Hackensack NJ, Bergen County Prosecutor Gurbir S. Grewal announced today the identities of two deceased males discovered on Sunday, June 4, 2017 at 5 Linden Street, Hackensack, NJ. The investigation was conducted by members of the Hackensack Police Department under the direction of Officer in Charge Captain Francesco Aquila, the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crimes Unit under the direction of Chief Robert Anzilotti and the Bergen County Sheriff’s Department under the direction of Sheriff Michael Saudino.
At approximately 9:17 AM on June 4, 2017, the Hackensack Police Department received a 9-1-1 call reporting gunshots and a man down in the lobby area of 5 Linden Street. Police officers arrived and located the body of JAMES BELLAMY (DOB: 9/6/50) next to the building’s elevator. Bellamy had been shot multiple times and was declared deceased at the scene. A building resident directed officers to the rear parking lot of the building and the path taken by the alleged gunman, later identified as ARTHUR HILLMAN (DOB: 9/20/53). The officers located HILLMAN’S deceased body in a 2011 Honda Civic in the rear parking lot; he was the victim of a single, self-inflicted gunshot wound and was found to be in possession of a loaded .40 caliber semi-automatic handgun, which is believed to be the weapon used in the murder/suicide. Detectives also located a loaded .38 caliber weapon on Hillman’s body. The investigation revealed that no one else was involved in this incident.
Subsequent investigation revealed that both men were residents of 5 Linden Street. Bellamy resided in Apartment 4J and Hillman resided in Apartment 3J. Hillman had made repeated complaints to the Hackensack Police Department regarding the noise emanating from Bellamy’s upstairs apartment.
Prosecutor Grewal would like to thank the Hackensack Police Department and the Bergen County Sheriff’s Department for their assistance in this investigation.
Ridgewood NJ, Notice is hereby given that a Public Hearing will be held for the purpose of receiving comments on a Bergen County Open Space Trust Fund Historic Preservation application. The Village of Ridgewood desires to obtain funds in order to restore interior operating systems, new doors & windows and listing n the National Historic Register for the Zabriskie-Schedler House, located at 460 West Saddle River Road, Ridgewood, NJ and identified as Block 4704, Lots 10 & 11.
The Public Hearing will be held at the Village Council’s Public Meeting on June 14, 2017 which begins at 8:00pm and will be held in the Village Hall Court Room, 131 North Maple Avenue, Ridgewood, NJ. All persons who may be interested in giving public comment will have an opportunity to be heard at that time.
$2.8 billion infrastructure investments will maintain reliability
June 1,2017
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, Public Service Electric and Gas Co. (PSE&G), New Jersey’s largest utility, has made significant infrastructure investments that are in service for the first time this season, ensuring the utility is better prepared than ever to meet customer demand for safe, reliable electricity this summer.
“PSE&G customers are benefiting from the $2.8 billion in electric and gas investments the utility made this past year,” said John Latka, senior vice president of electric and gas operations at PSE&G. “These investments, along with our highly skilled and dedicated workforce, play a big role in making us one of the most reliable utilities in the country, and the most reliable in the Mid-Atlantic region 15 years running.”
Notable projects completed since the start of last summer include:
Eliminated, or raised and rebuilt six substations and switching stations that were damaged by water during storms, including stations in Elizabeth, Garfield, Hoboken, Jersey City, Rahway and South Hackensack.
Installed relays and remote terminal units at 45 substations and installed a new Distribution SCADA system in all four divisions. This program deploys smart grid technologies to better monitor system operations to increase our ability to more swiftly deploy repair teams.
Completed 62 projects that address critical facilities, including hospitals, water treatment plants, telecommunications facilities and police stations. This program creates redundancy in the system, reducing outages when damage occurs.
Replaced 12 aging station transformers to maintain electric service reliability for customers in Bergen, Camden, Essex, Hudson and Union Counties.
