Trenton NJ, according to State Sen. Bob Smith, D-Middlesex, water pipelines across the state are old, they’re decaying, they pose a serious health risk and the issue is getting worse.
“There is a big problem and it is a problem that affects your health, your kid’s health and your grandchildren’s health,” Smith said.
He has introduced legislation that would impose a 10-cent tax on every 1,000 gallons consumed, which Smith estimates would cost the average New Jersey household about $32 a year and would net the state about $150 million annually.
According to Smith the proposal being submitted is not actually a tax and he is marketing it as “user fee” even though you already get a water bill.
A “user fee” would be a flat rate. He wants 10 cents per 1,000 gallons so it functions more like a tax than a fee like getting a driver’s license.
Ridgewood NJ, Give the gift of Art to a Young Aspiring Artist you love. All students are taught in direct relation to their own personal skill level. For younger students, this could be an introduction to a life long passion. High school students will find these classes useful for creating a portfolio, needed for college application.e staff of the Ridgewood blog
Summer Sessions for Young People 2018
Drawing
August 6-10
2:30-4:30pm
Rebecca Leer [email protected]
201-906-6839
Drawing for Young People – ages 8 to 17 (East Studio)
All levels are welcome. Students will learn basic techniques of line, shape, proportion, perspective and shading while working from a variety of still-life objects and the human face. Instruction will be tailored to each student.
Fee: $185 supplies purchased: $35
August 27-Aug 31
2:30-4:30pm
Joel Popadics [email protected]
(973) 851-0366
Learn How to Draw-People, Landscapes & Still Life -ages 9 to 17 (East Studio)
All levels will discover the basics of drawing with exercises that are designed to be fun and easy to comprehend. Each session will focus on a different subject – everyday objects, people, landscapes and perspective while working in pencil, charcoal and pen & ink. Fee: $185 supplies purchased: $35
Painting
July 30-August 3
2:30-4:30pm
Sue Barrasi [email protected]
(845) 548-2305
Oil Painting for Young People – ages 8 to 17 (West Studio)
Students will learn and explore the world of classical painting. Emphasis will be on painting directly from life as students will learn to “see” the beauty of the prismatic flow of light. Students who wish to paint landscapes will be given the opportunity to paint from plein air color studies in order to observe effects of the atmosphere and learn basic principles of landscape painting. Beginner to serious young artists. Fee: $185 supplies for the week: $25
Oil Painting for Young People – ages 8 to 17 (West Studio)
Great for beginner and serious young artists. High School students, create a piece for your college admissions art portfolio. Traditional art instruction in a fun encouraging environment. New & returning students welcome! Fee: $185 supplies for the week: $25
August 13-17
2:30-4:30pm
Laura Paray [email protected]
(201) 281-6940
Oil Painting for Young People – ages 8 to 17 (East Studio)
Your child will learn the basic techniques of oil painting and will create still life and landscape paintings to completion. They will learn concepts such as massing in, color and value.
Fee: $185 supplies for the week: $25
Microirrigation is a low-pressure, low-flow-rate type of irrigation that can reduce the likelihood of overwatering a landscape. This form of irrigation delivers water directly to where it is needed most-the root zone of plants. It also delivers the water slowly and over a longer period of time, preventing runoff and reducing evaporation. Microirrigation systems use 20 to 50 percent less water than conventional sprinkler systems and can reduce residential or commercial landscape irrigation water use.
WaterSense has developed two guides to help irrigation professionals and homeowners understand the benefits of microirrigation. The guides also provide design, installation, and maintenance tips, which are the keys to an efficient irrigation system.
If it’s true that the council is too ignorant about the school budget to know how to reduce it if it is voted down in the future, they should make an effort to learn about it in advance. They could have a private meeting at which those who are knowledgeable about the budget can educate them. This would be important anyway because the budget probably isn’t finalized until shortly before the April elections (not sure). There is no reason for them to have to thrash through it blindly. The last time the budget was defeated the council was indeed over its head and barely removed anything. That was an important lesson for all subsequent councils. They already have plenty to do but since this is now on their plate, it’s a new thing to learn, long in advance. The only negative part about reverting to April (as has been noted on this blog by others) is that the BOE and Supt. will BOMBARD AND BLAST all parents and residents with entreaties to vote yes, more than they used to do before the age of social media. Nevertheless, we must resist. The budget is always overpuffed and they know it–that’s why they chose to eliminate the vote and popped a spring trying to prevent it from going back. Too bad. The budget is bizarre for a town of this size and driving people away. Just no, school board. Figure it out.
