Tag: Ridgewood Village Hall

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Shifting to a Full-Day Kindergarten Program in Ridgewood

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FAQ: Shifting to a Full-Day Kindergarten Program in Ridgewood

● Why is the District considering a full-day program after years of a successful half-day program?

○ The definition of success has shifted with the times, and although Ridgewood has a high-quality Kindergarten program, it is rushed and lacks adequate time for structured socialization and free play. Students who encounter more structured play around learning will better internalize that learning because at this age, play is how children learn. Additionally, social skills such as executive functioning and self-regulation of behavior are learned through play, often which is unstructured. A half-day program does not allow time for these essential learning opportunities for our students.

● How will the curriculum of a full-day program differ from that of the half-day program?

○ A full-time program will include more time for learning centers, which are essentially structured play experiences designed to reinforce conceptual learning. Additionally, more time will be dedicated to free-play centers, in which students make up rules to self-created games and make-believe. This free-play socialization will be supervised by, not structured by, adults. Another change to the day is that students will remain in school for lunch and will have snack and extended time for key content such as shared reading and writing.

● What would be the daily schedule and hours of a full-day program?

○ Kindergarten will run on the same schedule as the other grades in the school (8:30 a.m. – 3 p.m.). A daily schedule for the full-day program was shared with the Board of Education and the public at the June 28, 2016 Board meeting. That presentation can be found in the Board of Education Presentations folder on the Curriculum page of the district website at www.ridgewood.k12.nj.us.

● How many other districts still have half-day Kindergarten programs?

○ Ridgewood is the only half-day program left in Bergen County. There are very few districts left in the state with a half-day program. The most common Kindergarten programs offer five full-days of school.  Those districts which were half-day have mostly moved to full-day programs in the last five years.  In 2014, 73% of programs statewide were full-day. The percentage was even higher in Bergen County, where 65 out of 72 districts (about 90%) offered full day programs. Since 2014, Glen Rock, Fairlawn, Rutherford, Mahwah, Waldwick and Midland Park have moved to fullday Kindergarten.  The Ramsey Kindergarten program consists of an optional, fee-based enrichment extended-day program, which the vast majority of children attend. Allendale, Franklin Lakes and Wyckoff have programs consisting of two halfdays / three full days, a model that is not very popular and the implementation cost is equal to that of a traditional full-day program.

● Would parents be required to enroll their children for the entire day if Ridgewood moved to full-day Kindergarten?

○ Yes, if the Ridgewood Public School district shifts to a full-day Kindergarten program, all enrolled students will be registered for five full days each week.

● Where will Kindergarten children eat lunch?

○ This will be a building-by-building decision, based on space and what the principal deems best for the program in their building.

● Will Kindergarten students have recess with all other students and how will their recess be supervised? ○ Kindergarten students would have more than one “recess” play time in their schedule. The schedule, location, and supervision of that recess would depend on individual building schedules. However, in all buildings the recess/lunch period of 45 minutes would be extended to one hour for Kindergarten students. Classroom teachers would supervise the additional 15 minutes at the end of recess to settle students down and prepare them for afternoon learning sessions.

● What are the anticipated class sizes for a full-day program? ○ Kindergarten class sizes would follow the Ridgewood Board of Education guidelines of 18 to 22 children per classroom.

● Can the district facilities / physical spaces accommodate full-day Kindergarten?

○ In November 2015 demographic consultant Ross Haber presented to the Board of Education the results of an enrollment and facility utilization study in which all of the Ridgewood elementary principals participated by discussing their buildings and classroom space. The report shows that over the last three years the district has seen a decrease in enrollment and indicates that our elementary schools can accommodate full-day Kindergarten. The demographer’s report is available for reading in the Fullday Kindergarten Exploratory Committee folder on the Curriculum, Instruction and Assessment page of the district website at www.ridgewood.k12.nj.us.

● How will the decision be made to move to full-day Kindergarten in Ridgewood?

○ On General Election Day, Tuesday, November 8, Ridgewood voters will be asked to approve full-day Kindergarten in the District. This vote will be done in the form of a “second question” on the ballot. All residents who are registered voters may participate. Voter registration forms may be found at on the Bergen County website at https://www.co.bergen.nj.us/DocumentCenter/View/1224.

● What is the purpose of a second question on a ballot?

○ A second question can only be placed on the ballot when a school district is asking for something new, such as full-day Kindergarten or a new program. Since the costs of these additional services and associated personnel can exceed the state-imposed two percent cap on budget increases, the public must vote on them.

