Ridgewood NJ, According to a story in Philly.com, New Jersey is one of the leading exporters of college students. The website quotes the National Center for Education Statistics in that, in 2016, 31,561 high school graduates left New Jersey for college, while only a mere 4,299 came to New Jersey from other states.
That flight is the largest net loss of students in the country. The New Jersey Business and Industry Association points out that New Jersey taxpayers pay an average of $20,000 per student per year for K-12 education, and, when students leave for college they often don’t come back.
Philly.com pointed out several possible reasons for the exodus for this: the lack of a major city to attract young people, the cost of higher education in New Jersey (the fourth most expensive in the nation), and the availability of many colleges in neighboring states. The problem has caught the attention of legislators, too; the commissioned a study to identify why only 45% of New Jersey students stay in state for college.
Hackensack NJ, New Jersey is home to about 900,000 residents who are not United States citizens . That’ equals about 1 in 10 people in the state, according to most recent estimates. Census figures put Ridgewood’s non-citizen population at about 2,000, or approximately 8 percent of the village’s 25,500 residents.
The Ridgewood Public Library even hosts six-week program meets twice weekly for 90-minute classes. It uses the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services booklet “Learn About the United States, Quick Civic Lessons for the Naturalization Test.”
The federal government is planning to have the 2020 Census ask people their citizenship status. Many elected officials and community advocates say such a question could threaten federal funding for states like New Jersey.
The simple solution would be to create more US citizens in order to safe guard Federal Funds .
The next Census Day is set for April 1, 2020, and a 2017 release from the U.S. Census Bureau identified the date for wording of all Census questions to be submitted to Congress as March 31 of this year. So for those fighting for a question on citizenship status to be excluded, the clock has been ticking for months already.
To give you an idea of the magnitude of the issue the Ridgewood blog has listed the towns the have the largest concentration of Non-citizens in Bergen County .
Ridgewood NJ, To accommodate the lane closures necessary as part of the New Jersey Department of Transportation’s (NJDOT) rehabilitation of the Route 495 Bridge over Routes 1&9 and Paterson Plank Road in North Bergen, several NJ TRANSIT local bus routes will require detours.
The Exclusive Bus Lane (XBL) will be maintained weekday mornings (6 a.m. – 10 a.m.) throughout the construction.
Beginning Friday night, August 10, the 31st Street ramp from Kennedy Boulevard to Route 495 westbound will be closed with traffic detoured onto Paterson Plank Road, directly affecting NJ TRANSIT’s local service on 18 bus routes requiring detours in the afternoon and at night. A week later, on Friday, August 17, one lane of Route 495 in each direction will be closed, limiting the roadway capacity and causing severe congestion. The construction requiring detours is anticipated to last approximately two and a half years.
· Buses will operate their regular routing westbound along 31st Street through Union City the entire span of the day.
· All current Union City bus stops on 31st Street will be served, including both Bergenline Avenue and Kennedy Boulevard.
· Between 6 a.m. and 1 p.m. on weekdays, all NJ TRANSIT Buses using the 31st Street ramp will follow regular routes and continue to have access to Route 495 westbound.
· All buses between 1 p.m. and 6 a.m. the next morning will continue to use the 31st Street ramp but will be detoured onto Paterson Plank Road.
· Delays through Union City are anticipated due to increased traffic volume, and customers should plan accordingly for these delays.
Buses may encounter conditions that result in significant delays in the outbound direction during both the morning and evening peak periods.
