Trenton NJ, The Department of Environmental Protection’s Division of Fish and Wildlife is providing property owners and outdoor enthusiasts with safety tips as black bears search for food after emerging from winter dens.
“At this time of year, it is important for residents who live in New Jersey’s bear country to be aware of some steps they can follow to reduce the chances of a bear coming onto their properties,” said Assistant Commissioner for Natural and Historic Resources Ray Bukowski. “It is also a good time for anyone who spends time outdoors to become familiar with ways to stay safe.”
Black bears have been sighted in all of New Jersey’s 21 counties but the population is most dense in the northwestern counties of Sussex, Warren, Passaic and Morris.
Bears are not true hibernators but enter a state of winter dormancy known as torpor. During torpor they may lose up to 20 percent of their body weight. They need to restore this weight for the mating season, which begins in late May and continues well into summer.
One of their primary natural food sources in spring is skunk cabbage, a leafy plant that grows along edges of rivers, streams and wetlands. Other natural food sources include grasses, forbs, tubers, bulbs and insects. They may also feed on carrion.
Bears have an acute sense of smell and can detect scents over great distances, so great care must be taken to prevent bears from being attracted to other food sources around properties, such as trash, food residue on grills, bird seed and pet food.
“Although bears are by nature wary of people, animals attracted to neighborhoods may learn to associate people with food,” said Division of Fish and Wildlife Director Larry Herrighty. “These animals may become nuisance bears that may cause property damage or seek handouts from people.”
Intentional feeding of a bear is dangerous and illegal and carries a fine of up to $1,000.
The Division of Fish and Wildlife offers the following tips for property owners to minimize encounters with bears:
* Secure trash and eliminate obvious sources of food, such as pet food, easy-to-reach bird feeders, or food residue in barbecue grills.
* Use certified bear-resistant garbage containers if possible. Otherwise, store all garbage in containers with tight-fitting lids and place them along the inside walls of a garage, or in the basement, a sturdy shed, or other secure area.
* Wash garbage containers frequently with a disinfectant solution to remove odors. Put out garbage on collection day, not the night before.
* Avoid feeding birds when bears are active. If you do choose to feed birds, do so during daylight hours only and bring feeders indoors at night. Suspend birdfeeders from a free-hanging wire, making sure they are at least 10 feet off the ground. Clean up spilled seeds and shells daily.
* Immediately remove all uneaten food and food bowls used by pets fed outdoors.
* Clean outdoor grills and utensils to remove food and grease residue. Store grills securely.
* Do not place meat or any sweet foods in compost piles.
* Remove fruit or nuts that fall from trees in your yard.
* Install electric fencing as an effective way to protect crops, beehives, and livestock.
If you encounter a black bear in your neighborhood or outdoors while hiking, fishing or camping, follow these safety tips:
* Remain calm. Never run from a bear. Instead, slowly back away. Avoid direct eye contact, which may be perceived by a bear as a challenge. Make sure the bear has an escape route.
* To scare the bear away, make loud noises by yelling, using a whistle, banging pots and pans, or sounding an air horn. Make yourself look as big as possible by waving your arms. If you are with someone else, stand close together with your arms raised above your head.
* Make bears aware of your presence by speaking in an assertive voice, singing, clapping your hands, or making other noises. If hiking through bear country, always make your presence known through loud talking or clapping of hands.
* The bear may utter a series of huffs, make popping sounds by snapping its jaws and swatting the ground. These are warning signs that you are too close. Slowly back away, avoid direct eye contact. Do not run.
* If a bear stands on its hind legs or moves closer, it may be trying to get a better view or detect scents in the air. This is usually not a threatening behavior.
* Black bears will sometimes “bluff charge” when cornered, threatened, or attempting to steal food. Stand your ground, avoid direct eye contact, then slowly back away and do not run.
* If the bear does not leave, move to a secure area such as a vehicle or a building.
* Families who live in areas frequented by black bears should have a “Bear Plan” in place for children, with an escape route and planned use of whistles and air horns.
* Black bear attacks on humans are extremely rare. If a black bear does attack, fight back.
DEP wildlife experts emphasize that a black bear simply passing through an area and not causing a specific problem, such as breaking into trash or otherwise trying to access food sources on people’s properties or posing a safety threat, should be left alone.
People should leave the area and allow the bear to continue on its way. When frightened, bears may seek refuge by climbing trees. If the bear does go up a tree, clear the area and give the bear time to climb down and escape.
