Posted on 7 Comments

Reader says Bergen County Public Safety Operations Center is a shared Service we Could Do Without

valleyEmergency_theridgewoodblog

You want Ridgewood to enter into a deal with politically corrupt Bergen County Government to save a few dollars ? Aronsohn is hip deep in Bergen County politics and you bash him ever chance you get but yet you want Ridgewood to enter into a deal with the very machine he is part of. You are a hypocrite.

When I call the Ridgewood Police for an emergency I don’t want to be put on hold because of a large incident thats is taken place in another town. Maybe Sedon should do a little more research into what has happen in the past with Bergen County Dispatch and not fall for a sales pitch from a representative from the County . There are just as many municipals that are not going with the County Dispatch. Maybe Sedon should ask them? We all know what happens when the Village hires the lowest bidder. You get what you pay for. Next time your having a medical procedure may you should as for the lowest bidder. Let me know if you fell safe doing that. Finally your comment ” By the way since it’s offered by the county we already do pay for it with our taxes.” This service is not. There are extra charges that go along with that service its not free.

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Reader says Harwin Knows Exactly What She is Involved With

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People can be supported by people they like and trust only to learn that those people are not what they thought. That particular helper has fooled plenty of people before. It is to Susan’s credit that she recognized the truth and turned away. Isn’t this what blog posters have been begging Harwin to do from the beginning, on the assumption that as a newbie in town she didn’t realize whose claws she had fallen into? Yet weeks and weeks later, nothing has changed and that support has not been repudiated. One concludes that it’s all fine with her. This speaks volumes…

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Reader Fondly Remembers all the “insults and hissy fits”, from the Dais

3 amigos in action Ridgewood NJ

As a Ridgewood resident, how would we expect to be treated at public meetings under the Aronsohn-sponsored regime? The way we were treated when he was on the dais. With insults and hissy fits. And do not forget that if, heaven forbid, his protegees should win the election, “here comes the new village manager, just like the old village manager”–in fact, the same as the old village manager, Roberta Sonenfeld. With all those people in place Aronsohn can run the town from Trenton or Newark or wherever his new office will be. How he would love that.

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Reader says This Village needs to come to the realization that the Harwin camp is not looking to better Ridgewood in any way

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This Village needs to come to the realization that the Harwin camp is not looking to better Ridgewood in any way, this candidate and her wannabe political groupies are looking to use this town as a stepping stone for what they think is the beginning of some pipe dream of a NJ political career. The math on the garage doesn’t add up and i’m surprised that a candidate that will drop her Ivy League education on anyone that will listen can not look at projected financials and figure that out. I’ve listened to council meetings where one pro Harwin supporter actually used the argument that a garage would result in less pedestrian / automobile accidents….this is the type of nonsensical argument that this group will throw out for effect. As is the similar argument the Harry Truman look alike threw out about the garage being the foundation for the future of Ridgewood. People, we need to use our brains…we need to vote in residents who are looking to better this town and effectively manage budgets so that the over taxation of residents does not lead to an exodus of the people from this town. The argument that since this parking debate has gone on for 20+ years so we should just build a garage makes no sense. We need to plan for the future by looking towards the future, not the past, as some residents would like. As someone that grew up in this town, I could care less that my parents generation wanted a garage, that belief doesn’t better this town or pay the bills. This garbage and slanderous platform that Harwin and her irrelevant, wannabe “political players” have launched should be beneath every resident in this town. They are not good for Ridgewood now and will not be good for this town in the future. The main problem we have is that this town’s majority have no idea about the weasle know nothings that are trying to change the core of Ridgewood. Get out and spread the word. The former mayor and his cronies are the past…..do not let these sub intelligent hacks dictate the future of this town.

Posted on 9 Comments

In the Face of Bigotry and Lies the Mayor Takes the High Road

Mayor Susan Knudsen

April 22,2018

PJ Blogger and the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, got an interesting email/txt yesterday from the Village Mayor Susan Knudsen asking the blog to change the photo in the , ” Harwin Wrong on the Issues ” https://theridgewoodblog.net/harwin-wrong-on-the-issues/. She stated that she preferred to take the “high road” her words ,since they have taken such a very low road , those are my words. .