AFFECTED BUS ROUTES
The following bus routes will be detoured between 1 p.m. and 6 a.m. daily during construction:
No. 87 Jersey City-Hoboken
No. 107 South Orange-New York
No. 108 Newark-New York
No. 111 New York-IKEA-Jersey Gardens
No. 124 Secaucus-New York
No. 127S Ridgefield-Union City-New York
No. 129 Secaucus-Union City-New York
No. 144 Elmwood Park-Hackensack-New York
No. 160 Elmwood Park-Wallington-New York
No. 161 Paterson-Passaic-New York
No. 163 Ridgewood-New York
No. 167 Harrington Park-Teaneck-New York
No. 190X Paterson-Rutherford-New York
No. 190 (local) Paterson-Rutherford-New York
No. 191 Willowbrook-Montclair-New York
No. 192 Clifton-New York
No. 195 Willowbrook-Cedar Grove-New York
No. 199 Clifton-Lyndhurst-New York
The following bus routes do not require a detour, but are expected to be impacted by delays due to increased traffic congestion:
No. 83 Hackensack-Jersey City-Journal Square
No. 85 Mill Creek-Harmon Meadow-Hoboken
No. 127 (regular) Ridgefield-Union City-New York
No. 320 Mill Creek-North Bergen Park & Ride-New York (a detour will be necessary in later stages and information will be provided in advance)
Ridgewood NJ, Pro Arte Chorale’s new music director, Bryan Zaros, is excited to audition new singers to join us for the 2018-2019 season. Pro Arte is a 50 member, volunteer chorus based in Northern NJ. Past concerts have included masterpieces composed by Mozart, Vaughn Williams, Handel as well as works of Rachmanioff and Bruckner. Pro Arte is a versatile group that has also performed full concerts of Opera highlights, Gilbert and Sullivan, Carmina Burana and favorite Broadway melodies. Our Summer Sing on August 27th is open to all singers and would be a convenient way to meet the Chorale and Bryan. Otherwise, auditions may be scheduled over the summer and in early September. Please contact our office 201-497-8400, [email protected] to set up your audition. For information on Pro Arte Chorale and the wonderful season ahead visit: www.proartechorale.org
Ridgewood NJ, July 31, 2018 – Special Properties Real Estate Services, LLC, an exclusive affiliate of Christie’s International Real Estate, has welcomed Elaine Van Gorp, a recognized real estate expert, as a Realtor Associate in its Ridgewood, NJ office. Her affiliation with Special Properties is part of the agency’s ongoing expansion throughout northern New Jersey and the region.
Elaine joins Special Properties with an Accredited Buyers Representative designation from the National Association of REALTORS® and more than 10 years of experience in the industry. She prides herself on her knowledge of the region and communities in which she works, and brings her extensive real estate and business experience to her clients, whether they are buying or selling a home. With her real estate experience, local and regional knowledge, enthusiasm and her new affiliation with Special Properties, Elaine is able to leverage the strength of Christie’s and Special Properties’ corporate marketing resources and renowned customer service programs to assist her clients throughout the real estate process.
Prior to her real estate career, Elaine worked in the music industry, first with Island Records and later as a partner in at a small independent record label. Elaine is a graduate of Hunter College and now lives in Glen Rock with her husband, Todd.
About Special Properties Real Estate Services
Special Properties Real Estate Services, LLC embraces the history and traditions of its flagship brokerage location in Saddle River, NJ, into an expanded, modern presence in Mahwah, Franklin Lakes, Ridgewood, Hoboken and Ho-Ho-Kus, NJ. With a staff of accomplished real estate agents and brokers, its clients across northern New Jersey and southern New York are provided with customized, personalized services, backed by the luxury real estate brand of Christie’s International Real Estate. Special Properties provides local expertise with global connections. For more information, call 201-962-9552 or visit www.specialpropertiesres.com.
Photo :The following is the listing of players and coaches from left to right:Connor O’Hara #52, Coach Brian O’Hara,J.T. Luther #28,Joe Grasso #4,Matt Sullivan #23,Dylan Leith #6,Coach Mike Vigliotti,Angelo LaVaglia #13,Johnny Pilla #11,Mike Vigliotti #10,Jeremy Schneider #25,Jackson Kammen #19,Coach Mike Kammen,Jake Kleiman #45
August 1,2018
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, Ridgewood Raiders 14U baseball team just made an improbable run, winning our Little District (District 4), our Section (Section 1), and winning the State Championship yesterday 7/29 over Sayreville. Each step along the way, we lost a game early in each tournament yet won all 9 elimination games we played to win the Junior League State Title.
In District Play, we lost the first Junior League game we played on July 7th vs Westwood, 6-4. We then beat Washington Township 10-0 on July 9th and were then able to beat Westwood two games in a row, 14-4 on July 10th and 10-0 on July 11th to win the District 4 Title and move onto sectionals. District games were played in Dumont and Westwood.
In Sectional Play, we won our first game vs Lackawanna Newton 11-2 on July 13th. The next day July 14th, we suffered a 9-8 loss to a tough and talented team from Parsippany Troy Hills East (PTE) , a game in which we had a 7-3 lead. We then beat Lackawanna Newton on July 16th 4-2 to set up a rematch in the Championship with Parsippany Troy Hills East (PTE). However, PTE had no losses, so being these are double elimination tournaments we would have to beat them twice. We beat them two in a row, 13-0 on July 18th and 10-0 on July 20th to win the Section 1 Championship! All of those games were played in Bloomingdale NJ.