Report bear damage, nuisance behavior or aggressive bears to the Wildlife Control Unit of the DEP’s Division of Fish and Wildlife at (908) 735-8793. During evenings and weekends, residents should call the local police department or the DEP Hotline at 877-WARN-DEP (877-927-6337)
Ridgewood NJ, the Dunham Trail sign has been replaced.It took over a year and a half, but two fabulous people took over and replaced and installed the sign that was stolen !
Ron Jaremcak, retired Industrial and Graphic Arts teacher at RHS, who now lives in Rockaway, took on this project himself! The sign is beautiful, it took many many hours of his time, and we appreciate it!
Jim Reynolds, of Ridgewood Home Maintenance, installed and reinforced the sign. Please come and enjoy our Wildscapes !
Photos: Ron Jaremcak
Ron Jaremcak and Sandy Antista, President of Wildscape
Jim Reynolds (r) and Oscar Barrera
Jim Reynolds and Oscar Barrera
Jim Reynolds and Oscar Barrera
Reader calls it the Alexandra Harwin’s ” Hate Mailer du jour “: a Vaganios endorsement
He built THE WALL in front of his restaurant. She lives on WALL STREET.Coincidence?
Why would anyone be impressed by an endorsement by the self-serving chamber of commerce guy who doesn’t even represent the views of most of the
business owners…an Aronsohn booster with his own failed attempt at politics?
“Raise the bar for leadership”…”Alexandra doesn’t start fights, she ends them.” HAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!!! The Hypocrisy Mailer. Freud lives!
A quote from Siobhan Winograd is the kiss of death for anyone who has ever attended a council meeting or others. Nooooooooooo.
I am already looking forward to Sunday because there will be no hate-mail delivery. It has been turning my stomach.
Ridgewood, NJ – Ridgewood’s six largest grassroots advocacy groups have released their Village Council endorsements and all support incumbent Mayor Susan Knudsen and Deputy Mayor Michael
Sedon. Each group has a unique focus – Concerned Residents of Ridgewood (CRR), addresses Valley Hospital redevelopment issues, Friends of Schedler promotes a neighborhood friendly plan for the
Schedler farm, Ridgewood Citizens for Reasonable Development (RCRD), champions proper master planning, while challenging overdevelopment, Preserve Graydon and Ridgewood Wildscape Association
seek, respectively, to preserve Ridgewood’s historic pool, open space and landscape, while Ridgewood Chinese American Association serves the town’s growing Chinese American community and advocates
on important village issues. However, all groups are unified in their endorsements, noting the candidates’ attention to hearing residents and acting upon their desires for appropriate development
that preserves Ridgewood’s character. In recent years, Ridgewood has faced a series of large-scale development issues that brought turmoil to the community, including four major high-density housing
proposals, rebuilding Valley Hospital, constructing a downtown parking garage and a plan to turn the wooded Schedler Farm property into a full-size baseball facility.
CRR’s endorsement letter noted Knudsen and Sedon’s role in effecting a plan in which Valley Hospital will construct a new facility nearby in Paramus, rather than on the tighter confines of its current site in
an area of single-family homes. Group President, Pete McKenna, wrote “Susan and Mike have been steadfast defenders of rational development… under their leadership, the council bravely stood up for
the Village in court, and they remained firm in their support of a settlement that was sensible for Ridgewood.
RCRD’s endorsement letter indicated “For many years, Susan and Mike’s positive words and actions have been closely aligned with our cause” of “ensuring that Ridgewood thrives with fitting development
and proper master planning. The group’s spokesman, Dave Slomin applauded Knudsen and Sedon’s role in “spearheading Ridgewood’s first new Master Plan in over three decades.”
Friends of Schedler lauded how these candidates created a “government of inclusion, while Preserve Graydon’s letter indicated how Knudsen and Sedon “Care, observe, research, respond” and “Will make
sure the upcoming Master Plan overhaul does not shortchange Graydon – or the village.
On a civic level, RCRD’s Slomin noted how “so much of the division and negativity we experienced in recent years is gone.” RCRD used to send supporters to every Planning Board and Council meeting to
take notes and look out for unpublicized development issues, but their endorsement indicates “for the past two years, we have been able to call off that guard.”
Ridgewood NJ, With warm weather here and spending more time outdoors, the Ridgewood Health Department and the CDC would like you to be careful when you step outside. Skin cancer is the most common type of cancer in the United States. Ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun is the main cause of skin cancer. UV damage can also cause wrinkles and blotches or spots on your skin. The good news is that skin cancer can be prevented, and it can almost always be cured when it’s found and treated early.