Completed transmission hardening projects to raise station equipment in five flood-prone stations, benefiting customers in Bergen, Camden, Hudson and Union Counties.
Energized eight 69,000-volt substations and associated lines. The new networks provide increased local transmission supply capacity to customers across our service area, including many living in Bergen, Burlington, Hudson, Passaic and Union Counties.
In addition to these electric distribution upgrades, phase 2 of the $1.2 billion Bergen to Linden corridor upgrade is fully energized and completed on schedule. This portion represents the upgrade from Bayway station in Elizabeth, to Linden station. When complete in 2018, the 345-kilovolt (kV) line will run from Ridgefield to Linden, maintaining reliability by relieving congestion on other regional transmission lines.
The 2017 forecasted summer peak is 10,057 megawatts. Last year’s peak was 9,800 megawatts, set on August 12. PSE&G’s all-time summer peak was 11,108 megawatts, set on August 2, 2006.
PSE&G expects to have no problem delivering the additional power, but utility crews are at the ready to respond to service interruptions should they occur. The utility’s rigorous preparedness program for summer includes conducting annual hurricane and tropical storm drills, employee training, developing emergency summer operating plans, and performing summer peak reliability analysis, helicopter and climbing inspections of transmission circuits, infrared inspections, system reinforcements and transmission line work.
Ridgewood NJ, once again it looks like the Bergen Record has picked sides and gone down the “rabbit hole” with Councilmen Jeff Voigt and the 3 amigos . In a recent article ,”Email search exposes distrust among Ridgewood council members” ( https://www.northjersey.com/story/news/bergen/ridgewood/2017/05/27/email-search-exposes-distrust-among-ridgewood-council-members/343478001/ ) the Record clearly with the help of former Mayor Paul Aronsohn attempts to miscast the Villages version of the “Mad Hatter” Councilmen Voigt as a victim in the latest OPRA conspiracy .
Aronsohn’s failed political exploits have left him with little room to maneuver, and lots of favors that need repaying ,yet he can still call the Bergen Record his friend . The new owners seems to have fallen for the same nonsense the destroyed the papers credibility in the past. The ridiculous one sided article tries to paint Jeff and his two supporters in town as the victims of an organized effort to harass him with OPRA requests . As usually the Record takes the side of another failed politician over the wishes of the taxpayers and residents .
Residents and taxpayers have every right to OPRA politicians emails period and it both offensive and totally dishonest to suggest otherwise . The reality is like Aronsohn’s 3 Amiogos administration Voight was caught red handed actively undermining his colleagues . It was poor judgement on his part and poorer judgement for the Bergen Record to consort with a 3 times political loser like Aronsohn .
Ridgewood NJ, Both drivers involved in a collision at the intersection of East Glen Avenue and East Saddle River Road, Ridgewood on Thursday afternoon, 05/25, were transported by separate ambulances to The Valley Hospital with non life threatening injuries. Ridgewood Polie, Fire, and EMS units responded. FD personnel attended to a crash related fluid spill. The two (2) wrecked SUVs were removed by tow trucks.
Ridgewood NJ, Mike Just ,Former Pro Baseball Player and Owner of Just Hits in Westwood,NJ, Mike Just, will sign his new book: Just Baseball
Appearing authors will only autograph books purchased at Bookends and must have valid Bookends Receipt.
Availability & pricing for all autographed books subject to change.
First In Line Certificate use is the the discretion of Bookends. Blackout dates may apply.
Bookends cannot guarantee that the books that are Autographed will always be First Printings.
Autographed books purchased at Bookends are non-returnable.
While we try to ensure that all customers coming to Bookends’ signings will meet authors and get their books signed, we cannot guarantee that all attendees will meet the author or that all books will be signed. We cannot control inclement weather, author travel schedules or authors who leave prematurely.
Bookends, 211 E. Ridgewood Avenue, Ridgewood, NJ 07450 201-445-0726
Ridgewood NJ, A teenager who became ill while at the Ramada Rochelle Park and was hospitalized at The Valley Hospital in Ridgewood and was diagnosed with measles, a highly contagious disease, the state health department said Friday.