We can’t afford to move but this means that we will never shop anywhere in Ridgewood again. Kings at least has its own parking. Our taxes have more than quadrupled in the time we have lived here. Now I assume they will quadruple again in the next 2 years. Ridgewood will soon be a town of only million dollar incomes because no-one making less will be able to afford to live here. Not only is the garage a financial disaster but the new apartments will require much more school space for all the children who will arrive with them. The quotes of”‘little or no children” were based on the one tall apartment building at the corner of Franklin and Maple. None of the garden apartments were surveyed at all. Why? Because children live in those. And, as someone said before, if you believe no children will fill those apartments, I have a nice bridge to sell you. Our council seems to have believed the hype that they will only be filled with hundreds of very very rich people who either have no children or are retired with a huge pension and who also don’t even have one car per apartment. I guess they were testers of the marijuana product before it comes on the open market. I hope they are planning to greatly increase the police budget because the garage and apartments will require many more police responses than we have police to cover the calls.
Ridgewood NJ, More than 75 percent of the 921 certified public accountants (CPAs) who were surveyed by the New Jersey Society of CPAs (NJCPA) in July said that New Jersey’s 2019 state budget, which was signed by Governor Murphy on July 1, would have a negative impact on the state’s economy. Thirty-nine percent felt the economy would get “marginally worse,” and 37 percent said it would get “significantly worse.” Fourteen percent said it would have no impact, and only 10 percent said the economy would get either “marginally better” or “significantly better” under the new budget.
The budget consists of $37.4 billion in spending, to be funded in part by instituting a tax increase from 8.97 percent to 10.75 percent on taxpayer income of more than $5 million. The budget also included several significant corporate business tax changes, including a surcharge of 2.5 percent for the next two years and 1.5 percent for the subsequent two years for corporations with income of $1 million or more as well as a new combined reporting system. No change was made to the sales tax rate though a tax will be levied on e-cigarettes and short-term lodging, such as Airbnb.
NJCPA survey respondents cited several reasons why the budget plan will not help the state’s economy over the long term. Taxing millionaires could lead to more residents in high-income brackets leaving the state, said respondents. As one noted, “the outward migration of wealth will continue, and the long-term effect will be disastrous.”
Survey participants also said the tax increases on corporations will not help the hiring process or provide incentives to remain in the state. It will likely make the state less friendly to investors and businesses.
Ridgewood NJ, after years of debate ,last night the Village Council in a 5-0 vote approved a $12 million bond ordinance to construct a 240-space parking garage on Hudson Street .
Parking meter rates in the Central Business District will be increased to help fund the garage. As of September 4th ,Fifty-cent hourly meters will be increased to 75 cents and the $1.25-an-hour meters will increase to $1.50.
Ridgewood NJ, as expected the Village Council on Wednesday voted to move the Board of Education election from November back to April.
Most of the comments made last night at the council meeting favored the move of the school board election to April. Residents overwhelmingly wanted the opportunity to vote on the school budget which constitutes nearly 67% of their tax bill.
Mayor Ramon Hache said the discussion was in no way passing judgement on the Ridgewood Board of Education .
The council voted 3-2 in favor of the move. Council members Jeff Voigt and Bernadette Walsh voted against it.
Walsh was on the Village Council the last time the School Board budget was voted down and voiced concern that the Village council is ill prepared as to the knowledge of the school budget .
Council member Michael Sedon, Deputy Mayor Susan Knudsen, and Mayor Ramon Hache voted in favor of the move.
Ridgewood NJ, A apparent medical episode experienced by an adult female driver from Pennsylvania caused a two (2) vehicle collision in front of 522 North Maple Avenue, Ridgewood on Wednesday afternoon, 07/18. Following impact, both vehicles were catapulted off of the roadway onto nearby front lawns. One (1) driver was transported by ambulance to Hackensack University Medical Center’s main campus. No other injuries were reported. A flatbed tow truck removed both wrecks from the scene. Ridgewood Police, Ridgewood Fire Department, Ridgewood EMS, and Ho-Ho-Kus Police responded to the incident. A paramedic team from The Valley Hospital assisted Ridgewood EMTs.
Ridgewood NJ, Your family’s history is so much more than birth and death records. Did you inherit a special family artifact?: a piece of jewelry, the family bible, a wedding dress, a china set, a well-worn tool. Maybe you were reunited with an artifact or found something on eBay important to your family.
Lauren Maehrlein will provide a short lecture on “Heirloom Genealogy,” followed by show-and-tell. All are welcome to bring family artifacts and take a minute or three to tell a story about it!
Free and open to the public—all are welcome.
July Program + GSBC General Meeting
Monday, 23 July 2018
Ridgewood Public Library Auditorium, 7pm
“Heirloom Genealogy” and Show-and-Tell
Ridgewood NJ, Senate Republican Leader Tom Kean released the following statement, in light of today’s news that the Murphy Administration has authorized New Jersey Transit to divert $511 million in capital funds to pay for operational costs.
“Governor Murphy swore to commuters that he would fix New Jersey Transit, without relying on financially-unsustainable practices. Today he broke that promise. His decision to use capital funds to cover up his complete inability to manage money is misguided.”
“Governor Murphy is using the very same practices that he campaigned against, by diverting money from the Clean Energy Fund, the Turnpike Authority and now, New Jersey Transit’s capital funds to plug holes in his budget.
