Ridgewood NJ, Nine (9) high school students from the Immaculate Heart Academy in Washington Township escaped injury when the school bus on which they were riding collided with a Volkswagen Passat sedan at the intersection of Godwin Avenue and South Monroe Street, Ridgewood on Wednesday afternoon, 11/29. The adult male driver of the Volkswagen sustained a non life threatening injury, but declined ambulance transport to a local hospital. The school bus driver was uninjured. Ridgewood Police, EMS, and Fire Department personnel responded to the incident. A flatbed tow truck removed the wrecked Passat from the scene; the school bus was able to drive away on its own power. Ridgewood PD issued one (1) crash related summons to the Volkswagen’s driver.
Ridgewood NJ, Ridgewood Water has offered an update on the Water Main Replacements at Stream Crossings. Ridgewood Water announced in July it was going to upgrade water mains at four stream crossings. Water mains were to be replaced at four stream crossing :
Linwood Ave. at the Saddle River
North Irving St. at the HoHoKus Brook
East Ridgewood Ave. at the HoHokus Brook
Spring Ave. at the Hohokus Brook
Construction activities have been completed at the East Ridgewood Avenue stream crossing and nearly completed at the North Irving Avenue stream crossing. Final testing and tie-ins will be completed this week at North Irving Street.
In the meantime, Devens Construction will mobilizing to the third stream crossing, Spring Avenue on or about Tuesday, November 14th. Construction activities will include setting up temporary fencing for pedestrian traffic and moving equipment and materials on site, followed by sheet piling of the stream bed and construction of the new water main. We anticipate approximately six (6) weeks for completion of the Spring Avenue stream crossing barring any unforeseen conditions.
Devens Construction will be coordinating with the Ridgewood police who will be directing traffic around work areas on an as-needed basis. Expected work hours will be Monday through Friday, 7am – 5:30pm, weather permitting and possible Saturday workday.
Ridgewood NJ, Thanksgiving is a time of family and food and NJ TRANSIT is offering additional trains and buses this Thanksgiving and to make it even easier for customers to unite with family and friends, travel to the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York, or get started on holiday shopping at various malls throughout the state. Plus, feel free to bring your holiday helpers as kids ride free* the entire long weekend!
NJ TRANSIT will once again offer “early getaway” rail and bus service on Wednesday, November 22, for the benefit of customers leaving work early, and to provide additional capacity for customers traveling to Newark Liberty International Airport. The Wednesday before Thanksgiving is typically the busiest day of the year at Newark Airport’s rail station, with ridership levels about twice that of a typical weekday. Customers are urged to purchase their tickets early – round trip preferably – to avoid lines or download NJ TRANSIT’s mobile app available free at the App Store and Google Play.
On Thanksgiving Day, November 23, NJ TRANSIT will add extra trains and buses to the schedule in the morning and midday hours to accommodate customers traveling to the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.
Then on Friday, November 24, traditionally the busiest shopping day of the year, enhanced bus service will be offered to shopping centers throughout New Jersey and additional trains will operate to and from New York.
NJ TRANSIT customer service representatives and volunteers will be deployed at major facilities throughout the holiday weekend to assist customers with their travels.
For complete schedule and fare information, customers may visit njtransit.com or call 973-275-5555.
On Wednesday, November 22, trains will operate on a weekday schedule on all lines with additional “early getaway” service from New York Penn Station, Newark Penn Station and Hoboken Terminal starting at 1 p.m. on the Northeast Corridor, North Jersey Coast, Raritan Valley, Morris & Essex, Pascack Valley and Port Jervis lines. Newark Light Rail, Hudson-Bergen Light Rail and River Line Light Rail service will operate on a weekday schedule. Bus schedules vary by route—customers are advised to check their timetables or visit njtransit.com for schedule information. Selected routes will operate on special holiday schedules to match service with ridership demand, including early getaway service from the Port Authority Bus Terminal and on the No. 64 and 68 bus routes from the Hudson River waterfront between noon and 4:30 p.m. to accommodate the heaviest travel, with less frequent service during the traditional rush hour and later in the evening due to lower ridership. Special holiday timetables are available on njtransit.com.