The 16-year-old, who was traveling in the United States with a tour group from Asia, may have exposed others at those locations between May 12 and 15.
According to Valley the staff took steps to control the spread of infection as soon as the patient arrived last Saturday. The patient arrived at the hospital from 9 a.m. on May 13 until 1 a.m. Sunday, May 14, she said. The health department said exposure may also have occurred on Monday from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Anyone who came in contact with the teenager may develop symptoms as late as June 5.
Measles is spread through contact with an infected person’s mucus or saliva or through the air when someone coughs or sneezes.
If you suspect you were exposed please contact a health provider. Valley is informing all patients who were treated at the hospital during the specific times the patient was there, as well as employees, physicians and volunteers.
Ridgewood NJ, The James Rose Center, a nonprofit landscape research and study foundation, is housed in what was the home of the late landscape architect James Rose.
Unfortunately during a wind storm last year, a large tree uprooted and caused significant damage to the roof garden and adjacent structures . The damage also revealed other structural problems with the home leading to expensive repairs that are necessary to make the property safe.
If you do not know James Rose was a real character . A true iconoclast . Along with Garrett Eckbo and Dan Kiley, James Rose was one of the leaders of the modern movement in American landscape architecture. I had the opportunity to meet him many times in the late 70’s and very early 80’s. He would always make an impression .Love him or hate him , you would never forget him. Rose was known for his out spoken hi-jinks and his cavalier way of making you feel like an idiot. He was brilliant, creative and someone who always thought out side the box. That would however get him in trouble from time to time .I credit him with my appreciation of gardening and landscaping.
I had a landscaping business at the time and he gave me a signed copy of his book , “Gardens Make Me Laugh” which fundamentally altered the way I looked at the world. It is most likely the single most obnoxious gardening book ever written. The off beat book had an over sized influence on my life. The book is loaded with gardening and philosophy antidotes and is also one of the main reasons I was never accepted into the college of my choice . I used the book for all my college essays and apparently admissions offices did not share Mr. Rose’s and my sense of humor. However during my early college days I actually got a job based on the fact that I knew who James Rose was .
His most famous quote , “The problem is you live here” is one of the guiding principles of the Ridgewood blog to this day
To make a donation : https://jamesrosecenter.org/donations/donate/
Ridgewood NJ, Why does the Ridgewood Library have to close on Mother’s Day and Father’s Day? The BCCLS site doesn’t even list those days as library holidays, and they certainly are not. On the Ridgewood Library’s own website, it says May 14th/Sunday/MOTHER’S DAY and June 18th/Sunday/FATHER’S DAY (Maroons Soccer Tournament).” (Actually, it says “Maroon’s”–sadly illiterate for a library. There is only one Maroon?)
What’s the connection–the library has to close because it is ceding the entire parking lot to attendees at a sports event? Does everybody in town care about sports AT ALL? I assure you, they do not.
Here’s the link. It says 2016, but the listings on the page are correct for this year. Somebody failed to update the URL.
Ridgewood NJ, Councilmen Voigt was caught in what appeared to be conspiring with the Alfred P. Doblin ,NorthJersey media from the Bergen Record on Gay Flag issue . Voigt was caught in what looked like an attempt to undermine the council . Sounds like an Aronsohn move.
A reader commented , “Wedge issue, Voigt just fed his council colleagues a cr** sandwich. They willingly ate it and will now need to live with the electoral consequences. Snap prediction: neither Knudsen nor Sedon will end up running for re-election. Four members of the Council just revealed themselves as soft-minded, and the fifth, a devious alinskyite and a dedicated Aronsohn-style progressive. What a disaster.”