Take simple steps today to protect your skin:
• Stay out of the sun between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.
• Use sunscreen with SPF 15 or higher. Put on sunscreen every 2 hours and after you swim or sweat.
• Cover up with long sleeves and a hat.
• Check your skin regularly for changes.
Skin cancer risk factors
Certain factors may increase your skin cancer risks. By reducing those factors under your control, you may be able to decrease your risk of developing melanoma. For those that can’t be controlled, regular skin examination can increase the chance of catching a developing skin cancer early, when it is most curable.
The primary risk factor for skin cancer, including melanoma and non-melanoma cancers, is exposure to ultraviolet (UV) light, including sunlight and tanning beds. The risk of developing skin cancers increases with greater exposure to these sources of UV radiation. People who live in areas with year-round bright sunlight, or those who spend a lot of time outdoors without protective clothing or sunscreen, are at greater risk. Early exposure, particularly frequent sunburns as a child, can also increase your skin cancer risks.
Children and teenagers who get a bad sunburn (blistering) double their chances of getting melanoma later in life Over the past 15 years, the number of teenagers who get serious sunburns has NOT decreased.
Skin cancer prevention
Avoiding a serious sunburn is as simple as remembering to Apply Cover Enjoy. Practice healthy sun protective behavior: Apply sunscreen, Cover Up, and then once protected, Enjoy yourself!
Decreasing your exposure to UV light by avoiding direct sunlight and tanning beds is the most important thing you can do to reduce your risk of developing skin cancer. When you do go out in the sun, make sure to wear protective clothing, hats, sunglasses and sunscreen.
Regular, thorough skin examinations are also important, especially if you have a large number of moles or other risk factors. While this will not prevent skin cancer from developing, it may help to catch it early, when it can be treated more easily. Tell your doctor if you see any new, unusual or changing moles or growths on your skin.
Ridgewood NJ, Don’t forget to register and mark your calendars for the 43rd annual Ridgewood Run presented by the North Jersey Masters!
One of the longest running races in the tristate area is returning for Memorial Day, Monday May 28, 2018!
There is something for everyone!
* 10K – USATF 700-Point Masters Men’s and Women’s
Championship Event
* 5K
* Kessler Foundation Wheelchair 10K
* Elite Mile
* YMCA Mile Fun Run
Technical race shirts to the first 2000 registrants.
We offer special pricing of $50 when you register for the 5K and 10K together!
USATF members receive $3 off online registration for the 10K and 5K.
Visit our website for more information https://ridgewoodrun.com/
See you at the start line!
Ridgewood NJ, (from L) RHS sophomores C.J Lee, Olivia Jerdee, Annabel Mendoza, and Vanessa Cheng traveled to the Federal Reserve Bank of New York as a team on Thursday, April 27 as semifinalist competitors in 2018 Euro Challenge. The Ridgewood team competed against over 100 teams nationwide and was selected to advance as one of the top 25 teams overall. Each team selected a Euro Area member and issue to research and propose a policy recommendation for. Ridgewood selected Germany, with a focus on investment policies fo infrastructure. St. Albans School (Washington D.C.) took first place.
Ridgewood NJ, Members of the Ridgewood Board of Education and Superintendent of Schools Dr. Daniel Fishbein will host residents for coffee and casual conversation on Monday, May 14 from 7-8:30 p.m. Please join them at the Education Center, 49 Cottage Place, Ridgewood. Residents are welcome to drop in and share their thoughts, questions, suggestions and concerns.
The following column appeared in The Ridgewood News on April 27, 2018.
Dare I say that springtime is finally here? The crocuses and daffodils have had to push a bit harder to get to the surface due to some late snowstorms but it seems winter is now well behind us as we move from school closures and delayed openings to the spring sports calendar, Earth Day celebrations and the first barbecues of the season ahead … and yes, cutting the grass.
Along with turning our thoughts to the great outdoors, this is also the time of year in which the Ridgewood Board of Education finalizes and approves the next year’s school budget. For the past several months our administrators have been working to develop a 2018-2019 budget that provides resources for our outstanding instructional and co-curricular programs, our fine staff, and for the maintenance and operations of our facilities. Given rising costs and legal mandates, it is a tall order to put together a fiscally responsible budget but I am happy to say that once again we have succeeded.