On Thanksgiving Day, November 23, trains will operate on a weekend/major holiday schedule. To accommodate customers traveling to and from the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, NJ TRANSIT will add extra trains on the Northeast Corridor, North Jersey Coast, Raritan Valley, Morris & Essex and Port Jervis lines. Hudson-Bergen Light Rail will operate on a weekend schedule; Newark Light Rail and River Line will operate on a Sunday schedule. Holiday bus schedules vary by route—bus customers are advised to visit njtransit.com. Selected bus routes will operate extra service to and from the Port Authority Bus Terminal for customers attending the parade.
Note: Thanksgiving shoppers: Service on the No. 111 bus route from New York to the Jersey Gardens Mall in Elizabeth will begin operating at 8:15 a.m. Thanksgiving morning, November 23. The No. 40 will operate on a special holiday schedule serving Jersey Gardens all night long. Service on the No. 163, 171, 175 & 770 bus routes to Garden State Plaza in Paramus will operate on a Saturday schedule to serve the mall all day.
On Friday, November 24, one of the busiest shopping days of the year, trains will operate on a modified weekday schedule on all rail lines with additional New York-bound trains between 9:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. on the Northeast Corridor, North Jersey Coast and Morris & Essex lines. Customers are encouraged to travel early, if possible, when ridership is light. There will be adjustments to morning peak period service on the Northeast Corridor and North Jersey Coast Lines, with select trains either not operating or combined with other trains due to expected light ridership. Customers should visit the printable schedule page at njtransit.com or use the “Station-to-Station Trip Planner” for Friday’s rail schedules. Hudson-Bergen Light Rail will operate on a weekend schedule. Newark Light Rail will operate on a Saturday schedule. River Line will operate on a weekday schedule. Holiday bus schedules vary by route—customers are advised to visit njtransit.com.
Extra bus service to New Jersey malls
Starting Friday, November 24 and continuing through December 26, NJ TRANSIT will offer additional bus service to major New Jersey shopping destinations to accommodate extended store hours and busy shopping times throughout the day. Throughout the holiday shopping season, extra trips or expanded service will be offered on several bus routes serving malls and shopping centers throughout the state, including Garden State Plaza, Jersey Gardens, Livingston Mall, Harmon Meadow/Mill Creek in Secaucus, Willowbrook Mall, Wayne Towne Center Mall and West Belt Mall.
*Kids ride free on NJT
For the Thanksgiving holiday, NJ TRANSIT’s Family Super Saver Fare, which allows up to two children 11 and younger to travel free with each fare-paying adult, will be in effect from 7 p.m. Wednesday, November 22 until 6 a.m. Monday, November 27.
NJT Travel Tips :
Check Schedules in Advance: Additional service will be provided on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. Plan your trip online to take advantage of extra trains and buses.
Travel Early on Friday, November 24: On Friday, NJ TRANSIT rail lines will operate on a modified weekday schedule with additional trains during the late morning hours. Avoid the crowds by traveling during the traditional peak-period (6-9 a.m.) when ridership is light.
Allow Extra Travel Time: Traffic congestion during the holidays may affect bus travel times to and from New York City, so customers should plan accordingly.
Ticketing: Purchase round-trip tickets at the start of your trip to speed your return. Use ticket vending machines or see a ticket agent, if available, to avoid possible surcharges. Bus customers departing Port Authority Bus Terminal are reminded that tickets must be purchased before boarding the bus.
Luggage: Travel as light as possible. Passengers with luggage or packages should use the overhead racks or designated luggage spaces. On multilevel trains, customers with large bags should use the mezzanine levels at the ends of each car.
Bus Gate Changes: Some gate changes have been made at Port Authority Bus Terminal in New York. Customers are reminded to check the public timetable for new departure gate information.
Ridgewood NJ, With the holidays right around the corner, shoppers are preparing for the biggest online shopping event of the year, Cyber Monday. During this annual, event consumers are at high risk for online fraud and need to be aware of how to not become a victim.
Antwayne Ford a government IT/cybersecurity expert and President/CEO of Enlightened, an Information Technology (IT) and Management Consulting firm provided some helpful tips to the Ridgewood blog to avoid fraud on Cyber Monday.
Some of his tips include:
Keep Computer Security Updated: Make sure your operating system, web browser, and anti-virus are up to date in order to avoid any viruses causing damage to your machine.
Avoid Clicking Email Links: these coupons could be a scammer trying to lure you to a fake version of a legitimate shopping site to steal your information. Instead, take note of the coupon code and then manually enter the store’s website where you can enter the coupon at checkout to receive any discounts.