We then moved on to the NJ State Tournament hosted in Lyndhurst. We won our first game 17-1 on July 24th vs. Saddle Brook but suffered a tough loss to a very good hitting team from Sayreville on July 26th 11-6. We were then rained out on Friday July 27th. We were able to beat Saddle Brook 15-5 at 1:00pm on hot and humid Saturday. This again set up for a rematch against Sayreville who had zero losses. We played them at 3:30pm immediately following the Saddle Brook game and outslugged them 13-10 to set up a true Championship game on Sunday July 29th. Both teams scored runs in the first inning and the game stayed tied until we scored 3 in the 3rd inning to make it 4-1. Sayreville was able to add a run to make it 4-2 in the 4th but we were able to tack on a run in the 6th and 5 more in the 7th to come away with the 10-2 game!
Our team now moves on to represent New Jersey in the Eastern Regional Tournament being held at Michael J Tighe Field in Freehold NJ from August 2nd-August 8th. The winner of the Eastern Regional will move on to play in the Junior World Series held in Taylor Michigan August 12th to August 19th!
Ridgewood is looking to follow in the footsteps of the 2015 Junior League team which advanced to the Junior World Series!
Ridgewood NJ, Attorney General Gurbir S. Grewal filed a lawsuit today seeking to prevent a firearms developer from publicly releasing computer files that would enable individuals to create untraceable firearms using a 3-D printer. The firearm developer, a Texas-based company called “Defense Distributed,” has threatened to release the files to the public on Wednesday, August 1, 2018.
Ridgewood Public Library has a MakerBot 3D printer which prints digital designs as 3D objects in a non-toxic biodegradable plastic called PLA (available in a variety of colors). Please read the 3D Printing Policy for complete details.
Attorney General Grewal filed the lawsuit in Superior Court in Essex County, seeking a temporary restraining order against Defense Distributed and its founder, Cody Wilson. The lawsuit follows a cease-and-desist letter that Attorney General Grewal sent the company on Thursday, July 26, 2018.
In a separate letter, Attorney General Grewal informed DreamHost, the web-hosting provider, that Defense Distributed’s website will be violating the provider’s Acceptable Use Policy. As the letter explains, Defense Distributed impermissibly plans to use the website to facilitate imminent violations of New Jersey state law.
“These dangerous files would allow anyone – including terrorists, domestic abusers, felons, fugitives, and juveniles – to print untraceable assault weapons using a 3D printer from the comfort of their own homes,” said Attorney General Grewal. “And because the guns would be printed without serial numbers, they would be untraceable by law enforcement, making it all the more difficult to solve crimes committed with these weapons. Once Defendants open that Pandora’s box, it can never be closed.”
Defense Distributed made national headlines by developing gun computer files that enable consumers to create fully operational firearms with a 3-D printer. The company’s founder, Cody Wilson, developed a printable plastic pistol known as the “Liberator .380” in 2012 and put the plans online, but was blocked by the federal government. Wilson sued, and under a settlement he reached with the U.S. State Department, his company can begin releasing computer files for printable guns beginning on August 1.
But as explained in today’s court filings, publication of those computer files would still violate New Jersey law.
New Jersey’s public nuisance law provides a cause of action to hold firearm manufacturers accountable – and to enjoin imminent violations of the law – when their plans would facilitate the illegal sale of weapons to criminals and other prohibited users, and when the manufacturer has done too little to prevent that illegal market from developing.
On Sunday, July 29, 2018, Defense Distributed and the Second Amendment Foundation, a gun rights organization, sued Attorney General Grewal in federal district court in Austin, Texas, seeking to prevent Attorney General Grewal from preventing the publication of the company’s computer files on its website, known as “DEFCAD.” The same day, Wilson claimed that he had taken steps to prevent the distribution of those files in New Jersey, posting on his personal Twitter account, “Yes, DEFCAD has been blocked in New Jersey.” However, as noted in New Jersey’s court filings today, the Defense Distributed website remains accessible in New Jersey.