● What would be the tax impact on a “yes” vote for the second question on full-day Kindergarten?

○ If full-day Kindergarten is passed by the voters, the average Village assessed home of $693,904 would have taxes increased by approximately $111.

● Is there any possibility that the State will require districts to provide full-day Kindergarten?

○ This is not known at this time.

● Where can I go for more information on full-day Kindergarten in Ridgewood?

○ The Full-day Kindergarten Exploratory folder may be found on the Curriculum, Instruction and Assessment page of the district website at www.ridgewood.k12.nj.us.

Revised August 23, 2016

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Ridgewood teachers supported Obamacare and now they want taxpayers to pay for more of the annual “platinum” health benefit premiums?

REA Members come out to greet our Board of Ed

These teachers supported Obamacare and now they want taxpayers to pay for more of the annual “platinum” health benefit premiums? Maybe the teachers should read today’s WSJ article looking at growth in middle-class families’ share of overall healthcare spending, which is growing larger, and squeezing households already feeling stretched financially. The article notes that by 2014, middle-income households’ healthcare spend was 25% higher than what they were spending before the recession, with these households cutting back sharply on more discretionary categories such as dining out and clothing. It adds that rising out-of-pocket costs combined with slow economic growth and years of tepid wage growth in the private sector pose risks for an economy in which consumer spending accounts for more than two-thirds of overall output. So why do the teachers expect that taxpayers in Ridgewood will just forever subsidizing more of their health benefits, which are already better than the deal in the private sector?

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Ridgewood trustees, teachers remain at odds as school year looms

REA, ridgewoood teachers

BY STEVE JANOSKI
STAFF WRITER |
THE RECORD

RIDGEWOOD — The failure of a state-appointed super-conciliator to resolve a 19-month-long labor dispute between the Board of Education and district teachers union has left local officials and union heads considering their next move.

Disagreements over several issues — including salaries, proposed changes in the union insurance plan and how much the Ridgewood Education Association’s 547 members should contribute toward their health insurance premiums — have contributed to a breakdown in the negotiations, which began five months before the last contract expired on June 30, 2015.

https://www.northjersey.com/news/ridgewood-trustees-teachers-remain-at-odds-as-school-year-looms-1.1651097

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Ridgewood Central Business District ,the good , the bad and the ugly

CBD Ridgewood by ArtChick

photo by ArtChick

August 27,2016
the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, Several readers continue to claim the “Majority” of residents are against all development. Its nice to see that Ridgewood residents have now graduated to a “Majority” from gadfly, loud mouth ,minority status.

Reader says , “I think it is time to look around at all the empty stores in Ridgewood and realize there is a need to revamp the CBD. Soon all the shops will move to malls and replaced by housing; think…..is that what you want? Someone, most likely a shop keeper , is going to come up with ideas to improve the town, what is the problem. Make your own suggestions, welcome those of other residents, and have a discussion rather than complain. Get real people you are losing your central business district!”

Shops moved to malls in the 1970’s , and shopping has moved online since 1994 when Al Gore discovered the internet .

If you are worried about empty stores talk to the landlords not tax payers.  The simple fact is that tax payers are not responsible for a companies business plans. What I would suggest is that in this day and age stores need to make themselves destination businesses ie like Bookends and The Tobacco Shop of Ridgewood & Davidoff Lounge .  Retailers also need to build an online presence , websites, social media , press releases and they need to tell their story ; think why would I want to go here when I have to pay for parking? This is one of the reasons there are so many great restaurants in Ridgewood ,chefs have great stories to tell.

My biggest suggestion for Ridgewood merchants is to be open more hours. No one is home by 5pm. I can not tell you how many businesses have opened and closed that I have never seen open. The fact is most people who can afford to live in Ridgewood need to work a lot or hours , anywhere from 65 -80 hours per week and odd hours early am to late pm. So merchants need to develop strategies ,be it home or Train station delivery or open by appointment what ever it takes that is the new reality.

Destroying Van Nest Square will do nothing to help business and will most likely hurt business as much or more than the so called “traffic easing” ,that now backs traffic up into Midland Park. Making access to the almost CBD impossible from the West side of Town .

Another reader says, “James, you’re ignoring the facts. What is worth preserving of the old car dealers, old Town Garage and its toxic site, etc? What about all the empty shops and gold pawn shops? Why is this worth preserving? The majority rule wants to keep the status quo… which clearly isn’t working.”