Avoid Click on Ads: Hackers are getting more sophisticated at targeting your information by attaching malware to ads that run in the background when you click on them.
Avoid Public Wi-Fi: I know we all love using public Wi-Fi because it provides users with free access to the internet, but public Wi-Fi is NOT secure. It is relatively easy for a hacker to fake (also known as spoof) Wi-Fi access and steal your personal information as you surf the web. Even if a hacker doesn’t spoof the Wi-Fi, they can still use tools to look at all the internet traffic happening on the Wi-Fi and possibly steal your information that way
Ridgewood NJ, looks like the Ridgewood blog was not the only one with unanswered questions about the fighting incident that took place at Stevens and Brookside fields. We recently observed that the ,
“Ridgewood High School “ANTI BULLYING POLICY” was adapted in 2016 , it has very clear rolls for students , parents and staff, While the kids involved in the incident have gotten all the attention , the little public information that is available about the incident and what led up to the incident would lead anyone to suspect the Ridgewood High School anti bullying policy , despite years of finger wagging was not followed and it appears that not only were students documented to be in violation of the policy but clearly so were some staff and parents .”
After an investigation of the incident the Ridgewood Police charged a 14-year-old with aggravated assault and simple assault. The 16-year-old was charged with simple assault.
Which all let us to ask , “who knew ,when did they know and why did they not act?”
Looks like we were not alone Fort Lee attorney Rosemarie Arnold delivered two notices of intent to Ridgewood High School on Thursday stating that the parents of a 16-year-old boy intend to sue the Board of Education, high school principal Thomas Gorman and superintendent Daniel Fishbein because they allegedly violated their own policies regarding bullying and social media, sounds just like our article .
According to their website the Law Offices Rosemarie Arnold is based in Fort Lee Law and represents clients In New Jersey And New York. On their website they claim , ” we are a strong voice for victims of negligence.”
Aronold seems to go after big cases an is not afraid of a little attention. On her home page it states, “Our law firm receives significant attention in professional publications and major media outlets due to our success in high-profile cases.”
In the notice Arnold claims that the Ridgewood High School “did not implement proper social media and bullying policies and procedures’ .The notice also accuses Ridgewood High School of “not enforcing the meager policies they had in existence — therefore, students knew there were no penalties for violation of the policies, creating a culture of unrelenting bullying and harassment.”
Arnold went even further by accusing the school and district officials of a cover up, “to protect the school’s reputation and the reputation of the child of a teacher in the district.”
Arnold has also filed suit against SNAP Inc., the Delaware-based parent of Snapchat, as well as 47 unidentified students who “instigated, incited, aided or abetted and filmed the beating of the victim.”
Two A.M. Peak and Three P.M. Peak Trains To Be Affected On NEC and NJCL Beginning January 8
November 14, 2017
Ridgewood NJ, Upcoming Amtrak track work at Penn Station New York (PSNY) will impact select NJ TRANSIT peak period train service along the Northeast Corridor (NEC) and North Jersey Coast Line (NJCL) with scheduled service adjustments to begin on January 8, 2018 through May 28, 2018.
The work will mainly affect a total of five trains per day which includes two in the a.m. peak and three in the p.m. peak periods. Of these five trains, one NJCL train in both the a.m. and p.m. will be diverted to Hoboken; one NEC train in both the a.m. and p.m. will terminate/originate at Newark Penn Station and another NJCL train in the p.m. will be cancelled. Other trains may have adjustments made to the timetable or station stops, and customers are advised to check the service timetables carefully.
“While this impact is far less than what we experienced this past summer, we encourage our Northeast Corridor and North Jersey Coast Line customers to do their homework and adjust their commuting plans if needed,” said Executive Director Steven H. Santoro. “I want to thank our customers in advance as we continue to support Amtrak’s efforts to renew critical infrastructure at Penn Station New York and avoid a repeat of the derailments we saw this past spring.”
The affected trains are as follows:
A.M.
NJCL train 3216, the 6:11 a.m. eastbound Long Branch departure, will now depart at 6:23 a.m. and will be diverted to Hoboken renumbered as 2604
NEC train 3122, the 7:06 a.m. eastbound departure from New Brunswick will terminate at Newark Penn Station renumbered as 5822.
P.M.
