Disagree with both. There’s no disconnect. You need metered parking because we have so much demand for parking. Without limits and enforcement, the businesses will suffer. Might seem counterintuitive but it’s a matter of supply and demand. We can’t find parking today with 3 hour limits and meter rates….imagine how much parking you’ll find if it was free! Glen Rock has like two delis and a couple of shops. They don’t have nearly the same amount of retail stores or restaurants that we have. Same goes for Midland Park, HoHoKus, Waldwick, Wyckoff, Allendale. Should I go on? So no, we don’t have any competition. Route 17 and Garden State Plaza are not substitutes for a Downtown like ours.
And to suggest that people here live in a bubble, and that they don’t know what else is out there, is simply ridiculous. We have a very educated consumer who chooses to live here for the very reasons people trip over themselves to come here. And by the way, taxes in Glen Rock are actually higher than in Ridgewood. But somehow, people in Ridgewood think that their taxes are higher than any other place on earth. It’s just a high class brag that gives some people the justification for being an asshole. So stay home, order from Amazon, home-school your children and become a hermit. Just make sure to Amazon Prime some Vitamin D supplements.
Ridgewood NJ, The Animal Welfare Institute (AWI), theHumane Education Network (HEN) and the Palo Alto Humane Society officially announced today the winners of the 2017 A Voice for Animalscontest. The annual contest provides high school students aged 14-18 with the opportunity to win monetary awards for essay, video, or photography submissions advocating against animal cruelty and for prevention of animal suffering.
“We are proud to announce the winners of the 2017 A Voice for Animals contest,” said Regina Terlau, executive assistant at AWI. “Through the contest, we aim to inspire youth to raise awareness about animals in need through a creative medium. We received a lot of phenomenal submissions from students addressing mistreatment of an animal species, prevention of an animal’s extinction, or solutions to reduce animal suffering. The chosen student submissions truly embody the mission of the contest and we congratulate the students selected.”
Ridgewood teen Myriam Burger won a first place prize in the 2017 A Voice for Animals contest for her video entry, “Save a Baby, Save a Species.” Her entry, which earned her a $650 prize, describes her school fundraiser to sponsor an elephant.
The winners of the 2017 A Voice for Animals contest include:
Myriam Burger of Ridgewood, New Jersey, who won $650 for her video, “Save a Baby, Save a Species.” Her video, which describes her school fundraiser to sponsor an elephant, earned first place in the “Video” category.
Claire Wayner of Baltimore, Maryland, who won $500 for her essay, “Seeing Scarlet: Saving a Gorgeous Neotropical Migrant.” Her submission, which highlighted challenges faced by migratory birds, earned first prize in the “Climate Change” category.
Lisa Wang of Toronto, Canada, who won $500 for her video, “The Buzz About Bees.” Her submission, which brought awareness to the importance of pollinators and described her involvement with pollinator conservation, earned second prize in the “Video” category.
Naomi Chongsiriwatana of Los Angeles, California, who won $450for her essay, “When the Powerful are Crushed.” Her submission, which educates readers on the mistreatment of captive elephants and exposes the truth of Thailand’s most popular tourism activity, earned her first prize in the “Essay” category.
Olivia Banks of Nottingham, Maryland, who won $350 for her essay,“Cozy Condos for Feral Felines.” Her submission, which examines feral cat population issues and “trap, neuter and release” programs, earned her first prize in the “Essay/Photography” category.
“Every year, we are impressed and encouraged by the commitment that young people show to animal issues through their submissions,” said Jenness Hobart, chair of the board at the Humane Education Network. “We are already looking forward to next year’s entries and continuing to foster students’ interest in showing respect and caring for animals.”
Two New York Men Get Over 12 Years In Prison For Armed Robbery, Carjacking, And Violent Kidnapping
July 7,2017
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, Two Rockland County, New York, men were sentenced to prison today for their roles in the December 2015 robbery of a North Jersey bar and the violent carjacking and kidnapping that took place shortly afterwards, Acting U.S. Attorney William E. Fitzpatrick announced.
Guillermo Carrillo-Iraheta, 20, and Juan Chiliseo-Vega, 20, both of Suffern, New York, were sentenced to 150 and 168 months in prison, respectively. Both defendants previously pleaded guilty to separate informations charging them with conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act Robbery, carjacking, and kidnapping. U.S. District Judge Jose L. Linares imposed the sentences today in Newark federal court.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
On Dec. 25, 2015, Guillermo Carrillo-Iraheta, Chiliseo-Vega and others robbed a bar in Hawthorne, New Jersey, and subsequently fled with approximately $200 in cash.
