, 2018 – Wed, February 14, 2018
Time: 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Location: Lora Celli Salon, 39 Godwin Ave, Ridgewood, NJ 07450
February 10,2018
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, Lora Celli Salon will be hosting our annual Valentine’s Day Special Event this month!!
Come celebrate Valentine’s Day all month long at Lora Celli Salon. Everyone who stops in or books an appointment leading up to Valentine’s Day will be automatically entered to win a FREE BLOW DRYER, and receive complimentary Champagne and Chocolate Covered Strawberries.
-Services include Haircut, Color, Blow Out and Style.
Please call Lora at (201)882-1100 or visit their website at facebook.com/loracellisalon.
February 10,2018
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, The average American uses about 88 gallons of water at home each day. An easy to way to understand individual water use is to look at your water bill—not just the amount due, but how much water you used. Using the data at your fingertips can save you water and money!
If you notice a spike in water use from one month to another, check for leaks. Or maybe summertime irrigation is driving up your water costs, then maybe it’s time to consider getting yourself a WaterSense labeled weather based irrigation controller that uses smart technology to water the lawn only when needed.
Get more tips at www.epa.gov/watersense/understanding-your-water-bill
February 10,2018
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, In Ridgewood, there was a mad dash to pre pay property taxes due to the new federal tax law changes . The Village collected $21 million in last minute prepayments at the end of 2017. At last weeks Village council meeting a resolution was drafted to honor refund requests for payments toward the third and fourth quarters of 2018.
According to chief financial officer Bob Rooney, he had received “10 or 15” requests for refunds, but that “when I get around April, I might have a lot more.” He said 27 percent of the $21 million in prepayments were for the second half of the year.
At issue is a Dec. 27 IRS advisory saying payments for the second half of 2018 may not qualify for a deduction, because only “assessed” taxes could be prepaid. Since municipal tax years run through June, the third and fourth quarters could be considered not-yet-assessed.
Near by Glen Rock took in $9.6 million in 2018 property tax prepayments, but Mayor Bruce Packer, has said his council decided not to offer refunds, and had warned the public of this stance last year.
IRS Advisory: Prepaid Real Property Taxes May Be Deductible in 2017 if Assessed and Paid in 2017
IR-2017-210, Dec. 27, 2017
WASHINGTON – The Internal Revenue Service advised tax professionals and taxpayers today that pre-paying 2018 state and local real property taxes in 2017 may be tax deductible under certain circumstances.
The IRS has received a number of questions from the tax community concerning the deductibility of prepaid real property taxes. In general, whether a taxpayer is allowed a deduction for the prepayment of state or local real property taxes in 2017 depends on whether the taxpayer makes the payment in 2017 and the real property taxes are assessed prior to 2018. A prepayment of anticipated real property taxes that have not been assessed prior to 2018 are not deductible in 2017. State or local law determines whether and when a property tax is assessed, which is generally when the taxpayer becomes liable for the property tax imposed.
The following examples illustrate these points.
Example 1: Assume County A assesses property tax on July 1, 2017 for the period July 1, 2017 – June 30, 2018. On July 31, 2017, County A sends notices to residents notifying them of the assessment and billing the property tax in two installments with the first installment due Sept. 30, 2017 and the second installment due Jan. 31, 2018. Assuming taxpayer has paid the first installment in 2017, the taxpayer may choose to pay the second installment on Dec. 31, 2017, and may claim a deduction for this prepayment on the taxpayer’s 2017 return.
Example 2: County B also assesses and bills its residents for property taxes on July 1, 2017, for the period July 1, 2017 – June 30, 2018. County B intends to make the usual assessment in July 2018 for the period July 1, 2018 – June 30, 2019. However, because county residents wish to prepay their 2018-2019 property taxes in 2017, County B has revised its computer systems to accept prepayment of property taxes for the 2018-2019 property tax year. Taxpayers who prepay their 2018-2019 property taxes in 2017 will not be allowed to deduct the prepayment on their federal tax returns because the county will not assess the property tax for the 2018-2019 tax year until July 1, 2018.
The IRS reminds taxpayers that a number of provisions remain available this week that could affect 2017 tax bills. Time remains to make charitable donations. See IR-17-191 for more information. The deadline to make contributions for individual retirement accounts – which can be used by some taxpayers on 2017 tax returns – is the April 2018 tax deadline.
IRS.gov has more information on these and other provisions to help taxpayers prepare for the upcoming filing season.
So here we have in The Ridgewood News from today:
“We have a massive parking problem,” Councilman Jeffrey the hothead Voigt said Monday. “We are short over a thousand spots on weekends.”
Ha ha ha, Voigt. Really? There are upwards of 1,000 cars roaming up and down Ridgewood Avenue on Saturday night looking for parking? Come up out of your basement where you post incessantly on the blog…..and take a look at the downtown on Saturday nights Voigt. There are plenty of parking spaces, plenty. People repeatedly report this, post pictures of spaces, and yet you say there are 1,000 cars unable to find a parking space. This, ladies and gentlemen, is what you get when you elect a pathological liar. Fooled a lot of you, didn’t he?!
Not one of the current or former council members have ever stated publicly why they think that the new apartments are good for Ridgewood. These developments are just causing more issues for our already stretched budget and resources.
Last summer, we were forced to obey restrictions on watering our lawns due to a water shortage. Because I followed the rules, my lawn died. What will happen when the water demand is increased because of these new apartments? why is this good for Ridgewood?
why is this good for our schools? (my child’s class class size is close to 30)
why is this good for people who walk or drive through our town? (it is already congested)
why is this good for anyone besides the developers?
WHY DID WE LET THEM IN?
February 9,2018
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, at last nights council meeting Village Engineer Christopher Rutishauser gave an update on the Village of Ridgewood ‘s Complete Streets Program.
“A complete street is a transportation facility that is planned, designed, operated, and maintained to provide safe mobility for all users, including bicyclists, pedestrians, transit vehicles, truckers, and motorists, appropriate to the function and context of the facility.” The idea is to take into account pedestrians, cars and bicycles as well as beauty and ADA requirements .
Councilwoman Bernie Walsh commented that the Village and Citizen safety have to do a better job at disseminating problem areas and what the Village’s response will be to address those problems.
Readers often comment on the poor conditions of the roads in town , Walsh felt that if more residents were informed on what’s going on and why it would help alleviate some confusion.
Wait, so the argument now is… because a previous council approved the building of condos, in order to “save” the Village we need to appease the developers and build a garage for them given that they will obviously not have the needed parking spaces for their new tenants….and if we don’t build this thing, this town will become a glorified Rt 17 strip filled with gyms, banks and more condos? Come on people…..let’s all assume they build this thing, how does that change anything in terms of the parking landscape in this town? Yes, commuters will use it, yes shoppers will use it, but lets be realistic, probably only those looking to shop on Broad St or very close to it. We all know that everyone in this town or those that come here want to park right across the street from where they’re going, as stated in many of the posts before, if you look for parking you will find it, but you may have to walk a bit. So the taxpayers of this town should spend millions of dollars to alleviate a problem that may or may not exist for two to three hours on Friday and Saturday nights?? Do the math, it doesn’t add up and with Uber that problem is going away. Let’s spend money on updating the current run down parking lots we have or reconfigure current parking lanes and see how that goes….what’s the downside? We need to stop looking backward and look forward….Uber and Amazon to name a few are changing how we live our lives….less brick and mortar, less cars being driven for nights out….that’s the future, not building a garage that maybe in 1990 there was a solid argument for.