The 2018-2019 budget, which will be approved by the Board of Education on May 7 and is approximately $110,000,000, maintains our outstanding staff, upholds and improves our excellent and rigorous academic offerings and supports new initiatives. As detailed in our 2018-2019 budget presentation, next year’s budget will also permit us to add new staff and programs, maintain and continue to upgrade our instructional technology equipment, implement new curriculum at all grade levels and undertake some facility renovations and improvements to school security.
How do we develop the budget? We start the process by creating instructional goals, which focus our work on the budget. Those goals for next year are as follows:
• Build capacity to create and implement authentic growth-based, innovative assessment practices to measure progress and foster student success. We do this through a review and update of curriculum and assessments, through formal and informal observations in classrooms, and by continuing to shift and leverage technology integration and learning environments.
• Continue to build capacity for implementation of interventions and instructional strategies for diverse learners to maximize students’ individual success. Examples of this goal are the two-year training of 21-plus staff members in multi-sensory reading strategies, and also curricular improvements such two new A.P. classes (Physics C and Human Geography) at the high school and many other courses in grades K-12.
• Build capacity to foster student wellbeing by focusing on social/emotional learning as an integral component of student health and achievement. We will do this by replicating our Ridgewood High School therapeutic program at our middle schools, by continuing to grow and infuse mindfulness activities into our classrooms and programs, and by fostering building initiatives like the “Choose to be Nice” programs within our schools. In addition, we are adding significant security measures to improve physical safety for staff and students.
Goals aside, some thoughtful residents have asked whether Ridgewood’s tradition of excellence continues to be upheld over the years. I want to share with you here some basic information taken from New Jersey official reports showing how the Ridgewood Public Schools continue to be effective and efficient:
• SAT and ACT scores: The RHS Class of 2017 had an average SAT score of 1272 and ACT score of 27, which exceed the average New Jersey SAT score of 1103 and ACT score of 23.75 and the average national SAT score of 1060 and ACT score of 21.
• Per pupil spending: Our per pupil spending continues to be significantly lower than surrounding districts. According to the 2016-2017 NJ Department of Education Comparative Spending Guide, Ridgewood came in at $15,119, while for example, Paramus was $18,826, Mahwah $18329 and Tenafly $17,049.
For additional information and commentary, I invite you to take a look at the full 2018-2019 budget presentation, which may be found on the home page of our website at www.ridgewood.k12.nj.us. I would also encourage you to browse through the Program of Studies for the elementary schools, middle schools and high school, which are located on the website under Academics/Departments. I also welcome any questions about the 2018-2019 budget, which may be emailed to budget19@ridgewood.k12.nj.us.
The Ridgewood community is a critical partner in financing our mission of educational excellence. Due to the manner in which the State of New Jersey funds schools, the majority of our school funding is generated through the local property tax. Our proposed total budget for 2018-2019 of $110,167,997 will add $250.71 to the local tax bill on the average-assessed Ridgewood home.
In closing, the Ridgewood Public Schools continue to be fiscally prudent and efficient as well as educationally successful. For your support of the budget through taxes, and for the community’s further generous donations that this year exceeded one million dollars for curricular and co-curricular programs, I am grateful.
As always, please feel free to contact me with your questions or concerns.
Daniel Fishbein, Ed.D., is Superintendent of the Ridgewood Public Schools
20180502 – Village Council Work Session
THE RIDGEWOOD VILLAGE COUNCIL’S
PUBLIC WORKSHOP AGENDA
MAY 2, 2018
7:30 P.M.
1. 7:30 pm – Call to Order – Mayor
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. Award Contract – Roof Repairs at Various Village Water Facilities
b. Parking
1. Ordinance – North Broad Street Valet Parking & Requirements for Signage for Valet Parking
c. Budget
1. Award Contract – Animal Control Services and Waterfowl Management 2. Award Contract – School Bus Transportation – Recreation Department
d. Policy – None
e. Operation
1. Revisions to Skate Park Ordinance – Rules and Regulations
2. Approval of Application for Community Development Grant – Tables for Senior Center
7. Manager’s Report
8. Council Reports
9. Public Comments (Not to Exceed 5 Minutes per Person)
10. Resolution to go into Closed Session
11. Closed Session – None
12. Adjournment
This has been said before, but it seems we need to say it again. The Ridgewood Blog is the voice of the people. It is here, on this Blog, where people can speak their opinions without fear of retribution from the BOE, the police, their neighbors, or their enemies, or even their spouses. Honesty and truth prevail on the Blog.