Reader says, “He doesn’t have the chops for this and ought to resign. Machiavelli would have deplored his childish outbursts and petulant behavior. Last night, outraged at having been discovered in his supposedly secret machinations that were actually on the public record because he used his official email address, he stormed out of the building before the closed session, probably to the relief of the other four council members who were about discuss items such as…bullying. Jeff, you’re demonstrating precisely the attitudes and alliances we feared. The years when three good council candidates must be found are tough! We did the best we could in 2016, but it wasn’t good enough.”
VILLAGE OF RIDGEWOOD VILLAGE COUNCIL REGULAR PUBLIC MEETING
MAY 10, 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
National Cancer Survivors Day
Emergency Medical Services Week
Proclaim May as Mental Health Month
Proclaim May as Older Americans Month
Proclaim June as Gay Pride Month
Proclaim June 2nd as National Gun Violence Awareness Day
Comments from the Public (Not to exceed 3 minutes per person – 40 minutes in total)
Scoping Hearing – Green Acres Diversion on South
Broad Street
Adoption of Ordinance 3592 – Establish a CAP Bank
2017 Budget Hearing
Overview of 2017 Budget
Village Council’s Comments
Public Hearing on 2017 Budget
Resolution 17-126 Adopt 2017 Budget
Village Manager’s Report
Village Council Reports
ORDINANCES – INTRODUCTION – RIDGEWOOD WATER-NONE
ORDINANCES – PUBLIC HEARING – RIDGEWOOD WATER-NONE
RESOLUTIONS – RIDGEWOOD WATER
THE FOLLOWING RESOLUTION, NUMBERED 17-127, WILL BE ADOPTED BY A CONSENT AGENDA, WITH ONE VOTE BY THE VILLAGE COUNCIL. THERE IS A BRIEF DESCRIPTION BESIDE THE RESOLUTION TO BE CONSIDERED ON THE CONSENT AGENDA. THE RESOLUTION WILL BE READ BY TITLE ONLY:
17-127 Award Professional Services Contract – Engineering Services for Suez Corrosion Control (NTE $15,000) – Awards a Professional Services Contract to Mott MacDonald, 111 Wood Avenue South, Iselin, NJ
ORDINANCES – INTRODUCTION
3599 – Amend Chapter 260 – Trees and Shrubs – Establishes rules and regulations for the planting and removal of trees on both public and private properties
3600 – Amend Chapter 212 – Parks and Recreation Areas – Prohibition of Dogs Off-Leash in Certain Parks – Prohibits dogs who are off-leash in both the Irene Habernickel Family Park and the Schedler Park Property
ORDINANCES – PUBLIC HEARING
3593 – General Capital Ordinance ($6,241,000)
3594 – Water Utility Capital Ordinance ($5,745,500) 3595 – Parking Utility Capital Ordinance ($210,000)
3596 – Amend Chapter 265 – Vehicles and Traffic – Parking Restrictions – Bogert Avenue and Cambridge Road
3597 – Amend Chapter 265 – Vehicles and Traffic – Parking Restrictions – Pomander Walk
3598 – Construction of Handicapped Ramp at Irene Habernickel Family Park ($70,000)
RESOLUTIONS
THE FOLLOWING RESOLUTIONS, NUMBERED 17-128 THROUGH
17-139 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:
17-128 Title 59 Approval- Replacement of Firehouse Roof – Approves the plans and specifications for Roof Replacement at the Main Fire House, 201 East Glen Avenue in the Village of Ridgewood prepared by the Engineering Division, pursuant to Title 59
17-129 Award Contract – Replacement of Firehouse Roof (NTE $126,760) – Awards a contract to the lowest responsible bidder, NDP Construction, LLC, 200 White Road, Suite 207, Little Silver, NJ
17-130 Title 59 Approval – School Bus Transportation Services – Approves the plans and specifications for School Bus Transportation Services prepared by the Parks and Recreation Department, pursuant to Title 59
17-131 Award Contract – Rebid of School Bus Transportation Services – Day Camp (NTE $21,000) – Awards a contract to the lowest responsible bidder, Durham School Services, 248 Goffle Road, Hawthorne, NJ
17-132 Award Contract Under County Contract – Rock Salt (NTE $56.86/ton) – Awards a contract under County Contract to Mid-American Salt, LLC, 4528 Hillegas Road, Fort Wayne, IN
17-133 Authorize Additional Funding for Special Attorney for RCRD Lawsuit (NTE $15,000) – Awards an additional $15,000 for the Special Attorney in the RCRD Lawsuit, Peter Scandariato of Eastwood, Scandariato, & Steinberg, 336 President Street, Saddle Brook, NJ