First I was only posting comments and turning them into posts , so how exactly is destroying Van Nest square going to get rid of old car dealers,a toxic site, gold pawn shops and empty stores ? This maybe your problem you keep wanting to fix things that are not broken yet you ignore all the things that need fixing ? The solutions have to fit the problems. If the Village wants to clean up a toxic site it needs to take the steps to clean it up, not build a parking lot.

Now in New York City developers who wish to build non-conforming structures can often make a deal with the city by adding to public spaces, fixing subways or adding and maintaining new plantings.  In New Jersey we socialize the investment ie taxpayer funded yet we capitalize the profits. So taxpayers pay and developers make the money. Another words Ridgewood taxpayers build a parking garage so developers can reduce the amount of parking they offer and save money. and thus the continued rejection of a parking garage.

Now what you should be asking yourself is how could a bureaucratic organization like NJT fix the train trestle, raise the tracks , and renovate the train station while preserving and improving its historic nature in a relatively short amount of time. How could New Jersey Transit do all that yet Valley Hospital , a handful of developers, and a cadre of council members could not get anything done at all what so ever. NJT was willing to work with the town ,meet objections compromise and get the job done.

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Major Milling and Paving Project Starts Monday in Ridgewood

Road_work_theridgewoodblog

TRAFFIC ALERT – MILLING AND PAVING ON VILLAGE ROADS

August 28,2016

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, In preparation for road paving, on Monday, August 29th milling and paving  will begin on Kenilworth Road, Linwood Avenue (between Oak and Maple) and Robinson Lane (between Walnut and Cottage ).  This work could take several days.

Please allow time for potential delays in  traveling on or near these roads.

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September 1st Marks the End of Ridgewood Waters Stage 1 Restrictions

ridgewood water

August 26,2016

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, a reader reminds us that sprinkler controls can be reset as of midnight next Wednesday (or just after your last “sprinkle” occurs before then): “Stage I will be in effect each year starting on June 1st and will continue through August 31st.”

https://water.ridgewoodnj.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=51&Itemid=75

The September 1 square on this year’s village calendar states that restrictions end that day. (This year’s calendar omitted a start date altogether after getting it wrong for at least a couple of years, stating that it was May 1. “Janet Fricke IS the village calendar.” –R. Sonenfeld at a recent council meeting. Maybe not something to be proud of?)

The reader goes on to say , “Water Dept or Village Manager could conceivably extend the end date, but if so, I believe it would be for the first time in history.”

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NJ Monthly rankings for 2016 – Ridgewood Schools are not in top 30

REA Members come out to greet our Board of Ed

August 27,2016

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, NJ Monthly rankings for 2016 – Ridgewood isn’t in top 30 – Why the hell should we pay these teachers more money?

https://scontent.fewr1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/14117892_10210070329289863_8195586293092428623_n.jpg?oh=6c1cddeaddf98d029b96414b73ce90a3&oe=5859C561

Reader says ,” High school teachers are now unaccountably sabotaging their own students’ grades. As in, the grades of every student in the class. This has been plenty nasty for a while now and the upcoming school year promises fresh outrage from teachers and administrators, adults chronologically, behaving like children.”

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Reader says Same Group Behind the Garage is Behind Destroying Van Neste Square in Ridgewood

abraham godwin ridgewood

Paul Vaggianos was the first to get up at the mic at a town council meeting a year or two ago and ask that Van Neste be changed to accommodate lighting at night and entertainment every weekend.

Vaggianos said, “Let’s bring everyone together at Van Nest on the weekends.”

I obviously remember that. I was very saddened by his suggestion. Paul Aronsohn as mayor at the time was very receptive. I spoke against the idea at council meetings. I tried. I love Van Neste as a quiet park as it is now, an oasis of calm and beauty midst the busy downtown. Very charming invention!! Let’s keep it that way. Paul Vaggianos was happy with the big garage at Hudson. I wasn’t and wrote and spoke against it from day one. Vaggianos is a business owner in town and has influence , I have no influence. I think it would be wonderful to preserve Ridgewood a for future generations to experience, no expansion, not more congested. A town with easy accessibility to the Big Apple but with a small town charming quality. And yes, Van Neste is a big part of that as it is right in the center of the CBD. It says something by virtue of letting people experience of oasis of natural beauty and quiet in the midst of the hustle and bustle of a busy but small and charming downtown. ( I love that oasis ……sentence I made up)