Yes indeed we hear some racist comments on this Blog. Well, that is good to know. Not everyone in town is open minded. Yes, indeed we hear some bullying comments on this Blog. Well, that is good to know. Not everyone in this town is calm. We also hear a great deal of positive stories, supportive comments, articles about good things, etc. People might not notice these as readily as the negative commentaries, but they are here, every day, all the time.
On Facebook, everyone has a name and face attached to their posts. Therefore they might easily post what they think they want their neighbors-friends-enemies to hear, which could be completely false. Probably false more often than not.
On the Blog, honesty prevails.
We also know, for a FACT, that people like Jeff Voigt and Robert Carroll (aka Mr. Sonenfeld) and David Hauck (aka Mr. Gwenn) post anonymous slurs about elected officials who they do not like. What does this kind of activity tell us? It tells us that they are scum, which is good to know. Janice Willett, what a complete joke – she blames the Blog all the time, hell she even opened her remarks last night slamming the Blog……all of which tells us that she reads it daily and posts her own defensive comments regularly. Willett even posted a photo from The Blog on her lame campaign page. Albert the Pooch, remember how he used to have steam coming out of his ears about the Blog? That is because (a) he read it every day and (b) the truth about his unpopularity was posted by citizens. Paul Aronsohn once called the police about a posting on the Blog that he felt posed a “threat” to his pansy ass (it did not pose any such threat, but we learned that Aronsohn, like everyone else, is a Ridgewood Blogger). It goes on and on, ladies and gentlemen. The Blog is read by everyone and contributed to by everyone and favors no one and discriminates against no one.
Furthermore, we know that all allegations that certain people control the Blog are totally bogus. For example, that moron Alexandra Harwin states that Susan Knudsen is a contributor to The Blog. NOT. Mayor Knudsen is drawn and quartered on The Blog regularly. Why would she contribute? Boyd Loving, whose photographs often appear here from his Facebook page, is likewise torn apart by Blog posters on a regular basis. Even people that we know Jame Foytlin likes are eviscerated on here, like his old chum Siobhan Crane. Hell, people even tear James himself apart on a regular basis – do you think James would put up postings that slam him if he controlled the Blog. So, no one controls The Blog. It is a living, breathing organism that does its own thing, and above all it is dead honest.
I trust postings on The Blog far more than any I see on facebook. This is where you come to see what your friends and neighbors and enemies and elected officials really think.
Ridgewood Moms and Dads Facebook cuts people off the membership if they even look crosseyed at Harwin or Willett or Sonenfeld or Voigt. Ridgewood Jolt cuts people off who dare say anything about a local issue. Facebook pages that do not allow open membership are not honest – they are slanted echo chambers that provide nothing of substance. There are two FB pages that seem to allow everyone on – Moms and Dads with Free Speech and It Takes a Ridgewood Village. They seem to allow posts from both sides of “the house,” so to speak. Kudos to them. But, still, total honesty does not prevail there because people are cautious about saying what they really feel.
Ridgewood NJ, For the second day in a row, a black bear first spotted in Paramus ,then today in Ridgewood wandered around a neighborhood in New Jersey and has been tranquilized by animal control crews.
The black bear reported to be 148-pound male , was the same seen Monday in Paramus, who eluded the Paramus Police .
The wandering black bear was captured in the rear of 15 Circle Avenue, Ridgewood on Tuesday afternoon, 05/01. The male bear is believed to be the same one that was spotted in nearby Paramus on Monday, 04/30. Ridgewood Police, Fire Department, and Emergency Services personnel assisted representatives from Tyco Animal Control Services and the NJDEP Fish & Wildlife Division during the incident.
No injuries were reported to the bear, or any humans who assisted in his capture. Traffic on East Ridgewood Avenue and Circle Avenue was detoured while emergency responders worked. A K9 unit from the Bergen County Sheriff’s Office also provided assistance at the scene.
Like Monday the bear climbed up into a tree, where he was tranquilized by Tyco Animal Control Services. It jumped onto a garage roof and then ran up another tree and was tranquilized a second time. Mayor Knudsen was on the scene filling in live on Facebook as events unfolded. The Mayor thanked Carol, Dawn Jowett Cetrulo, Chief Luthcke, the amazing Ridgewood Police Department, Fire Department, Tyco Animal Control, and everyone else who helped bring this little bear to safety! Special thanks to Alexa Topolski for hosting!
(this photo courtesy of Mayor Susan Knudsen)
The bear will eventually be taken to a wildlife management area in Passaic County.
Police are urging everyone to use caution and say that if you see the bear, you should not approach it. Instead, call 911.