NJCL train 3267, the 5:25 p.m. departure from PSNY, will originate from Hoboken at 5:22 p.m. renumbered as 2609
NEC train 3171, the 5:43 p.m. departure from PSNY, will originate at Newark Penn Station at 6:03 p.m. renumbered as 5869
NJCL train 3441, the 6:51 p.m. departure from PSNY, will be cancelled
Customers are advised that trains prior to or following the affected trains may experience crowded conditions.
I posted this on the election results topic but also bringing it here because I am very curious:
So Murphy gets 17% more votes than Guadagno in Ridgewood. I just can’t understand for the life of me how people who have a great town (compared to many other areas in NJ) vote so overwhelmingly for someone who promises to basically turn NJ upside down with the sanctuary and “fairer state” promises!!!! I mean this guy basically says I will raise your taxes, I will surround you with illegal emigrants and low income people and I will make you pay for them and in the process I will lower your property value and badly damage your quality of life. How do you vote for him????? How can white, rich people who make their $$$$ in capitalism vote for a socialist?? I understand his promises are very appealing to Paterson, Jersey City, Elizabeth, Clifton etc. but I just don’t get where the appeal is for Ridgewood?? I know many voted against Christie but Christie wasn’t even on the ballot.
Anybody cares to chip in? I am speechless.
Village Council Regular Public Meeting VILLAGE OF RIDGEWOOD VILLAGE COUNCIL REGULAR PUBLIC MEETING
NOVEMBER 8, 2017
8:00 P.M.
Call to Order – Mayor
Statement of Compliance with the Open Public Meetings Act
Roll Call – Village Clerk
Flag Salute and Moment of Silence
Acceptance of Financial Reports
Approval of Minutes
Proclamations
NONE
Comments from the Public (Not to exceed 3 minutes per person – 40 minutes in total)
Village Manager’s Report
Village Council Reports
ORDINANCES – INTRODUCTION – RIDGEWOOD WATER
NONE
ORDINANCES – PUBLIC HEARING – RIDGEWOOD WATER
NONE
RESOLUTIONS – RIDGEWOOD WATER
THE FOLLOWING RESOLUTIONS, NUMBERED 17-331 THROUGH
17-335 ARE TO BE ADOPTED BY A CONSENT AGENDA, WITH ONE VOTE BY THE VILLAGE COUNCIL. THERE IS A BRIEF DESCRIPTION BESIDE EACH RESOLUTION TO BE CONSIDERED ON THE CONSENT AGENDA. EACH RESOLUTION WILL BE READ BY TITLE ONLY:
17-331 Establish Interest Rates for Delinquent Payments to the Water Utility for 2017 and Set Grace Period for Payment of Water Utility Bills
17-332 Accept Ridgewood Water Annual Maintenance Fee
17-333 Award Additional Contract – Infrared Asphalt Surface and Miscellaneous Repairs
17-334 Award Professional Services Contract – Design Services – Ames Tank Rehabilitation
17-335 Award Change Order – Lafayette Reservoir Improvements
ORDINANCES – INTRODUCTION
3623 – Amend Chapter 265 – Vehicles and Traffic – Establish Stop Signs at Cliff Street and First Street
3624 – Amend Chapter 265 – Vehicles and Traffic – Establish Stop Signs at Cantrell Road and West End Avenue
ORDINANCES – PUBLIC HEARING
3618 – Supervisors Salary Ordinance
3619 – Non-Union Salary Ordinance
3620 – Management Salary Ordinance
3621 – Amend Chapter 265 – Vehicles and Traffic – South Hillside Place
3622 – Amend Chapter 265 – Vehicles and Traffic – Establish Stop Signs at Hope Street and Gilbert Street
RESOLUTIONS
THE FOLLOWING RESOLUTIONS, NUMBERED 17-336 THROUGH
17-364 ARE TO BE ADOPTED BY A CONSENT AGENDA, WITH ONE VOTE BY THE VILLAGE COUNCIL. THERE IS A BRIEF DESCRIPTION BESIDE EACH RESOLUTION TO BE CONSIDERED ON THE CONSENT AGENDA. EACH RESOLUTION WILL BE READ BY TITLE ONLY:
17-336 Approve 2017 Budget Transfers
17-337 Authorize Tax Title Lien Premium to be Deposited into General Fund
17-338 Establish Interest Rate for Non-Payment of Taxes and Assessments for 2018 and Set Grace Period
17-339 Establish Interest Rates for Non-Payment of Other Municipal Liens for 2018 and Set Due Date
17-340 Establish Interest Rates for Delinquent Payments for Significant Sewer Discharge
17-341 Award Contract – Refurbish Leach Body for Sanitation Vehicle