Afterwards, in the early morning hours of Dec. 26, 2015, Guillermo Carrillo-Iraheta, Chiliseo-Vega, and others hailed a taxi in Paterson, New Jersey, and forcibly took the taxi from the driver. Guillermo Carrillo-Iraheta, Chiliseo-Vega and others forced the driver into the back of the vehicle and took over driving. They also caused seriously bodily injury to the driver by hitting him in the head with a beer bottle and slicing his throat with a knife before eventually leaving him on the side of the road in New York. The taxicab driver survived.
In addition to the prison terms, Judge Linares sentenced both defendants to five years of supervised release.
Wilbur Jonathan Barahona, 21, of Ridgewood, New Jersey, and Jostin Reyes, 21, of Waldwick, New Jersey, have also pleaded guilty to their roles in the bar robbery, carjacking and kidnapping. Balmore Carrillo-Iraheta, 20, of Suffern, and Oscar Avalos-Cortez, 23, of New City, New York, pleaded guilty to their roles in the bar robbery. All four defendants await sentencing.
Acting U.S. Attorney Fitzpatrick credited special agents of the FBI, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Timothy Gallagher in Newark, investigators from the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office, under the direction of Prosecutor Gurbir S. Grewal, and the Ridgewood and Hawthorne Police Departments with the investigation.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Elaine K. Lou and Karen D. Stringer of the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s Criminal Division in Newark.
The regionalization of you local police force doesn’t save money (ask the county sheriff how his merger is doing), it adds to the response time of calls and believe it or not every ridgewood cop has lived in this town at one point or another. Knowing your work environment makes a significant difference in quality.
The schools argument is even more significant. Bad schools = less desirable place to live. Name me one large regional school district that performs in comparison to Ridgewood or Glen rock etc.
I have said this before but living here is not cheap and unfortunately if you can’t afford to live here you should not expect a cut in services to enable your continued residency. Living here is not for everyone and certainly not everyone can afford it. But those who can want what we have now. That includes rear yard garbage pickup.
If you want regional services. The Poconos are close by.
Home rule has a price, especially when you have 500 plus municipalities. Cops per capita and classroom sizes are not outrageous or out of the ordinary. The administrative overlay is. How many chiefs of police compared to NYC which has a similar population to the garden state. School administration duplication is also over the top because of home rule. Unfortunately merging and regionalizing has been an ugly process here. Look at the games when Wallington and Carlstadt were discussing regionalizing with East Rutherford. It’s still about who is the king dog and who is willing to give up on some levers of power.
I don’t think that the police department touches the lives of residents the same way that our teachers and administrators do. A regional board of ed could lead to our children traveling further to school, no more local control and less parental input.
I do not feel the same about RPD. the officer patrolling does not know me and I do not know him/her. It really does not matter. When I visit other towns and cities their school system does not matter to me. They have police departments protecting and serving. As in Ridgewood, I do not know the oficers and it does not matter when they do their job.
Regionalization would allow a more efficient use of police officers and less administration.would save money. New Jersey has hundreds of towns and police departments.
A regional school system would save money too. Education is personal, teachers touch the lives of every child. Once a successful merger of police departments is achieved we could look to see what practices could be applied to schools.
Ryan Stolz, CorrespondentPublished 9:44 a.m. ET July 1, 2017 | Updated 9:44 a.m. ET July 1, 2017
In a presentation to the Board of Education Monday night, Director of Special Services Dr. Kim Turner detailed the process in which Ridgewood Public Schools tests kids for Dyslexia.
According to Turner, the testing process, and the way in which Ridgewood ensures students are being properly aided in the classroom, goes well beyond what the State of New Jersey requires by law.
Washington DC, in a vote of 257 to 157, with one Republican voting no and 24 Democrats voting yes, the US House of Representatives passed ,”Kate’s Law”.
The House also passed a bill that would deny federal grants to sanctuary cities . Kate’s Law, would increase the penalties for deported aliens who try to return to the United States.
Kate’s Law is named for Kate Steinle, a San Francisco woman killed by an illegal immigrant who was in the U.S. despite multiple deportations. The two-year anniversary of her death is on Saturday.