While the Harwin campaign has spent the last several months undermining the Ridgewood Police and Fire departments , attacking anyone who disagrees with them as the “mayors stooges ” . Leveling charges of racism, homophobia and anti Semitism . Even going as far as to send out a mailer outlining a series of lies in black and white including what can only be considered flaming anti catholic rhetoric penned by a guy named Hans Jurgen Lehmann ,surprisingly enough Chairmen of  the Board of adjustment and married to “minister” Jan Phillips aka Ms. Civility . 

Are we the only ones who think someone with such and obvious dislike for Catholics should represent Ridgewood on the Public Body?

Yes folks Ridgewood has truly hit a new low .  A campaign that attacks Police ,Fire ,Our lady of Mount Carmel and its 5000 or so parishioners along with the Knights of Columbus ,all the mayors supporters , just to name a few .

When the out right lies and bigotry of the mailer were pointed out and every last line was refuted over and over Harwin did nothing but left the erroneous and unsubstantiated allegations stand.

Sorry Mayor these people do not deserve the benefit of the doubt or even  the time of day , photo stays.

 

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Reader says voting for Harwin and Willett is a disaster for Ridgewood by letting more of Aronson’s clones in to continue destroying our Village.

paul aronsohn

If you vote for Aronson’s people–who are the only ones running in opposition– You are voting for more massive building, a Garagezilla, and any other major commercial endeavor they can find to have us buy and pay for. I know you’re not happy with our present candidates but throwing them out can lead to many more Health Barn type places in inappropriate places. Susan and Michael have been working for laws that won’t allow that to happen again. Please, be patient and comb the woods for suitable candidates next time. Voting for the opposition is not just voting Susan and Mike out, it is voting disaster in to Ridgewood by letting more of Aronson’s clones in to continue destroying our Village.

Posted on 2 Comments

Reader : Harwin mailer is full of lies blaming the current Council for things initiated by her patron, Paul Aronshon

3 amigos

 

I grew up in Ridgewood and we always took pride in this being a “non-political party” place. Not since Paul Aronson saw this as a stepping stone to reverse his previous two failed attempts at running for Congress. He put a voting bloc together of three and basically ignored Susan Knudsen and Mike Sedon until the Village got fed up with the political games and tossed them out. Looking at Ms. Harwin’s campaign piece that arrived in the mail yesterday obviously same inaccurate smear campaign tactics as was the case before. So lets answer some of her charges:

1. Higher taxes – as we all have always knows, the Council has little control over Village spending – this is a school cost issue.
2. Nepotism – hiring by the police and fire department is by state law subject to exam and qualifications. The Mayor can’t do anything to influence this.
3. Fines to residents for leaves – this is a close one to my heart, as last fall we received a summons, as did everyone else on our end of the street. The leaf ordinance was passed by the previous Aronson team, not by Susan Knudsen’s administration. We contracted the Mayor and she could bnot have been more helpful researching the issue for us, talking to the contractor hired by the previous administration, and ultimately telling us what we needed to present to the Court – she told us we needed proof, what kind of proof and how to present it – when we went to Court all charges dropped.
4. The charge is made that Susan Knudsen is somehow responsible for storefronts not being filled. Funny how same problem at malls all over the country. Yet I see Amazon Prime trucks everywhere. We used to have TWO hardware stores in Ridgewood – now we go to Home Depot. The economy is changing from brick and mortar across the country and this means change for the Village too. Hard for me to fault the Mayor for a national trend, and did-honest for Ms. Harwin to do so.
5. My Dad was on the Planning Board in the 70’s and a parking garage was on the agenda then. The Aronson administration was in favor of a garage that would include retail space on the first floor to pay for it – how would more competition for Village merchants help them – so this was dropped. Next a mega-garage was proposed for the Hidson lot, over-hanging the sidewalk – an eye sore as well as an impediment for parking that was not paid for at the garage for church goers (not just Mt. Carmel as some have said but also the United Methodist Church also across the street. In the face of overwhelming upset the Aronson administration backed off on this as well. If we are going to build a garage (*which we need to do) this will involve a bond issue that will cost tax payers for 20+ years – so we want to do it right. Susan Knudsen has been working with the current Council to do it right, and attacking her for not just doing what previous administrations had been unable to do is again not honest.
6. The Harwin mailing also mentions a “failed valet parking experiment” – hard for me to blame the current Council when this was initiated by the Aronson administration.
I look at the two mailings we received yesterday – the Knudsen/Sedon piece noting issues being worked on and achieved, and the Harwin piece full of lies and blaming the current Council for things initiated by her patron, Paul Aronshon. Not much of a doubt in my mind that I am voting for the honest candidates trying to pull our Village back from the mess created by the Aronson team, instead of the one who is spreading lies and backed by the previous failed administration. Don’t be complacent as often happens in non-national elections – this is important, and whether you agree with my comments above or not, get out and vote.