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Police report a series of incidents involving parked cars in Ridgewood

Ridgewood _police_theridgewoodblog

file photos by Boyd Loving

August 26,2016

the staff of the Ridgewood

Ridgewood NJ, Ridgewood Police report a series of unrelated incidents involving parked cars in Ridgewood .Ptl. S. Amoruso responded to North Pleasant Avenue on 8/10/16 to investigate a criminal mischief in the past. Upon arrival the resident reported an unknown person damaged a parked motor vehicle by egging and scratching the vehicle. The cost of repairing the damage is unknown at this time

On 8/14/16 Ptl. S. Amoruso responded to Ackerman Avenue to investigate a criminal mischief. Upon arrival it was reported an unknown person threw a rock through the rear window of a parked vehicle. The cost of repairing the damage is unknown at this time.

On 8/20/16 a Butler, N.J. resident reported a burglary and theft from a motor vehicle while it was parked in Ridgewood Duck Pond. An unknown actor did force entry into the vehicle by damaging the rear window and removing personal property from within. The Bergen County Sheriff’s Department requested our assistance with their investigation.

A Richards Road resident responded to police headquarters on 8/22/16 to report a theft from a motor vehicle in the past. The victim reported discovering personal items missing from her motor vehicle upon arriving at the Ridgewood Library parking lot but is unsure of where the theft occurred.

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Reader says What happened to peace and quiet? You can’t even just sit on a park bench any more without acres of concrete?

Village of Ridgewood

Park is SMALL. Stop filling everything up. A stage when not in use (i.e., 99% of the time) would co-opt open space. We need more of it, not less. Everybody seems to think their kids are future Broadway stars. Get with the program–amateur performances are for the performers. Noise in the middle of town would just drive people away. What happened to peace and quiet? You can’t even just sit on a park bench any more without acres of concrete? Even sitting in the dark on a summer night is nice. No need for Klieg lights. How about Strobes?

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Three More Cases of Identity Theft in Ridgewood

Nigerian scam michael-scott-

August 25,2016

the staff of the Ridgewood

Ridgewood NJ, the Ridgewood Police report on 8/19/16 a South Broad Street resident responded to police headquarters to report a fraud in the past. The victim reported an unknown person applied for an Amazon credit card utilizing his personal information but was denied.

A Beechwood Road resident responded to police headquarters to report an incident which occurred in February 2016 when an unknown person attempted to file a tax return utilizing the victim’s personal identity fraudulently. The victim reported several months later he received a notice from Discover Card regarding a bank account being opened and most recently he received a notice from PNC Bank that an unknown person was attempting to change the address on his current accounts. The victim reported the IRS and credit bureaus have been notified of the fraudulent incidents.

An East Ridgewood Avenue resident reported the theft of impersonation on 8/20/16. The victim reported an unknown person fraudulently opened three separate accounts between 12/1/15 and 8/8/16. The victim reported a Victoria Secret account was opened in Orlando, Florida, a Sprint Mobile account was opened in Tennessee and a third fraudulent account was a Paypal account opened in August 2016. The victim was provided a Ridgewood Police identity theft fact sheet.

The Ridgewood Police Department would like to remind citizens of the increased amount of scams. Always investigate communications made through postal mail, telephone, and/or the internet to prevent fraud and deceptive activity. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact the Ridgewood Police Department to ensure you’re not becoming a victim of these scams.

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Reader says Well guess what , RIDGEWOOD THE PARTY’S OVER!

REA, ridgewoood teachers

The time has long passed for pleasantries. And don’t fool yourself thinking that this blowback directed at the volunteers is uncalled for. To think that someone like Gail was donating her time because she was giving back is laughable. Look at the connections, connect the dots. It’s pretty simple to see the payday just a we bit over the horizon. As far as the over paid / over pensioned lot it’s been a long time coming…people have HAD IT with the continued abuse in the form of over taxation and as soon as I complain about a $100MM school budget or the local FD/PD taking a 100K pension after 20 I get some union lackey putting his foot up my arse because “its only fair”.
Well guess what? PARTY’S OVER.

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New flag pole is installed at the Ridgewood Post Office

Ridgewood POst Office new falg pole

photo courtesy Ridgewood police

August 25,2016

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ,Patrolman Patrick Elwood assists with traffic as a new flag pole is installed at the Ridgewood Post Office this morning. The new flag pole replaces the original flag pole installed in 1937.

