The Ridgewood Blog Brings a Free Market Laissez-faire Point of View to Local, New Jersey State and National Issues.
March 28,2018
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, Ridgewood Police report on March 27th, a Stevens Avenue resident responded to Ridgewood Police headquarters to report a criminal attempt. The victim reported a social media account was accessed without authorization and money was demanded or the account would be deleted. The victim was advised not to send money and to contact Facebook.com to report the incident.
file photo
March 29,2018
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, Ridgewood Police report that on March 23rd, an Arrow Lane resident responded to Ridgewood Police headquarters to report a theft in the past. The resident reported an unknown actor took jewelry from the residence between 3/7/18 and 3/17/18. The victim reported she is in the process of selling her home and reported numerous people have entered the residence between the above dates. The jewelry is valued at approximately $37,000. The victim only requested the incident documented at this time. Please note that the photo formerly appearing above article regarding the theft does not represent the house on Arrow Lane nor is Gilsenan & Company involved with that property.
The reason it’s important to keep her name, face, and exploits out there is that the candidates she is endorsing (including holding a candidates’ coffee at her home, attended by the usual gang of thieves) are very likely to have pledged to restore her as village manager–the position from which she resigned. That alone would be a good enough reason not to vote for Janice W. or Alexandra H. There are plenty of others, but this one may be paramount. Remember the full-page ad (or ads) stating that the MAIN ISSUE in the last council election was to keep Sonenfeld as village manager? That was so partisan that I couldn’t believe they were admitting it. It was the main issue for Aronsohn & Co. because she did their bidding. It certainly was not the main issue for residents (unless it happened).
March 28,2018
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, the Ridgewood Public Library will be hosting author M. Earl Smith will be speaking on his book “Ridgewood: A Postcard Series” and doing a book signing afterwards. All are welcome to join
Monday, April 2 at 7 PM – 8:30 PM
Next Week · 36–48° Partly Cloudy
Ridgewood Public Library
125 N Maple Ave, Ridgewood, New Jersey 07450
March 28,2018
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, in 2017 Public Service Electric and Gas Company (PSE&G), New Jersey’s largest utility, today unveiled a proposal for the second phase of its natural gas infrastructure modernization program. If approved by the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (BPU), the program will enable PSE&G to continue to accelerate the replacement of its aging cast-iron and unprotected steel gas pipes – installing 1,250 miles of new gas mains over a five-year period. The proposed cost is about $540 million a year, or $2.7 billion in total.
While many readers have constantly complained about Village and County roads the fact is that PSE&G has just under 4,000 miles of cast-iron gas pipes, which is more than any other utility in the nation. At the pace proposed today, the utility can replace in 20 years its cast-iron and unprotected steel pipes with new, modern plastic pipes.
Pipes installed before 1960 are the most leak-prone. They make up 25 percent of PSE&G’s network, yet account for 65 percent of leaks, excluding third-party damages. The five-year pipe replacement program would reduce greenhouse gas emissions equal to taking 43,000 vehicles off the road.
Benefits of the work include improved safety and reliability of gas service, reduction in methane emissions and creation of jobs. Since 2009, PSE&G’s residential customers’ gas heating bills are down 50 percent because of the lower cost of natural gas.
When infrastructure is not updated you end up with the same situation we have with Ridgewood Water , just imagine power rationing , like we currently have with water rationing ?
The upgrades will take place across PSE&G’s service territory in 11 counties, concentrating on urban areas established in the early 1900s, where much of the utility’s cast-iron and unprotected steel gas pipes are located. PSE&G works with municipalities to determine when replacements will be done.
In addition to ensuring the continued safety and reliability of the gas system, the proposed program would create almost 3,000 full time jobs per year for the duration of the program.”
Enhanced safety is an important benefit of the work. When lines are replaced, gas meters located inside the home or business are moved outside. This allows PSE&G and other first-responders to shut off gas more quickly in the event of an emergency, facilitates routine safety inspections and provides easier access for meter readings. Also, excess flow valves are installed in the individual lines that run from the mains to customers. These valves automatically shut off gas when a service line is damaged.