Also today, Attorney General Grewal joined 20 other state attorneys general in a letter criticizing Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Attorney General Jeff Sessions for settling the federal lawsuit against Defense Distributed and urging them to withdraw from the settlement before the company publishes the computer files later this week.
“For years, and as recently as April 2018, the federal government recognized that these printable-gun computer files would be a threat to United States national security and foreign policy interests,” said Attorney General Grewal. “Although the Secretary of State and Attorney General abruptly switched positions – with no good reason – the threat remains. I’m proud to lead the fight in New Jersey to stop Wilson and Defense Distributed from publishing printable-gun computer files, and I call on the federal government to join us in protecting the safety of our residents and our law enforcement officers.”
July 31,2018
by Rich Pezzullo and the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, Since President Trump was elected, mental health professionals in the United States have seen an increase in patients whose stress has come from politics.
A prevalent “symptom” of the “disorder” is feeling as though the world is going to end.
Before you start saying that this is the result of President Trump’s current behaviors, consider the fact that the American Psychological Association has recorded a rise in anxiety in the Trump era, with a five per cent increase (52 to 57 per cent) in politically induced stress levels over a six-month period before, during and after the 2016 election .
As previously reported on this blog Ridgewood has become a breeding ground for what is now called ,“Trump Anxiety Disorder.”
The American Psychological Association (APA) found in a recent online survey that stress levels following the election are the highest they’ve been in a decade. And the majority of respondents reported stress over the 2016 election and the future of the nation as factors.
The APA also found a correlation between stress levels and electronic news consumption.
Therapists told CBC that in recent months, patients have indicated that separation of migrant families at the border, the retirement of Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy and Trump’s various feuds with other world leaders have all been triggers for “Trump Anxiety Disorder.”
Mountainside Nj, Hugin campaign chimed in upon hearing the news that Senator Bob Menendez’s co-defendant, “best friend,” and biggest campaign donor, Sal Melgen, had his motion for a new trial denied today, U.S. Senate candidate Bob Hugin’s campaign released the following statement:
“We applaud Judge Marra’s decision to ensure that Sal Melgen is held accountable for his crimes,” said Hugin Communications Director Megan Piwowar. “Now it’s time for Bob Menendez to be held accountable, too. Menendez violated federal law by taking $1 million in illegal gifts and abused his office to intervene in the Obama Justice Department’s investigation into Melgen’s Medicare fraud scheme. Menendez is refusing to amend his financial disclosure and pay back Melgen’s dirty money as ordered by the bipartisan Senate Ethics Committee. When is Menendez going to comply? It’s time for him to come clean and pay up.”
“The Court finds that Defendant has not demonstrated, by clear and convincing evidence, that he is not a flight risk,” Marra wrote. “Although Defendant complied with the conditions of pretrial release before the verdict was rendered, circumstances have changed significantly with his conviction. In view of the length of Defendant’s sentence and his age, there is great incentive for Defendant to flee.”(Matt Friedman, Politico, Judge denies Melgen bail, new trial as he awaits appeal, 07/30/2018)
Florida eye doctor Salomon Melgen, the friend of Sen. Bob Menendez who was his co-defendant in the federal government’s unsuccessful corruption case, will stay locked up as he appeals a separate conviction for Medicaid fraud. (Matt Friedman, Politico, Judge denies Melgen bail, new trial as he awaits appeal, 07/30/2018)
North Bergen NJ, New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT) officials today announced the lane closures necessary as part of the rehabilitation of the Route 495 Bridge over Route 1&9 and Paterson Plank Road in North Bergen are expected to begin in mid-August.
The work is scheduled to start on Friday, August 10, with the closure of the 31st Street ramp from Kennedy Boulevard to Route 495 westbound, with traffic detoured onto Patterson Plank Road. A week later, on Friday, August 17, one lane of Route 495 in each direction will be closed, limiting the roadway capacity and causing severe congestion. NJDOT will provide more detailed information as the start of the lane closures nears.
The exclusive bus lane (XBL) will remain operational during construction. This construction is expected to last for about two and a half years while the entire bridge deck, parapets, light fixtures, guiderail, and drainage are replaced. The entire project is expected to be completed in summer 2021.
The $90.3 million state-funded project began in September 2017 with local street improvements. The work in the first phase, which was necessary before the lane closures could be implemented, has been taking place under the bridge and along the Paterson Plank Road – Union Turnpike corridor.