17-134 Authorize Application – Designate Graydon Park – Historic Designation – Authorizing application to Historic Preservation Office of the State of New Jersey to add Graydon Park to the State and National Registers of Historic Places
17-135 Authorize Shared Services Agreement – Borrowing of County Equipment (Bergen County) – Authorizes a Shared Services agreement with Bergen County for the sharing of emergency and non-emergency equipment
17-136 Suspension of Ordinance for Certain Illuminated Signs – Suspends the ordinance for certain illuminated signs in the Central Business District until December 31, 2017
17-137 Approve Encroachment Agreement – The Office Restaurant – 32-34 Chestnut Street – Approves an Encroachment Agreement for a canopy over the doorway of The Office Restaurant which extends over the Village’s sidewalk and is minor in nature. Also authorizes the Mayor and Village Manager to sign the Encroachment Agreement.
17-138 Authorize Addition of World War I Ridgewood Resident Veteran Killed in Action to Memorial Plaque – Authorizes the addition of the name of Anthonie J. Wendels, a Ridgewood resident, who was an Army Veteran killed in action in World War I, to the plaque at Memorial Park at Van Neste Square. Also authorizes the Village to pay the cost of doing so.
17-139 Recognize the Designated Public Forum Space in Memorial Park at Van Nest Square – Display of the Gay Pride Flag – Designating the Public Forum space in Memorial Park at Van Neste Square, resolving to display the Gay Pride Flag for all of June 2017 in recognition of Gay Pride Month.
Comments from the Public (Not to Exceed 5 minutes per person)
Resolution to go into Closed Session
Closed Session
A. Legal – COAH, Valley Hospital
B. Personnel – Appointments to Boards and Committees; Appointments of Professionals
C. Contract Negotiations – Consideration of Purchase of Property 24. Adjournment
Ridgewood NJ, Daniel Fishbein, Ed.D. Superintendent of Schools comments on the Ridgewood Board of Education $105 million budget :
Spring is a time of abundance, with buckets of rain, sprouts of new foliage and flowers and pollen, and oh yes, the realities of tax returns and in the case of school districts, budgets. Each year the Ridgewood Board of Education works hard to develop a budget for the following school year that provides for our exceptional instructional and co-curricular programs, as well as the maintenance and operations of our facilities. The budget for the 2017-18 school year, which was approved on May 1 by the Board of Education, allots approximately $105 million to maintain our excellent staff, uphold our rigorous academic offerings, and support new initiatives. Next year’s budget will allow us to add new staff, maintain and upgrade instructional technology equipment, implement a new K-5 Science curriculum and other new or revised courses at the middle and high school levels, launch full-day Kindergarten and undertake a variety of renovation projects around the district. The numbers tell the story. The excellence of our academic, athletic, arts and social/emotional programs in our elementary, middle and high schools is regularly proven by the consistent high reach that our students achieve in nationally recognized programs and tests. Statistics from Ridgewood High School – high ranking by US News and World Report – exemplify how we excel as a district. Our students perform very well on all measures, having for example, seven finalists, nine semi-finalists and 70 commended students in the National Merit Scholarship program over the last two years. In the SAT and ACT, our class of 2016 performed at a very high level. SAT ACT RHS 1759 26 NJ 1520 23.1 USA 1490 21 On the AP exams, over 80 percent of our students scored 3 or higher and 134 students were named AP Scholars by the College Boards. Over 95 percent of our Class of 2016 pursued a college or university education this past fall, with 84 percent of their chosen schools classified as competitive, more competitive, or most competitive. And while academics are extremely important, excellence requires breadth in programming. We also provide a very full range