The upgraded lines will operate on elevated pressure to support the expanded use of high-efficiency appliances, improving customer satisfaction, and reducing customer’s energy bills and emissions through improved efficiency.
Roberta harassing the petitioners
March 28,2018
the staff of the Ridgewood
Ridgewood NJ, former village manager Roberta Sonnefeld is out endorsing Janice Willett and Alexandra Harwin for Village Council . Sonnefeld left in a cloud and being accused of attempting to carry forward the previous failed agenda of the prior administration .
Sonnefeld tenure was most notable for the amount of financial catastrophes brought to the village . The so called “breath of fresh air” manager signed off on the HealthBarn giveaway lease to a personal friend , she also signed off on huge parking fees charged by Park Mobil , she appeared to threaten and interfere with a legal petition process . Sonnefeld also claimed to have a $100,000 check from the RBSA to develop a 90 foot baseball field at Schedler ,which never materialized . Sonnefeld signed of on the ridiculous ADA ramp in Graydon which ran over budget and is too slippery to use and well as the traffic easing under the railroad trestle which effectively cut off the Westside of town from the Central Business district.
Not to mention that Paul Arohnson, the former mayor, and Roberta Sonenfeld, the former village manager, were found guilty of ethics violations ,when they used village funds to produce a video that promoted the building of a parking deck, which was the subject of a town-wide referendum in 2016.
https://theridgewoodblog.net/village-manager-roberta-sonenfeld-should-resign-immediately-for-interfering-with-petition-process/
https://theridgewoodblog.net/is-village-manager-roberta-sonnefeld-still-following-the-failed-agenda-of-the-previous-council/
https://theridgewoodblog.net/questions-arise-over-who-hired-the-video-company-for-aronsohns-ethically-challenged-promo-video/
Anne LaGrange Loving said on Facebook ,” Ms. Sonenfeld, as Village Manager, ignored Resolution 15-52 regarding Park Mobile which clearly stated that there would be NO ADDITIONAL FEES, and yet there was something like $140,000 in additional fees. And then candidate Willett went to the microphone at a council meeting a couple of months ago and hotly defended the fact that these additional fees were acceptable. The resolution clearly states that this is not the case. We do not need “financial integrity” such as Ms. Sonenfeld espouses and Ms. Willett defends.”
Saurabh Dani said on the Facebook page , It Takes a Ridgewood Village. she ” authorizing construction documents for garage BEFORE it was approved, and thus wasting 600,000 $ of our money.”
Anne LaGrange Loving also said on the same Facebook page , “a full-time position WITH BENEFITS for a new employee to manage part of the Village Manager’s responsibilities…..and then hiring a friend into that position. And Ms. Sonenfeld had the audacity to write about nepotism in a recent letter, when she hired her friend to do the job that she (Sonenfeld) was being paid to do. Remember when Deputy Mayor Sedon asked whether Sonenfeld’s salary would be reduced proportionally in order to compensate for the fact that someone else was going to be performing the human resources aspect of the Village Manager’s job?”
If we want to have a debate about the 2nd amendment then fine, let’s have a debate about it for the next six months. But in the meantime, TODAY, let’s secure the schools. We know how. I would sleep better TONIGHT knowing that we have done all we could to protect our children TODAY. Why won’t the anti-gun left agree that it’s important to protect our children the best way we know how to TODAY?
“Why won’t the anti-gun left agree that it’s important to protect our children the best way we know how to TODAY?”
.
Because as a goal, protecting the children pales in comparison to the nakedly political priorities: 1) Damaging the NRA, 2) Putting gun owners on their collective backs, and 3) Reversing or overturning the current Supreme Court jurisprudence that has it that the second amendment was instituted to protect the right of a citizen to keep and bear arms as an individual rather than as part of an organized group subject to at least some kind of government control (i.e., militia).