Statement from President Donald J. Trump on House Passage of Kate’s Law and No Sanctuary for Criminals Act :
“During my campaign, I met many grieving families who all had the same plea: lawmakers must put the safety of American families first. Today, I applaud the House for passing two crucial measures to save and protect American lives. These were bills I campaigned on and that are vital to our public safety and national security. The first bill, Kate’s Law, increases criminal penalties for illegal immigrants who repeatedly re-enter the country illegally. The bill is named for Kate Steinle, who was killed by an illegal immigrant who had been deported five times. Every year, countless Americans are victimized, assaulted, and killed by illegal immigrants who have been deported multiple times. It is time for these tragedies to end.
The second bill, the No Sanctuary for Criminals Act, restricts taxpayer grant money to cities that prevent their police from turning over dangerous criminal aliens to federal authorities. Sanctuary cities are releasing violent criminals, including members of the bloodthirsty MS-13 gang, back onto our streets every single day. Innocent Americans are suffering unthinkable violence as a result of these cities’ reckless actions. The House bill also includes what is known as Grant’s Law and Sarah’s Law. These provisions, which prevent the release of dangerous criminals awaiting removal proceedings, are named for two slain Americans whose parents I spent time with during the campaign.
The implementation of these policies will make our communities safer. Opposing these bills, and allowing dangerous criminals back into our communities, our schools, and the neighborhoods where our children play, puts all of us at risk.
Now that the House has acted, I urged the Senate to take up these bills, pass them, and send them to my desk. I am calling on all lawmakers to vote for these bills and to save American lives.”
Ridgewood NJ, A two (2) vehicle Thursday afternoon, 06/29, collision at the intersection of East Glen Avenue and East Saddle River Road in Ridgewood resulted in a non life threatening elbow injury to one (1) vehicle occupant. Both vehicles involved, a Nissan Rogue and a 1930 Ford Model “A”, were towed from the scene. The injured party was transported by ambulance to The Valley Hospital. Ridgewood Police, Fire, and EMS responded. Fire Department personnel attended to a crash related fluid spill. Ho-Ho-Kus Police assisted with traffic control.
you are wrong and you bought into the fake arguments raised by Arohson, Pucciarli and the developers. Yes, we have requirements, but no, we did not need to line Saraceno’s and the other developer’s pockets in order to address these issues.
We were sold up the river, pure and simple, by a mean spirited and self-serving duo of public officials – – remember, they voted to make these projects the law as they were leaving office. They are carpetbaggers who have no place in our Village life.
We have now entered a new phase for life in Ridgewood thanks to the duplicitous duo. And we need to be ready for it. We are now going to much more like New Brunswick than a Ho-Ho-Kus or Glen Rock. We need to work hard to maintain the value of our properties, our schools and other public services as we deal with an influx of people that will totally drain our infrastructure.
Regrettably, it is not clear what the “new” council is doing to address and deal with the issues that lay ahead. Attention must now be focused on bringing them into focus, but as others on this thread have said, that ain’t going to happen if we all stay home and silent..
2. Statement of Compliance with the 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
4. RESOLUTIONS
17-170 Award Contract – Infra-red Paving Restoration
17-171 Reject Bids – Central Valet Parking Services
17-172 Authorize Application to the Bergen County Historic Trust Fund – Zabriskie-Schedler House, Phase 2
17-173 Authorize Application to the Bergen County Open Space Trust Fund – Turf Field at Maple Park
17-174 Annual Renewal of Liquor Licenses
17-175 Set Public Hearing Date for Settlement Negotiation
5. Adjournment
VILLAGE COUNCIL WORK SESSION
THE RIDGEWOOD VILLAGE COUNCIL’S
PUBLIC WORKSHOP AGENDA
JUNE 28, 2017
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. Presentation – Open Space Survey Findings
7. Discussion
a. Ridgewood Water
1. Award of Contract – Infrared Asphalt Restoration
b. Budget
1. Bergen County Open Space Trust Fund Grant Application
c. Operations
1. Purchase of Property
d. Parking
1. Rebid Central Valet Services
8. Motion to Suspend Work Session and Convene Special Public Meeting
9. Special Public Meeting – See At tached Agenda