Posted on 16 Comments

Friends of Schedler is proud to endorse Mayor Susan Knudsen and Deputy Mayor Mike Sedon for reelection to the Village Council

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Dear Neighbors:

Friends of Schedler is proud to endorse Mayor Susan Knudsen and Deputy Mayor Mike Sedon for reelection to the Village Council.

When selecting a candidate for council, experience matters. Mayor Knudsen and Deputy Mayor Sedon have a dedicated track record of service through their role on the Village Council, as well as the various committees and boards that they have served on over the years. Susan and Mike have made significant improvements to the Village, including controlling overdevelopment, achieving a positive outcome with Valley Hospital and working towards a compromise for building a garage and for developing the Schedler property.

Susan and Mike govern responsibly and are always respectful of the concerns of residents. All too often interest groups either ignore or fail to recognize the many different neighborhoods that comprise the Village of Ridgewood. Susan and Mike have demonstrated a government of inclusion, providing residents from all areas of Ridgewood the opportunity to be heard.

Susan and Mike have demonstrated their integrity by undertaking a positive campaign, focusing on their achievements and plans for the future. Friends of Schedler urges all residents to go to the polls on May 8 and cast your vote for Susan Knudsen and Mike Sedon.

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Ridgewood Historical Society : feathered hats for women controversy in the late 19th and early 20th centuries

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April 22,2018

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, according to the Ridgewood Historical Society the immense popularity of feathered hats for women were the subject of intense controversy in the late 19th and early 20th centuries? It began a popular movement in defense of the environment and to save birds. Read more about it here: www.npr.org/…/4228603…/hats-off-to-women-who-saved-the-birds
Eventually, the feathery fashion trend subsided, but photos abound. Here is one of a smartly-dressed woman in 1891, photographed by C.S. Roshon, who had a studio in Pennsylvania and a gallery in Morristown, New Jersey.

The beautiful amethyst hatpin is protected in our attic archives in the Schoolhouse Museum. Visit our current exhibit, “The Thread of Life” to take a journey through the centuries and life’s milestones that celebrate what we wore and why we wore it.

The Ridgewood Historical Society is housed in a one-room schoolhouse at 650 East Glen Avenue in Ridgewood, New Jersey. The schoolhouse was built in 1872 and was an operational school until 1905. It now serves as a museum of historic artifacts and is maintained by the Ridgewood Historical Society. Formerly District School No. 45, the Museum features exhibits that emphasize the historic Saddle River Valley area in the 18th and 19th centuries, an area that was primarily Dutch when first settled.
Please visit our website for more information and to donate:
Days/times open:
Thursday and Saturday.: 1pm to 3pm
Sunday: 2pm to 4pm

https://ridgewoodhistoricalsociety.org/
650 E Glen Ave
Ridgewood, New Jersey 07450
(201) 447-3242

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Ridgewood Earth Day – Daffodil Festival – April 22

spring_time_Daffodil theridgewoodblog

April 21,2018

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, Sunday, April 22 from 11AM to 2PM in Memorial Park at Van Neste Square, the Village of Ridgewood Parks & Recreation and Ridgewood Recycling will host the Daffodil Festival and Earth Day Fair.
All are invited to attend this free event that provides valuable information on Recycling with educational displays, Games, Crafts, Petting Zoo – and Music by Blue Plate Special and the Daffy Dog Parade! Fun for all and great for families….Something for everyone!