17-342 Award Contract – Recycling of Vegetative Waste
17-343 Award Contract – Emergency Repair of Graydon Pool Chlorination System
17-344 Award Contract – Emergency Generator – Hazard Mitigation Grant Program
17-345 Award Contract Under National Joint Powers Alliance Contract – F650 Diesel Crew Cab Chassis
17-346 Award Contract Under State Contract – Steel Dump Body with Salter, Hydraulics, and Snow Plow
17-347 Award Contract under National Cooperative Contract – Two Front End Snowplows and Two Sanitation Truck Snowplows
17-348 Award Contract under National Cooperative Contract – Bobcat Skid-Steer Loader
17-349 Award Professional Services Contract – Pediatrician for Monthly Child Health Conference
17-350 Award Professional Services Contract – Valley Hospital, Department of Community Health – Public Health and Nursing Services
17-351 Award Professional Services Contract – Software Support for Finance Department
17-352 Approve Shared Services Agreement – Child Health Conference (Fair Lawn & Glen Rock)
17-353 Authorize RFP for Hudson Street Parking Garage
17-354 Authorize Cancellation of Public Assistance Trust Fund Reserve Balance
17-355 Authorize Cancellation of Grant Reserve Balance – Local Bikeway Grant
17-356 Authorize Cancellation of General Budget Appropriation – Shared Services Agreement – Fleet Services (Washington Township)
17-357 Authorize Shared Services Agreement – TV Inspection of Sanitary Sewer Mains (Northwest Bergen County Utilities Authority) –
17-358 Award Contract – Removal of Portion of Bike Path – Garber Square
17-359 Authorize Encroachment Agreement – 115 Monte Vista Avenue
17-360 Approve Major Soil Moving Permit – The Dayton – South Broad Street
17-361 Endorse Application for Community Development Block Grant – West Bergen Mental Healthcare – Housing Specialist
17-362 Appoint Members to Local Emergency Planning Committee
17-363 Accept Donation of Tree – Lester Stable
17-364 Approve Valley Hospital Settlement Agreement
THE FOLLOWING RESOLUTIONS, NUMBERED 17-365 THROUGH
17-367, WILL BE CONSIDERED SEPARATELY AND READ IN FULL:
17-365 Title 59 Approval – Planting of Trees in Various Locations
17-366 Award Contract – Planting of Trees in Various Locations
17-367 Title 59 Approval – Removal of Portion of Bike Lane at Garber Square
Comments from the Public (Not to Exceed 5 minutes per person)
Resolution to go into Closed Session
Closed Session
Adjournment
Ridgewood NJ, Tuesday November 7, 2017 is Election Day. Polls will be open in New Jersey from 6:00 a.m. until 8:00 p.m.
The following candidates are running on the local and county level :
Ridgewood Board of Education (two, three-year terms): Sheila Mary Brogan and Christina Krauss are all running unopposed.
County Board of Chosen Freeholders (two seats): Democratic incumbents Joan Voss and David Ganz are running against Republicans John Driscoll Jr. and Raymond Cottiers Jr.
State 40th Legislative District, Senate (vote for one): Republican incumbent Kristin Corrado is running against Democrat Thomas Duch.
State 40th Legislative District, Assembly (vote for two): Republicans Kevin Rooney, an incumbent, and Christopher DePhillips are running against Democrats Paul Vagianos and Christine Ordway.
New Jersey will also holding an election for governor and lieutenant governor on November 7, 2017. Gov. Chris Christie (R) is term-limited and ineligible to run for re-election. Phil Murphy (D), Kim Guadagno (R), Peter Rohrman (L), Seth Kaper-Dale (G), Matt Riccardi (C), Gina Genovese (I), and Vincent Ross (I) are running to fill the governorship .
Questions on the Ballot:
NEW JERSEY LIBRARY CONSTRUCTION BOND ACT
PUBLIC QUESTION # 1
Do you approve the “New Jersey Library Construction Bond Act’? This bond act authorizes the State to issue bonds in the aggregate principal amount of $125 million. The proceeds of the bonds will be used to provide grants to public libraries. The grants will be used to build, equip and expand public libraries to increase capacity and serve the public.