of co-curricular and extra-curricular programs that includes fantastic fine and performing arts programs, 29 very successful sports programs and over 100 clubs and activities. Excellence has a price. Simply stated, our ability to offer the variety and depth of services and programs and make an impact in our students’ lives requires a budget of $105 million dollars. The standard of excellence for Ridgewood students is a costly endeavor, yet an excellent investment in their future. In fact, the State of New Jersey has determined that the 2016-2017 per-pupil cost of a Ridgewood education is $15,119, which is a relatively low per-pupil expenditure when compared to our neighboring districts and others across the state. Let’s take a look:
Bergen Academies: 27,852 Northern Valley — Old Tappan / Demarest:19,964 Princeton: 19,964 Ramapo/Indian Hills: 19,479 Teaneck: 9,922 Tenafly: 17,049 State of New Jersey: 15,714 We couldn’t do it without you. Especially as the majority of the budget is funded by our resident taxpayers, you might want to know that next year’s cost to homeowners is an additional yearly increase of $11 per $100,000 assessed home value. As a reference point, the average assessed Ridgewood home of $696,093 will see a tax increase of $76.56. It is important for me to say thank you for your continued support of our schools, programs and students. The Ridgewood community is a critical partner in our mission of excellence, from the budget that you support through taxes, to the co-curricular and extra-curricular programs that cannot exist without the additional funds that you regularly raise through parent organizations such as HSAs, Booster clubs, individuals and organizations. We are also particularly fortunate and grateful to our large organizational donors such as The Foundation and The Valley Hospital, hose large gifts supplement the budget and help ensure our ability to enhance our schools and the educational experience of every Ridgewood student. We want to hear from you. It’s great that I often receive emails or phone calls from residents who have questions, suggestions and, yes, even criticisms on day-to-day and larger issues affecting the Ridgewood Public Schools. I always welcome that one-on-one dialogue. This year, we are also seeking more formal feedback from our parents and guardians, who’ll be e-mailed our biennial satisfaction survey on May 8. We do this survey every two years to gather data on how we are doing in our schools and as a district. Our last survey in 2015 received a 35.6% response rate, and while this number is very good, we want to beat it this year. Please know that your input is important and valued, so I do hope you will take a few minutes to complete the survey when it arrives in your inbox. Soon the rains will stop, the flowers will be in full bloom and we’ll be relaxing in our yards and enjoying the green spaces in our beautiful village. However, the grass isn’t growing under our feet! We are already planning for the 2017-2018 school year, when will welcome the inaugural full-day kindergarten class… the future RHS Class of 2030! Ouch… that number hurts! As always, please feel free to contact me with your questions or concerns
Ridgewood NJ, Westside Presbyterian Church in Ridgewood will be the venue for a choral spectacular of 200 voices from four New Jersey choruses, as the Orpheus Club Men’s Chorus presents Carl Orff’s masterpiece “Carmina Burana.” The concert will be given on Sunday, June 11, 2017 at 2:00 pm.
Conducted by John J. Palatucci, the Orpheus Club Men’s Chorus will be joined in the performance by the Summit Chorale of Summit, NJ, the Columbia High School Chorus of South Orange, NJ, and the J. P. Stevens High School Chorus of Edison, NJ.
Tickets for the concert are $20 in advance and $25 at the door. Advance purchase of tickets may be made online at the Orpheus Club’s website, www.ridgewoodorpheusclub.org
The Orpheus Club Men’s Chorus has been a keystone of the cultural life of the tri-state region for 108 years. Founded in 1909, it is the oldest cultural institution in all of Bergen County. Now fifty voices strong, it is directed by John J. Palatucci and accompanied by pianist Ron Levy.