In a Facebook post, Paramus police said they expect to be seeing more bears.
Ridgewood NJ, the forum last night was devoid of any major fireworks perhaps except other than Willett who opened her introduction by calling the Ridgewood blog “Hate Mongers” , funny given her campaign called the Mayor a “Nazi” for posing with the Easter Bunny and Working with veterans and also sponsored a grotesque anti catholic hate mail piece sent out to Village Residents. .On the upside Willett vowed to stay awake last night , but the jury is still out .
So a couple a quick take a way’s from last nights candidate forum :
As expected Harwin sounded like a light weight ,with no grasp of the issues facing the Village .
Harwin virtually bragged about not attending Village Council Meetings, adding to her cluelessness .
Aronsohn the puppet master used Willett to be the heavy , or play the bad cop trying and failing to attack the Mayor over and over.
Both Willett and Harwin read off the Arosohn script even repeating some of the lines he said when he first ran for council.
Several people questioned Harwin’s speaking style, even questioning if she was wearing an ear piece .
Both the Mayor and Deputy Mayor came out fighting and appeared to be in total grasp of the issues .
Both the mayor and Deputy came off as experienced and as advocates for the Village of Ridgewood .
While the challengers claimed a “new direction” they repeated the same Aronsohn ideas that almost destroyed the Village of Ridgewood .
On a side note:
Funny how everyone claims taxes is the biggest issue ,yet the biggest burden on Village Taxpayers is the Board of Ed ,with a budget of $110,000,000 and most of the BOE members have run unchallenged in recent years. On top of that Phil Murphy who promised to raise taxes was elected Governor so maybe taxes are not the real issue after all.
And one final thing :
It is clear that anyone involved in any way with former Mayor Paul Aronsohn are unfit for political office and or unfit to work for the Village or even volunteer for any boards .
We endorse Knudsen and Sedon for Village Council Let’s re-elect the dedicated duo on Tuesday, May 8
The Preserve Graydon Coalition enthusiastically endorses Michael Sedon and Susan Knudsen for reelection to the Village Council.
Susan and Mike are in sync with those who support Graydon because they:
Love, respect, and understand Graydon and what it means to the village. In their four years on the Council they have demonstrated a deep commitment to historic preservation and to making positive, fiscally prudent improvements at Graydon. Thanks in part to their efforts, the Graydon bathrooms will finally undergo a long-sought overhaul next year—provided that Susan and Mike are reelected.
Recognize the value of open space. Knudsen and Sedon understand the importance of planning and implementing measures to preserve and increase open space in our community even as pressure has intensified for overdevelopment in Ridgewood. They would never sell Graydon down the river.
Believe that trees are essential and integral to Ridgewood. Mike was instrumental in having the Shade Tree Commission restored to village government. As a result, our trees, which had been sorely neglected by previous councils, are a priority again. In 2014, no new trees were planted; last year, 221 were planted. If a matching grant comes through, a villagewide tree inventory will be done and a plan made to remove and replace any dangerous ones and plant even more. Mike works with the Green Team, the Ridgewood Environmental Advisory Committee, and other landscape-oriented groups to beautify our residential neighborhoods and downtown.
Care, observe, research, respond. Susan and Mike are responsive to all residents to an extent seen in few previous council members. They really look out for us. As the Council liaison to Ridgewood’s special-needs community, for example, Susan made sure that longed-for special-needs housing would be incorporated into the new apartments—as a previous mayor promised to do for years, but did not.
Will make sure the upcoming Master Plan overhaul does not shortchange Graydon—or the village. A significant item at stake in this village council election is who will oversee the upcoming rewrite of our 35-year-old Master Plan. This major effort will begin shortly and take about three years into the about-to-be-elected council members’ four-year terms. Residents will be invited to state their opinions. Susan and Mike can be trusted to do it right, listening to the wishes of the people, not the developers.
Candidates’ Debate
On Monday, April 30, the four candidates participated in a panel at the League of Women Voters’ biennial Candidates’ Debate at Village Hall. Throughout there was no question about which candidates knew what they were talking about and which were all at sea. Of the latter, one has lived here for a long time and one just arrived, but their cluelessness was mutual.
The standing-room-only crowd was treated to the classic squawks of people scrabbling for something to say, hoping catchphrases and hot-button items would attract voters: Taxes are high. (Their solution: Stop blaming the Board of Education even though it controls two-thirds of our property taxes.) Parking is a problem. (Their solution: Shuttle shoppers from the Graydon lots. Ask downtown professionals to share their private parking lots. Build a garage that displaces the sidewalk despite longtime vocal opposition to letting it extend beyond its site.) Safety is paramount. (We know.) “Ridgewood needs a fresh voice.” No, it doesn’t. It needs experienced leaders who comprehend the complex, layered issues that must be attended to immediately.