Interpretive Statement on the Ballot:
Approval of this bond act will allow the State to sell $125 million in State general obligation bonds. Proceeds from the bonds will be used to provide grants to construct, expand and equip public libraries. Municipalities or counties that fund public libraries will match the grant amount. The municipality or county may solicit private funding to support its match. The State Librarian, in consultation with the President of Thomas Edison State University, will set eligibility criteria for the grants.
NEW JERSEY REVENUE FROM ENVIRONMENTAL DAMAGES LAWSUITS
DEDICATED TO ENVIRONMENTAL PROJECTS AMENDMENT
PUBLIC QUESTION #2
Do you approve amending the Constitution to dedicate all moneys collected by the State relating to natural resource damages in cases of contamination of the environment? The moneys would have to be used to repair, restore, replace, or preserve the State’s natural resources. The moneys may also be used to pay legal or other costs incurred by the State in pursuing its claims.
Interpretive statement on the Ballot:
“This amendment would dedicate moneys collected by the State relating to natural resource damages through settlements or awards for legal claims based on environmental contamination. These moneys would be dedicated to repair, replace, or restore damaged natural resources, or to preserve the State’s natural resources. These moneys would be spent in an area as close as possible to the geographical area in which the damage occurred. The moneys could also be used to pay for the State’s legal or other costs in pursuing the claims. Currently, these moneys may be used for any State purpose.”
Ridgewood NJ, Voters be aware: If you do not want to see Vagianos elected to public office, AND you do not want to vote for a Republican, then you have an option in the form of Anthony J. Pellicia, running under the logo “You Tell Me.” Some are saying they simply will not vote that line because they cannot stomach voting for Vagianos. Leaving it blank does not vote against him. Vote against him; we do not need an Aronsohn clone in any elected office. This is not to be considered an endorsement of Anthony J. Pellicia .
District 40 – Allendale, Cedar Grove, Franklin Lakes, Ho-Ho-Kus, Little Falls, Midland Park, Pequannock, Pompton Lakes, Ridgewood, Riverdale, Totowa, Waldwick, Wayne, Woodland Park, Wyckoff
201-670-2700, ext. 40557 [email protected]
Ridgewood High School
627 East Ridgewood Avenue
Ridgewood, NJ 0745
Ridgewood High School
627 East Ridgewood Avenue
Ridgewood, NJ 0745
Ridgewood NJ, Composing and arranging music is a recent, yet exciting, development in the life of Ridgewood musician and singer, Rita Blacker. Since childhood, music has been a significant part of Blacker’s life. Coming from a musical family, she began playing piano when she was three years old and started training formally at age nine. Her piano training and singing continued at Paramus High School and at the University of Maryland where she received a BA in Piano Performance. She also plays the flute and violin, having taken lessons for a few years on each, and is self-taught on the guitar.
In September 2003, Blacker joined the prestigious New Jersey Choral Society, an auditioned community chorus based in Ridgewood, in order to fill a musical void in her life. Eventually, because of her strong musical background, she was appointed Vice President of Artistic Planning and assisted the Artistic Director and Conductor, Eric Dale Knapp, with music selection for each concert.
In 2017, Knapp asked Blacker to write an original piece of music to celebrate the NJCS Jubilee season, which is celebrating artist-in-residence Linda Sweetman-Waters’ 30th anniversary with the chorus. Knapp found a prayer titled “Grant Us Peace” from The Gates of Prayer: the New Union Prayer Book, a standard liturgical work for the Reformed Judaism Movement, and asked Blacker to arrange a musical composition for this prayer. She feels that this prayer of peace is timely for our country, because it was written for and read by a rabbi at a UN special meeting on global peace. “The prayer has us look inward to find strength to set an example to the rest of the world that we can live in peace,” says Blacker. It asks us, continues Blacker, “to set an example and show the world how we hold out our hands toward friendship, strengthening bonds between us.” She used the text from the prayer and composed and arranged music for it. “Grant Us Peace” will receive its world premiere during the New Jersey Choral Society’s holiday concert series, Celebration of Carols, on Saturday, December 2 at 8:00 pm and Sunday, December 3 at 3:00 pm at the Church of the Immaculate Conception, 30 North Fullerton Ave, Montclair, as well as Tuesday, December 5 at 7:30 pm at the West Side Presbyterian Church, 6 South Monroe St., Ridgewood.