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Ridgewood’s Gold Star Mother’s Day Commemoration

goldstar_mothers-day_theridgewoodblog

August 25th 2016
the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, On Sunday, September 25, 2016 our Nation honors our Gold Star Mothers and families. The Presidential Proclamation in 2011 commemorating this day pronounces, “As members of a grateful Nation, we owe a debt we can never repay, but hold this sacred obligation forever in our hearts, minds, and actions. We honor their sacrifice, and stand with our service members, military families, and Gold Star families as they have stood for us.”

The American Legion Post 53 and Ridgewood NJ’s Blue Star Families are committed to bringing awareness to our community and to commemorate the sacrifices these mothers and their families have made for our Country.In the aftermath of World War I, Washington D.C. resident Grace Darling Seibold formed an organization called Gold Star Mothers to support the moms who had lost sons and daughters to the war. Grace’s son, First Lieutenant George Vaughn Seibold, was an aviator killed in combat over France in 1918. In 1928, the small D.C.-based group decided to nationalize its efforts. In 1936, a joint congressional resolution established the last Sunday in September as

Gold Star Mother’s Day. The Gold Star Mothers grew from a support group of 60 women to today’s extensive nationwide network with tens of thousands of members and hundreds of local chapters.

In Ridgewood, NJ the Gold Star Mother’s Day Committee will sponsor our fourth annualevent commemorating Gold Star Mother’s Day on Sunday, September 25, 2016. There will be a short ceremony starting promptly at 7:00 p.m. and hundreds of luminaries will be lit to honor Gold Star Mothers and their families. But in addition, our goal is to see thousands of other luminaries lit throughout Ridgewood and other towns on September 27th to honor the Gold Star Mothers and families!

Luminaries will be available for a donation before the ceremony at the following

location:

Residence of Bob Paoli, Commander American Legion Post #53,at 368 N. Pleasant Avenue, Ridgewood, NJ. 07450

Call 201-445-1738 to arrange time to pickup

Everyone also can stand with us in honoring the Gold Star Mothers and families by

helping to raise awareness through:

 talking to your family, friends, and neighbors about the event;

 joining us at Van Neste Park; and,

 supporting this event with a donation (please make checks payable to the American

Legion Post #53, write “Gold Star event” on the memo line, and send it to the American Legion Post #53, P.O. Box 1525, Ridgewood, NJ 07450).

Thank you for your support and cooperation,/s/ Ridgewood, NJ Gold Star Mother’s Day Committee.

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How about Changing things that are Broken in Ridgewood instead of what is not

Abraham Godwin Ridgewood
August 25,2016
the staff of the Ridgewood blog

“Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it”  George Santayana

Ridgewood NJ, by destroying Village history and discarding those who made sacrifices in our past are we not trampling on the very foundations of what made the Village of Ridgewood ,the Village of Ridgewood?

There are hundreds of commemorative bricks in Van Neste Memorial Park and large commemorative markers associated with the 1995 restoration project, are we so willing to disregard the people and the past ?

And if you are willing to sacrifice the past,who’s decision is it anyway ? A Village employee trying to make political points?
History is what makes you who you are. In Van Neste Square there is a memorial dedicated to Abraham Godwin. Abraham Godwin was born July 16, 1763. He was a Soldier, Statesman, artist, poet, engraver, and a very talented musician. As a soldier Abraham went to Fishkill joining his brother, Captain Henry Godwin’s regiment, the Fifth of the Line, January 17, 1777, as a fife major. The regiment was ordered to Fort Montgomery to lay the chain across the Hudson River. He was in the Governor’s life guard at Schenectady protecting the frontier at Lake Otsego under General Sullivan during the Finger Lakes campaign and at Yorktown, where he witnessed the surrender of Cornwallis to Washington.

Before Ridgewood got its name, it was called Godwinville in his honor. Godwin Avenue is now named after him. There are various other war memorials in Van Neste Square as well.

No one is against “change” but why is it the politicians always look to “fix” things that are not broken ? Why must we always “change” the good but never change the bad?
Why must we destroy and denigrate our history but put up with a “3rd world water system” ? If your looking for change how about changing Ridgewood Water instead, so we do not have water restrictions every summer?

Reader says Brigadier General Abraham Godwin should be the Patron Saint of this blog
https://theridgewoodblog.net/reader-says-brigadier-general-abraham-godwin-should-be-the-paitron-saint-of-this-blog/