When near the end of the event one challenger dared to speak of the importance of “tone” and the way council members should treat each other, our jaws dropped. Was this the person who had distributed and/or supported mass communications for weeks that accused her opponents of all manner of dastardly invented deeds? She called herself “respectful and collaborative.” Really? How would she expect to interact with either of them on a shared board?
Both challengers said they would reinstate the Financial Advisory Committee, which has simply been reorganized and renamed. Both said they would fly the pride flag at Village Hall, when it has already been decided that the banner, which is larger, will again be placed in Memorial Park at Van Neste Square, far more visibly and with a ceremony. They had nothing to contribute. The challengers’ favored gambit was to mouth platitudes and object to whatever the current council is doing. It was kinda sad, really.
In contrast, Susan and Mike were at the top of their game and conversant with every topic. The evening proved convincingly that unless we re-elect Susan Knudsen and Michael Sedon, we will be in big trouble.
Grassroots endorsements
All six grassroots groups in Ridgewood have endorsed the reelection of Susan and Mike. Their full statements, posted at https://www.voteridgewood.com/endorsements.html/, include important points that pertain to the future of Graydon either directly or indirectly.
Here’s a summary.
Ridgewood Wildscape Association
In its first political endorsement since its founding in 1976, the Ridgewood Wildscape Association released a statement that included this: “Finally the Ridgewood Environmental Advisory Committee will have the expertise of a grant writer, something we have asked for in the past but never had; finally the Shade Tree Commission has support to solve the downtown tree problem as well as planting and replacing ‘right tree–right place.’
“For years residents of the King’s Pond area asked for help and received none. Only with this council, and especially the Mayor and Deputy Mayor, has help arrived.
“The opponents do not seem to care about our environment; one has said the Schedler property should be developed, leaving many of our neighbors subject to more noise and pollution. False facts about costs to save the historic home have been issued. They offer no support for anything environmental, which is distressing to us.
“The current council has been so supportive, hearing both sides of every issue relating to things we care about at Wildscape. We have had our best years, and we don’t want to go back.”
Concerned Residents of Ridgewood (resisting Valley Hospital overexpansion)
Susan and Mike have consistently voted against high-density projects and other overdevelopment that would negatively change our landscape. Concerned Residents of Ridgewood (CRR), which has spent over a decade resisting overdevelopment on the Valley Hospital site, says: “We feel their votes demonstrate a strong understanding of the appropriate size and scope of development in Ridgewood and reflect what Ridgewood taxpayers want.”
CRR notes that the Valley issue is far from over: “Last year, Valley finally decided to move their main campus to Paramus, and then agreed that the Village Council can rewrite the hospital zone ordinance to prevent further expansion of the Ridgewood campus. . . . We need the Council to continue to transform the legal settlement into an effective Village Master Plan and Ordinance. If the community lets its guard down before future plans are codified, we believe our Village will NOT BE FULLY PROTECTED against future overdevelopment at the Ridgewood site. The incoming Council will appoint new members to the Planning Board, which is rewriting the Master Plan, and it will finalize our settlement by rewriting and adopting the new H-Zone Ordinance governing the Ridgewood Campus.”
Friends of Schedler
At a recent council meeting, Susan announced that Isabella Altano, who died last September, had posthumously received the 2018 Bergen County Historic Preservation Award. The Preserve Graydon Coalition wrote a letter supporting her nomination. Isabella was a friend to Graydon as well as to the Zabriskie-Schedler house and property. An architect, landscape architect, teacher, and proud Ridgewood resident, Isabella supported and fought for all historic preservation. We are confident that she would have firmly endorsed Susan and Mike’s reelection.
The group that Isabella founded, Friends of Schedler, has done so, saying: “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.”
In a follow-up message, Friends of Schedler wrote: “It is imperative that we all show up on May 8 to vote for Susan Knudsen and Mike Sedon. The other two candidates were seen at the Ridgewood Baseball–Softball Association parade speaking with RBSA officials. The 90-foot field is not dead. If Susan and Mike lose, we will be fighting that battle once again.”