March 28,2018
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, Village Council candidate Janice Willett (https://www.willettforcouncil2018.com/issues )is advocating for the old oversized, too big for the foot print “Garagezilla “.
“Bottom line, we need to build a parking garage. But the question is where and how large. The current Council is looking at several proposals for a three-story garage on the Hudson Street lot—but the Council also imposed the restriction that the garage should fit strictly within the footprint of the lot and that it should hold about 240 cars. The existing surface lot has 75 spaces, so that’s only 165 incremental spaces. At a cost of roughly $10 million, or $60K per incremental space, they will be the most expensive new parking spaces on the Eastern seaboard (see p. 5.4-6 of this study). And we won’t really be adding any parking at all, because the Brogan and Ken Smith lots, which were formerly used by commuters and others, held about 160 cars.
We can do better. Let’s allow the garage to extend six feet beyond the footprint, as previous designs did, for a gain of at least 225 incremental spaces instead of just 165. And then let’s get the garage built.” https://www.willettforcouncil2018.com/issues
It is horrible what is about to happen to Ridgewood. Yes, it is happening all over Bergen county with 800 more units approved for mahwah. People/leaders of Ridgewood must not just throw up our hands and say it is too late. We musyALL come together and undo what Aronson and others have embraced for Ridgewood. Please, we must all rally and stop this now. Is there not any council person, that will lead the charge and lead to preserve Ridgewood?
file photo by Boyd Loving
20180328 Village Council Work Session
THE RIDGEWOOD VILLAGE COUNCIL’S PUBLIC WORKSHOP AGENDA
MARCH 28, 2018
7:30 P.M.
7:30 pm – Call to Order – Mayor
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.”
Roll Call – Village Clerk
Flag Salute/Moment of Silence
Public Comments (Not to Exceed 3 Minutes per Person – 40 Minutes in Total)
5A. Presentation – Special Projects Task Force – Report on SEM Energy Rate Cost Savings
Discussion
Ridgewood Water
Yearly Renewal of Mapping Software – Geographic Information System (GIS)
Parking – None
Budget
Update on Status of New Tub Grinder
Award Contract – Replacement of Interior and Exterior Main Entrance
Doors at Village Hall
Policy – None
Operations
Declare Property Surplus – Miscellaneous Equipment – Police Department
Declare Property Surplus – 1998 Auto Packer – Streets Department
Increase Fees for Correcting State Records
Memorandums of Understanding – Health Department
Planning Board Recommendation for Master Plan Visioning Processing Consultant
Authorize NJDEP Treatment Work Permit Application Processing for Carr Well Facility
Declare Property Surplus – Graydon Pool Inflatable WIBIT Aquatrak
Manager’s Report
Council Reports
Public Comments (Not to Exceed 5 Minutes per Person)
Resolution to go into Closed Session
Closed Session
Personnel – Boards and Committees
Adjournment
March 27,2018
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, the Ridgewood location will be closing it’s doors in 2-3 months. We are having a store wide sale, adding new items and further discounts throughout our closing sale. “We have so many fond memories and dear customers since opening in 2010. Thank you all for your continued support! “Xoxo Patrice
The Montclair location will remain open. Please follow us on Instagram for updates on sale. @pinkbungalow
Pink Bungalow Ridgewood
185 E. Ridgewood Avenue
Ridgewood NJ 07450
201-444-2918
Pink Bungalow Upper Montclair
617 Valley Road
Upper Montclair NJ 07043
973-337-5371
March 27,2018
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, despite many assurances the decision more than a year ago to move Ridgewood Schools to an all-day kindergarten format may finally catch up with residents to the tune of a $500,000 tax increase this year.
During that time there was heavy debate as to the value of full day kindergarten ,which seemed to amount to no more than a convenience for parents personal schedules. Lately the schools have been under pressure due to a well publicized bullying incident , falling academic rankings and use of school time for administration sponsored protests .