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RBSA OPENING DAY PARADE & FAMILY FUN DAY

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photos courtesy of RBSA

THE SPRING SEASON IS ALMOST UPON US, SO LETS KICK IT OFF WITH THE…………

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RBSA OPENING DAY PARADE & FAMILY FUN DAY

APRIL 21, 2018
9AM – 2PM
Parade begins at the Ridgewood Train Station in Wilsey Square and marches to Veterans’ Field for Opening Ceremony and activities

Sample fare from the Metro area’s best food trucks
Browse the Vendor Corner
Hangout at the Entertainment on Wheels Zone
Dance to the Live Deejay
Lots of Inflatables
Participate in Baseball & Softball Instructional Clinics
Sports Demonstrations
Carnival Games for all ages
Raffles

& MORE!!!!

Posted on 22 Comments

Just More Ridgewood Election “online vitriol”

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file photo by Boyd Loving

April 21,2018

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ,  once again the “Bergen Record” pushes a dishonest one sided news coverage of Ridgewood Politics and tries to under mine the Deputy Mayor as a favor to form Mayor and Harwin string puller  Paul Aronsohn.

In its recent article , “Ridgewood election candidates talk issues, online vitriol ” the author Nicholas Katzban, North Jersey Media  Staff Writer, goes as far as to make up a ridiculous story ,”Sedon, who also supports an expansion of shared services, referenced a plan he had been spearheading to use Bergen County’s central 911 dispatch. He dropped the plan after residents took issue with the fact that Frank DelVecchio, director of the county Public Safety Operations Center, had served as his campaign manager. They hinted at a quid pro quo.”That is simply a lie,” Sedon stated, arguing that his filings with the New Jersey Election Law Enforcement Commission would show that was not the case.

Once again the use of “FAKE NEWS” to cast dispersions of Sedon and Knudsen  , like the debunked “nepotism” charge ,the reality is far different ,first of all Frank was not Mike’s campaign chairman. He gave Mike some advice but he was not his chairman. Second of all Frank does not have any personal gain if they go to central dispatch. Frankly it is so stupid that somebody suggested that.

Frank is on salary he does not get more money if other towns are brought in. Mike came up with the idea as a possible way to save money. Shared services often saves money. Some are opposed to central dispatch. But that’s a personal opinion one way or the other. There’s no quid pro quo involved as far as I know. Frank would gain nothing and Mike would gain nothing.

 

 

Posted on 17 Comments

Reader Says Harwin Represents Paul Aronsohn , not Change

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Paul Aronsohn was present at Alexandra Harwin’s campaign launch party at the tennis club earlier this year and has literally sat by her side at campaign coffees to answer residents’ questions for her because she is clueless and seems to have no interest in learning. Her lawn signs are on his lawn. Wake up is right. If you have friends who remain “on the fence” or think “she seems nice” or “are looking for a change,” please wake THEM up and make sure they vote to re-elect Susan Knudsen and Mike Sedon on May 8. We must not elect either of his picks, but vote them out as we did two years ago and two years before that, or we are dead meat. If you would like to display lawn signs, write to [email protected] with your address in the subject line and they will be installed in your front yard promptly.

Campaign donations are accepted here: https://www.paypal.com/donate/?token=TMPptiaL04c_BNzBSSVCYf-Li62j7ki58wr3_izbi6bzy5Xs-oGutvAxEyPwopXSB1v6YW&country.x=US&locale.x=US

Posted on 15 Comments

Harwin Wrong on the Issues

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April 21,2018

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, Harwin is wrong on the garage. It is a money loser no matter how far she wants to build it up and out. Simple math.

Harwin is wrong on the flag. Harwin can’t stop lying about what happened.

Harwin is wrong about the mayor’s voting record. Harwin can’t stop lying about it.