Ridgewood Citizens for Reasonable Development
“The high-density housing issue is far from over,” warns Ridgewood Citizens for Reasonable Development (RCRD), formerly known as Citizens for a Better Ridgewood (CBR). “Right now, outside forces are trying to impose high-density ‘overlay development zones’ throughout Ridgewood, including in residential areas. This could open our Village to more oversized development in the future. We need Susan and Mike’s experience to limit this.” If that doesn’t scare you, nothing will. Among the candidates, only Knudsen and Sedon can be relied upon to fight this proposed incursion into our neighborhoods and threat to our way of life.
RCRD continues: “In just two years as Mayor and Deputy Mayor, Knudsen and Sedon have made Ridgewood a stronger and kinder community. Much of the division and negativity we experienced from the prior administration is gone. For a long time, RCRD/CBR had to mobilize supporters to attend every Planning Board and Village Council meeting to ensure that nothing unexpected could happen without notice to residents. For the past two years we have been able to call off that guard. That’s because we know the Council is in such experienced, open and honest hands.”
In an announcement on Monday, the group wrote: “It’s important that Susan Knudsen and Mike Sedon retain their seats so they can finish the thoughtful job they’ve started, putting residents first in all planning and development decisions. The prior administration’s ‘pro big development’ forces are strongly behind the opposing candidates. After so much hard work by citizens’ groups, including CBR/RCRD, Ridgewood is on a calmer, kinder, more open, and more reasonable path. We don’t want a return to the infighting and negative campaigning of the recent past. Sadly, other candidates are trying to do that with a sour misinformation campaign.”
Ridgewood Chinese American Association
“The village should keep its charming style for residents and the generations to come,” says the Ridgewood Chinese American Association. “This vision should be reflected in and protected by the new Village Master Plan.”
The statement continues: “We value inclusiveness in both government and education and encourage better communication of village government with the residents. We support a lean management in the village government in terms of both fiscal and operational effectiveness. We expect an open and transparent village government with a high ethical level.”
The road to our Council cannot be paved with bad intentions
Supporters of the two candidates seeking to assume the incumbents’ seats have issued a long and libelous pack of lies widely disseminated in glossy mailers, via email, and on social media and websites, some signed by the current chairman of the Zoning Board of Adjustment. This behavior suggests just how badly the group supported by the former mayor wants to regain control of the Village Council. Candidates with experience and character do not behave in this way. It stinks of desperation.
This shocking and despicable effort has taken local politics to a new low. Around town, residents have expressed their distaste for the mudslinging that has characterized one faction of the campaign. Who knows what fabrications they’ll come up with in the next week? Be wary.
Susan Knudsen and Michael Sedon have withstood the barrage of insults with remarkable poise. They could easily have responded by listing the deficits and faults of their accusers, but that is not their style. Instead, they continue to discuss their plans and impressive Council track record at coffees and on their websites and to explain how, if reelected, they will help Ridgewood embrace a potentially troublesome future safely.
Susan and Mike have the hands-on experience, knowledge, integrity, and leadership skills that will be essential in the coming years. We believe a significant motivation for the appalling negativity that has characterized the campaigns of the challengers is desperation to oversee the Master Plan, which is our Constitution, Bill of Rights, and architectural blueprint for the future all in one.
Inexperienced people who seem confused about what ethics means in Ridgewood must not be allowed on our Council.
Please VOTE on TUESDAY, MAY 8.
Polls will be open from 6 AM to 8 PM. Fourteen hours for a five-minute task!
Because turnout is often low around here, even a few votes can sway election results. YOUR VOTE COUNTS.
If you need a ride, please let us know.
Swimmingly,
The Preserve Graydon Coalition, Inc., a nonprofit corporation
“It’s clear—we love Graydon!”
info@PreserveGraydon.org PreserveGraydon.org
I hear what this person is saying. I was new to this village too a few years ago. I too made it to VC meetings, followed a lot of discussions on FB groups, was very interested in the well being of of my newfound “heaven” until I realized that this place tends to attract a lot of nuts who feel very strong that they need to turn this town into the neighborhood they came from. In the process I also learned that this place in the breeding ground of many political snakes who will do anything, ANYTHING to advance their party’s or personal agenda. I have learned that there are tons of dimwits who can very easily be taken advantage by of the political scum. Schools are led by politically motivated people, boards are populated with people who find it a hobby to play with residents money etc etc. So I have come to the point where I am slowly trying to get away from being so passionate about things. I follow this blog because most of the time it seems to attract people who know what they’re talking about.The future of Ridgewood is bleak in my opinion. If it would be possible financially I would leave this place in a heartbeat before ship starts sinking.
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