This is looking like another poor decision by the Ridgewood BOE is going to cost Ridgewood ‘s over taxed residents .
March 27,2018
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Trenton NJ, One bright spot in education policy changes . Governor Murphy told audiences during his campaign that he would end PARCC tests “day one,” a promise that could not be kept due to state and federal requirements to use assessments to measure student progress and evaluate schools. It would be unrealistic to think that PARCC assessments would be eliminated this spring with no plan to replace these state tests. Acting Education Commissioner Lamont Repollet issued a memo on March 6 to school districts informing them that he will establish an advisory group to study the next generation of assessments and schedule a listening tour to meet with students, teachers, administrators, parents and community members in every county.
Commissioner Repollet affirmed his commitment to transition away from the PARCC tests and to improve NJ’s assessments. Understanding that this will take time, the PARCC tests will be administered this spring as planned.
Repollet stated that “ There are many issues to take into consideration when transitioning an assessment system, including the amount of time needed to procure a new vender, the fiscal and operational impact of assessments, and continued alignment of our NJ Student Learning Standards. Additionally, as state and federal law require all states to use assessments as one method to gauge and compare progress of students and student groups and to evaluate how schools support learning, we need to ensure our next generation of assessments provides a fair and accurate picture of student progress towards the mastery of the skills we expect them to achieve.”
File photo by Boyd Loving
Update on Spring Recess changes:
March 26, 2018
Dear Parent or Guardian,
Although I hope this is the last time I need to write to you about emergency closing days, unfortunately, I must report that last week’s spring snowstorm and subsequent emergency closing requires that our schools be open on Thursday, April 12, during Spring Recess. This change is in addition to the previously announced date that schools will be also open on Friday, April 13.
Making the decision to close schools for weather-related events is never easy. Aside from the various meteorological scenarios that can cause a tricky weather forecast, there are also factors such as declared states of emergency by our governor that must be taken into account.
The two most recent nor’easters are good examples of the challenge of calling a school emergency closing. Based on the best predictions and fairly consistent forecasts across the channels that Ridgewood would receive significant snow and high winds, and also factoring in the state of emergency declared by Governor Murphy, there was no option but to close our schools. Frustrating as it may be, in many ways we were fortunate that the storm paths veered slightly from the predicted models, sparing us potential loss of power, felled trees and downed wires that are real issues for our Village.
Enjoy the upcoming long weekend, as we will be closed March 29 and 30 and then closed again for Spring Recess on April 9, 10, 11 but open on April 12 and 13.
Sincerely yours,
Daniel Fishbein, Ed.D
Superintendent of Schools
file photo by Boyd Loving
March 27,2018
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, Village Manager Heather Mailander issued a few updates on Monday, first the Parks and Street Departments are finishing Section A (using the leaf pickup schedule) today, March 26th, for the Special Pickup for the tree limbs/branches, due to the fact that the volume in Section A was greater than expected. Pickup in Section B will begin tomorrow, March 27th, and once all streets in Section B have been picked up, the crews will then move on to Section C, and then Section D. Please be patient, as our crews work to remove the many tree limbs and branches which fell during the March 7th storm.
As a reminder, the crews will remove the limbs and branches from every street in each section only once and after this pickup has taken place, there will be no additional pickups for these tree limbs and branches.
Also the restoration work on the stairs from Corsa Terrace to Pease Library will begin tomorrow, on March 27th, weather permitting. The stairs will be closed during this restoration work, which means that pedestrians must walk down Corsa Terrace to West Ridgewood Avenue while the work is being done. This restoration work will continue on a daily basis (excluding weekends), weather permitting. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.
All Village offices will be closed on March 30th, in observance of Good Friday. There will be no garbage or recycling pickup on this day and the Recycling Center will also be closed. The Police Department, on the second floor of Village Hall, will be open on this Holiday.
Please share this information with your neighbors.