The project to rehabilitate the nine-span viaduct includes repairs and reconstruction of the bridge deck, replacement and strengthening of deteriorated structural steel, and the repair and painting of the substructure. Construction will be accomplished in stages by first making improvements to local streets in the surrounding areas that will need to handle some of the diverted traffic during bridge construction
The problem is neighbors constantly reached out to council & others usually no one responded to concerns. That’s why neighbors got falsely accused of harassment because someone in village hall is forwarding emails to Stacey or she OPRAs them. Stacey is just an awful person who thinks the park is hers. Someone needs to say enough is enough!!!!! Supporting Healthbarn barn is supporting bad behavior Council needs to step up and put the taxpayers 1st not this horrible business.
2. Statement of Compliance with Open Public Meeting Act
Mayor: “Adequate notice of this meeting has been provided by a posting on the bulletin board in Village Hall, by mail to the Ridgewood News, The Record, and by submission to all persons entitled to same as provided by law of a schedule including the date and time of this meeting.”
3. Roll Call – Village Clerk
4. Flag Salute/Moment of Silence
5. Public Comments (Not to Exceed 3 Minutes per Person – 40 Minutes in Total)
6. Discussion
a. Ridgewood Water
1. Partial Award of Contract – Southside Reservoir Rehabilitation
2. Additional Award of Contract – Pipes, Appurtenances and Service Materials
3. Partial Award of Contract – Ames Tank Rehabilitation
4. Award Professional Services Contract – Passaic Valley Water Commission Pipeline Project
b. Parking
1. Ordinances #3660 and #3661 – Parking Meter Rates and Hours
2. Parking on Overbrook Road
c. Budget
1. Award State Coop Purchasing Contract – Portable Radio Purchase – Police Department
2. Award State Coop Purchasing Contract – Two Tahoe Pursuit Vehicles – Police Department
3. Award State Coop Purchasing Contract – UHF Vehicle Radios – Police Department
4. Award State Coop Purchasing Contract – Emergency Vehicles Lights and Equipment – Police Department
5. Declare Surplus – Bullet Proof Vests – Police Department
6. Award County Coop Purchasing Contract –Chipper Truck Chassis – Parks
7. Award County Coop Purchasing Contract –Lawn Mower – Parks
8. Award Contract – HVAC Upgrades at Village Hall
9. Award Contract – Treatment Chemicals –WPCF
10. Award Contract – Laboratory Services – Water Pollution Control Facility
11. Capital Ord. – Redesign Train Station Parking Lot
12. Capital Ord. – Reappropriation of Funds – Ord. #3644 – Acquisition of Stretchers
13. Capital Ord. – Purchase of Hook Lift Body – Parks Department
14. Discuss Award of Contract – Epic Management – Hudson Street Parking Garage
d. Policy
1. Ordinance #3655 – Smoking
2. Licensing Sellers of E-Cigarettes
3. Amendment to A-Frame Sign Ordinance to Allow Displays
4. Proposed Zoning Amendments – Encroachment of Stairs, Front Yard Setback –District B2
e. Operation
1. Memorializing Changes to Bus Stops on Route 17
2. Bus Station at Van Neste Square
3. 2019 Village Council Meeting Schedule
7. Review of August 8, 2018 Public Meeting Agenda
8. Manager’s Report
9. Council Reports
10. Public Comments (Not to Exceed 5 Minutes per Person)
photo courtesy of Village of Ridgewood Mayor Ramon Hache
July 30,2018
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, its been far too long but it that time of year we like to pay a visit to Van Dyk’s Ice Cream. Many insist its best ice cream in Bergen County if not all of the northern new jersey area. Van Dyk’s Ice Cream is home made, old school ice cream. The Portions are large and plentiful. Van Dyk’s Ice Cream is an institution in Ridgewood .
Van Dyk’s Ice Cream
145 Ackerman Ave
Ridgewood, NJ 07450
Noooooooo! Never fear. The supt and BOE are careful with tax payer’s money. They will only do what is absolutely necessary and in the best interests of the students in the school.
The electrical system in every Ridgewood school will be replaced and modernized.
Many many neighbors contact the council the right way about their concerns which are safety, fire code, the amount of large busses and chartered buses, lights and intensity of use of a small park. Stacy Antine owner of the private business Healthbarn accused 2 neighbors of racism. It is terrible that people stoop so low!