10. Motion to Adjourn Special Publc Meeting and Reconvene Work Session
11. Discussion (Continued)
a. Ridgewood Water (continued)
1. Lease of Property for Co-Location of Wireless Telecommunications Antennas – Glen Avenue Tank Location
2. Award Contract – Polyphosphate Pumps for Corrosion Control
3. Award Professional Services Contract – Cedar Hill Reservoir Improvements
b. Parking
1. Train Station Parking
2. Update on Parking Garage
3. Clinton Avenue Parking – Safety Concerns
c. Budget
1. Declare Fire Department Equipment Surplus
2. Award Contract Under State Contract – Tires
3. Award Contract Under State Contract – Police Handguns, Holsters, & Magazine Pouches
4. Award Contract Under State Contract – Two Police Patrol SUVs
5. Award Contract Under State Contract – Lifts and Support Stands – Fleet Services
6. Award Contract Under National Joint Powers Alliance – Front End Loaders with Snowplows
7. Award Contract Under National Joint Powers Alliance – Two Sanitation Trucks with Snowplows
b. Policy
1. Boards and Committees – Fields Committee
2. Endorse Bergen County Open Space Trust Fund Program – The James Rose Center
3. Title 59 Approval – Painting Curbs Yellow
4. Options for Glenwood Road Railroad Crossing
5. Amend Chapter 145 – Fees – Tree Protection
6. Garber Square Bike Lane
e. Operations (continued)
1. Appoint Clean Communities Coordinator and Recycling Program Coordinator
2. Municipal Complex Parking Lot Changes
12. Manager’s Report
13. Council Reports
14. Public Comments (Not to Exceed 5 Minutes per Person)
Ridgewood NJ, New Jersey residents could soon be able to legally light fireworks in their backyards. Currently, only New Jersey, Delaware and Massachusetts have a blanket ban on the sale of fireworks.
In a 35-1 vote, state senators agreed that outlawing fireworks doesn’t mean people don’t buy them. Many just travel across state lines to purchase their products, leaving thousands of dollars of tax revenue behind.
Lawmakers have sent a bill to Gov. Chris Christie’s office to legalize the sale of certain types of fireworks for people 16 and older.The bill would only allow the purchase of fireworks that are “non-exploding”, “non-aerial fireworks”, like sparklers and glow worms.
1) How does making it one-way help when there are instances of vehicles getting stuck both going up as well as going down (James – you should start posting the photo of the tractor trailer that got stuck going down).
2) That bus in the photo was already in violation of the posted vehicle restrictions for that road. Who is to say they will not violate a new restriction?
3) Where is the traffic study for the impact on the three immediate train line crossings in the vicinity of this crossing – Glen St and Franklin Tpke in Ridgewood and Wyckoff Ave in Waldwick? How about the traffic impact study on Linwood Ave, intersection of Linwood and N. Maple, and intersection of N. Monroe and Wyckoff Ave?
Ridgewood NJ, In advance of the upcoming Amtrak track work at Penn Station New York (PSNY) during July and August, NJ TRANSIT has published new weekday rail schedules to assist customers in navigating the service changes and making their travel plans.
“More than 80 percent of NJ TRANSIT customers travel over a portion of Amtrak’s Northeast Corridor at some point during their trip, so in essence, they are customers of Amtrak as well,” said NJ TRANSIT Executive Director Steven H. Santoro. “In developing this service plan, the safety of every customer was the top priority. Not only is this plan the safest, but it maintains the maximum number of seats across the rail system.
Main/Bergen, Port Jervis Lines Serving Ridgewood and Pascack Valley will operate on regular weekday schedules, however, connecting PATH trains at Hoboken Terminal may be different.
Printable versions of the timetables can be found at a new dedicated information portal at njtransit.com/theupdate after 12 p.m. June 9, 2017. Weekend service will not be impacted.
To accommodate Amtrak’s track repairs in July and August at PSNY, NJ TRANSIT must implement service changes weekdays only between Monday, July 10th and Friday, September 1st.
NJ TRANSIT is strongly advising customers on all modes of transportation to remain aware of the status of the system by signing up for My Transit alerts, monitoring Twitter (@NJTRANSIT) and the website njtransit.com/theupdate.
Beginning at 7:00 a.m. through 10:00 a.m., NY Waterway Ferry will operate special service from Hoboken Terminal to W. 39th St. in Midtown Manhattan every 15 minutes. This special service will also operate in the afternoon peak hours between 4:00 p.m. (W. 39th St. Manhattan) and 8:00 p.m. All of these trips will accept NJ TRANSIT tickets and passes to/from Hoboken.