Harwin is surrounded by unethical people with a record of higher taxes, higher density housing, and higher fees. They all have hurt Ridgewood families. Harwin’s divisive, partisan politics have no place in Ridgewood.

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SATURDAY: National Day to Talk to Teens about Dangers of Underage Drinking

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April 19,2018

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, During Alcohol Awareness Month in April, Mothers Against Drunk Driving® (MADD) and national presenting sponsor Nationwide are encouraging parents of teen athletes to be “all stars” by talking openly with their kids about the dangers of underage drinking using MADD’s Power of Parents program. MADD and Nationwide agents from across the country will host presentations and workshops in cities across the country to help equip parents with the tools necessary to talk to their kids about this important topic.

Research shows that team sports are protective when children are young and risks influencing them to use alcohol and other drugs are minimal. However, as children age and the risks increase, team sports do not offer the same protective benefits. In fact, research shows that team sports can be a risk factor for substance abuse at times. Parental communication can help lower these risks to student athletes so that they can reach their full potential, in all areas.

“Everyone can be an all-star in the lives of our youth by talking honestly about the very real consequences of underage drinking,” said Colleen Sheehey-Church, MADD National President, whose son Dustin was killed at age 18 while riding in the car with a teen driver who had been drinking and using drugs during summer break. “I am grateful to Nationwide for supporting MADD’s Power of Parents program and helping prevent underage drinking, which is a serious concern in our country today.”

This year, MADD’s focus is on parents of student athletes because studies show:
Team sports act as a protective factor for younger children, but participation in team sports is not as protective for youth as they age. The impact of parents is more important as children age.
There is no scientific or medical benefits of alcohol use for youth who participate in sports. In fact, alcohol use for youth increases the likelihood of suffering from a sport-related injury, sleep-deprivation, slow recovery from injuries and stunted production of muscular growth hormones
Parents who take time to talk to their student athletes about alcohol and intervene when they notice a problem are less likely to engage in underage alcohol usage.
Teen athletes who view alcohol as dangerous are less likely to use, and therefore more likely to excel in sports and be safe and healthy
Bottom line: When student athletes understand the dangers of underage drinking, they are more motivated to engage in health-promoting behaviors and avoid unhealthy behaviors, like underage drinking.
“Many times parents wonder whether their kids listen to them”, said Bill Windsor, Nationwide Associate Vice President of Consumer Safety, “but with alcohol parents really can make a significant difference.”

MADD’s Power of Parents program centers on parents because 74 percent of teens say their parents are the biggest influence on their decisions to drink underage. New to the program this year, MADD and National Supporting Partner National Alcohol Beverage Control Association (NABCA) will release five videos with powerful messages for parents about the dangers of underage drinking and how to play a role in prevention. The videos feature Dr. Robert Turrisi, PhD, Penn State professor of Biobehavioral Health and Prevention Research Center, whose research is the basis of MADD’s Power of Parents program. The videos will be posted on madd.org/powerofparents April 1, 2018.

“This is an exciting opportunity to celebrate All-Star Parents. All-Star Parents are the ones who help their kids on and off the field. Communicating with your kids to help lower their risks of abusing alcohol and using other drugs is one way to be an All-Star Parent.” says Dr. Robert Turrisi.

The month’s activities will culminate with an event with Major League Soccer’s LA Galaxy to commemorate PowerTalk 21® day – the national day for parents and teens to talk about underage drinking. This year, MADD, Nationwide and the Galaxy will host an event at 4:30 p.m. PST on April 21 before the team takes on Atlanta United at the Galaxy’s home field, Stub Hub Center in Carson, California: www.lagalaxy.com/tickets/madd. The event also will be broadcast live on MADD’s Facebook page. At the event, parents, teens, and role models of underage youth will get to meet a former Galaxy player and learn from experts about how parents and teens can tackle the uncomfortable subject of underage drinking.
PowerTalk 21 is a part of MADD’s Power of Parents program that empowers parents of middle school and high school students to have ongoing, intentional conversations about the dangers and consequences of underage drinking. Parents can download free Power of Parents handbooks for parents of middle school and high school students at www.madd.org/powerofparents.