Blacker has composed previously for the New Jersey Choral Society. In 2013, Knapp asked her to write a piece of music for the NJCS holiday concert, Ceremony of Carols. Excited by the prospect of composing music, she began reviewing winter poetry and came across the well-known poem “Stopping By Woods on a Snowy Evening” by Robert Frost, inspiring her original composition “Snowy Evening.” Due to the success of that piece, Knapp invited her again in 2016 to compose a work for the holiday concert, which featured Claudio Monteverdi’s Magnificat, a work based on the Marian Vespers or evening prayers. Blacker decided to write a piece connected to the spiritual themes in Magnificat. The biblical story of Hannah, a scorned and barren woman who prays to God for a child and miraculously gives birth to Samuel, inspired her to write the composition “Hannah Prays,” which received its world premiere in December 2016.
Aside from these composition opportunities, Blacker also collaborated in 2015 on arranging three contemporary pieces for the Echoes, a women’s a cappella group, at Lehigh University where her daughter Rebecca was a student. She assisted with new arrangements of “Levels” by Nick Jonas, “Soldier” by Gavin DeGraw and “Ghost” by Ella Henderson, which the Echoes (including her daughter Rebecca) performed in the spring of 2015. She also wrote a small violin part for the New Jersey Choral Society and credits this composition with “opening up the path to her future.”
Outside of her commitments to NJCS, Blacker teaches piano lessons at Music and Arts (formerly Victor’s House of Music) in Wayne and offers private piano lessons at her home in Ridgewood. She has also sung with Sirene, a women’s a cappella group, and has performed at “Ridgewood Unplugged,” an annual fundraising event offered by Ridgewood musicians to raise money for the Ridgewood Schoolhouse Museum. Blacker also works as an Interior Designer with an AA degree in Interior Design from Berkeley College. She owns RFB Design LLC, which specializes in space planning and renovations.
When asked if she plans to write more music, Rita replied “Composing music inspires and challenges me to write more.” She explains that “music is the passion that ignites the soul and breathes meaning and purpose into her life. It will always be an integral part of my life, because of its ability to heal, unite and transport.”
Advance tickets for performances of Celebration of Carols featuring Blacker’s composition “Grant Us Peace,” are $30.00 for adults and $25.00 for students and seniors. For reservations or more information, visit www.NJCS.org or call the New Jersey Choral Society at (201) 379-7719.
THE RIDGEWOOD VILLAGE COUNCIL’S PUBLIC WORKSHOP AGENDA NOVEMBER 1, 2017 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)
Presentation
Zoning Business District – Brigette Bogart, Village Planner
Valley Hospital Litigation Settlement
Discussion
Ridgewood Water
Award Contract for Professional Design Services – Ames Tank Rehabilitation
Parking
Draft RFP for Hudson Street Parking Garage
Budget
2017 Budget Transfers
Cancellation of Public Assistance Trust Funds
Cancellation of Current Fund Budget Appropriation
Washington Township Inter-Local Fleet Services
Purchase of Emergency Generator – Hazard Mitigation Grant Program
Award Contract – Graydon Pool Repair of Chlorination System
Removal of Portion of Bike Path – Garber Squar
Policy
Approve Stop Sign at Cliff Street at First Street
Approve Stop Sign at Cantrell and West End Avenue
Decorations and Other Items Outside of Businesses in the Central Business District
Ordinance for Certain Illuminated Signs
Operations
Proposed Encroachment Agreement – 115 Monte Vista
Dedicated Tree Resolution
Major Soil Permit – Dayton – South Broad Street
Approve Community Development Block Grant Application for Housing Specialist – West Bergen Mental Healthcare
Review of November 8, 2017 Public Meeting Agenda
Manager’s Report
Council Reports
Public Comments (Not to Exceed 5 Minutes per Person)
Resolution to go into Closed Session
Closed Session
Legal – Funding of Improvement Project in Central Business District
Our taxes,are,less,than Glen Rock and Ramsey . And the original poster never checked westchester or summit for accuracy….they are a lot higher. It’s the whole state of nj . Even shitty towns have high taxes. Police unions, teachers unions, and inner cities that drain the state treasury to fund the abbot schools in all the shithole cities. That’s what you get for allowing democrats to run things in Trenton (who are owned by the unions). Just wait for your bills to go up if Murphy is successful in Purchasing the governor office