The Summit Chorale too can trace its lineage to 1909, founded as the Summit Choral Society. It has delighted central New Jersey audiences over the years, never more so than today under the hand of music director Dr. Thomas Juneau and accompanist Beth Robin. The Columbia High School Chorus of South Orange, NJ, performs under the musical direction of Jamie Bunce, and the J. P. Stevens High School Chorus of Edison, NJ. performs under the musical direction of Matthew Lee.
This concert is made possible in part by a grant administered by the Bergen County Division of the Cultural and Historic Affairs from funds granted by the New Jersey State Council on the Arts.
Friday, May 12th
West Side Presbyterian Church
Ridgewood, New Jersey
7:30pm
Prelude Performance
West Milford High School Wind Ensemble
8:00pm
Ridgewood Concert Band
Featuring:
Youth Soloist Competition Winner Saxophonist Christopher Mantell
and “Side By Side” High School Musicians
Program Highlights:
Angels in the Architecture – Frank Ticheli
Pineapple Poll – Sir Arthur Sullivan
Sun Dance – Frank Ticheli
Rhosymedre – Ralph Vaughan Williams
Ridgewood NJ, Spring is the season of renewal. Plants and trees start to rebound from the harsh winter that claimed most of their leaves and vegetation. Birds return from their Southern vacations, serenade us with their morning songs and rebuild their nests in preparation for new arrivals.
Unfortunately, there is another renewal that many people don’t look forward to in the spring: the return of hay fever season along with symptoms such as sneezing and sniffling that can give you sleepless nights.
In an allergy survey conducted by HayMax (www.haymax.us), 92 percent of respondents said their hay fever symptoms affect their work, school or daily routine, which includes sleep patterns.
“The trick to sleeping well when you suffer from hay fever is to reduce the amount of pollen getting into your body at night,” says Max Wiseberg, creator of HayMax Allergen Barrier Balm.
People can tolerate a certain amount of pollen without reaction, he says, but once this amount is exceeded – called the trigger level – hay fever symptoms start to occur. Stay below this level at night, you won’t get the symptoms and your sleep won’t be affected. Go above it and that’s when the trouble starts.
Wiseberg offers a few tips on how to avoid reaching that trigger level, allowing you to rest easy at night.
Keep bedding and fabrics clean. Vacuum the house regularly, especially beds and fabrics, such as bed covers and curtains, to remove pollen, dust and pet allergen particles. Wash bedding regularly to remove allergens and dry them indoors rather than on a clothes line to prevent pollen particles being blown onto them by the wind.
Keep the house closed from the outside world. Close windows and use an air conditioner, preferably with a HEPA (High Efficiency Particle Arresting) filter to capture pollen and dust particles, as well as cool and circulate the air.
Have a nightly routine before bed.Shower at night before sleeping to remove pollen particles and pet hair from your hair and body. Clear the nasal passages with water, or use a saline nasal spray, to clear pollen from the nose. Finally, apply an allergen barrier balm to the nostrils and around the bones of the eyes to trap pollen, dust and pet allergens before they enter the body.
Ensure that pets are well groomed. If you own a pet, shampoo it as much as possible to remove pet allergens and pollen particles, or ban it from the bedroom completely.
“Loss of sleep because of hay fever is very significant, as it can impact how a person functions the next day at school or at work,” Wiseberg says. “The effect of sleep deprivation on productivity and health loses costs companies billions of dollars each year.”
About Max Wiseberg
Max Wiseberg is the creator of HayMax™ (www.haymax.us), a natural, organic balm that traps allergens when applied to the nostrils. As a lifelong hay fever sufferer, he was inspired to develop the balm when other allergy remedies didn’t work for him. Wiseberg, born and raised in Manchester, UK, regularly writes for newspapers, magazines and blogs on the subject of allergies and airborne allergens, and has appeared on TV and radio.