New Jersey Transit’s capital budget should be used to make essential investments and expand services that benefit our commuters, such as one-seat rides. As someone who represents thousands of commuters, I am deeply disappointed to see Governor Murphy make the same mistakes that got us into this mess in the first place. I will continue to be a vocal advocate for ensuring people have a safe, easy and affordable way to get to work.”
Ridgewood NJ, On Friday, July 13, the district received notice of additional state aid in the amount of $890,876. At its July 16 meeting, the Ridgewood Board of Education unanimously voted to give $551,887 of this state aid back on the property tax to Ridgewood homeowners, reducing the tax increase for the 2018-19 School District Budget by .62%. The remaining $338,849 will be placed in the Capital Reserve account, to be used in the 2019-2020 school year for identified capital projects within the district.
It is estimated that the tax relief approved by the Board will be approximately $48 on the average Ridgewood home valued at $696,093.*
The National Weather Service in Upton has issued a Flash Flood Watch In northeast New Jersey, Eastern Bergen, Eastern Essex, Eastern Passaic, Eastern Union, Hudson, Western Bergen, Western Essex, Western Passaic, and Western Union. A slow moving frontal system will bring numerous showers and thunderstorms to the region this afternoon into this evening.
Any thunderstorms will have the potential to bring torrential downpours with rainfall rates of 1 to 2 inches per hour. These types of rainfall rates will cause urban and poor drainage flooding, with potential for flash flooding in areas affected by multiple successive thunderstorms. Additionally, rapid water level rises can occur on flashy small rivers and streams in basins affected by this activity.
According to the National Weather Service, more people are killed by flooding on average than by any other single severe weather hazard, including tornadoes, lightning, and hurricanes. Most of these deaths occur at night, when it is more difficult to recognize flood dangers, and when people are trapped in vehicles. Do you and your family know what to do in case of a flood?
Remember:
DO NOT drive onto a flooded roadway.
DO NOT drive through flowing water.
If you approach a roadway that is flooded, TURN AROUND – DON’T DROWN.
Drive with extreme caution if roads are even just wet or it is raining. You can lose control of your vehicle if hydroplaning occurs, which is when a layer of water builds up between your tires and the road, causing there to be no direct contact between your vehicle and the road.
Why is “Turn Around – Don’t Drown” so important?
Each year, more deaths occur due to flooding than from any other severe weather related hazard. The main reason is people underestimate the force and power of water. More than half of all flood related deaths result from vehicles being swept downstream. Of these, many are preventable.
IF A FLASH FLOOD WARNING IS ISSUED FOR YOUR AREA:
If advised to evacuate, do so immediately! Act quickly to save yourself, you may not have much time.
Get out of areas that are subject to flooding and move to a safe area before access is cut off by flood waters. Low spots such as dips, canyons, and washes are not the places you want to be during flooding!
DO NOT camp or park your vehicle along streams and washes, particularly during threatening conditions.
DO NOT drive if not necessary. If driving is necessary, do not attempt to drive over a flooded road, as the depth of the water is not always obvious, and the roadway may no longer be intact under the water. Never drive around a barricade, they are placed there for your protection! If your vehicle stalls, leave it immediately and move to higher ground before water sweeps you and your vehicle away.
DO NOT try to walk, swim, or play in flood water. You may not be able to determine if there are holes or submerged debris, or how quickly the water is flowing, and you may be swept away. If water is moving swiftly, as little as 6 inches of water can knock you off of your feet! There is also a danger of hazardous materials polluting the water. Also remember that water is an electrical conductor, if there are power lines down, there is a possibility of electrocution.
Always continue to monitor the situation through the National Weather Service website, your NOAA Weather Radio All-Hazards, or favorite local television or radio stations
To read about more consumer tips, you can visit my website www.kevinjrooney.com. I hope these tips are useful for you and that you stay safe while the flash flood warning is in effect.
Sincerely,
Kevin J. Rooney
Assemblyman
Legislative District 40
Ridgewood NJ, Comedian and Former co-host of The Howard Stern Show, Artie Lange, will sign his new book: Wanna Bet? at Bookends .
Artie Lange once revealed that Howard Stern was like a dysfunctional “father figure’ to him
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
Today at 6:30 PM – 7:30 PM
Bookends Bookstore
211 E Ridgewood Ave, Ridgewood, New Jersey 07450
Ridgewood NJ, While the tone deaf Ridgewood School Board has continued to reject the idea , the Village Council is considering moving the Board of Education election back to April so that residents once again have a say on the school budget process.
According to local resident Steve Kim , “The cost of the budget vote is less than $2 per resident per year. You can maybe buy a cheeseburger at McD for that price. Turnout (measured by votes cast) has not been any better in November vs April.April gives us the budget vote. The poll is the most straightforward and democratic way for the residents to express their views. It’s a good way to have an added control, a sanity check, on the $110,000,000+ budget.”
The Village Council discussed moving the election in order to give people a chance to vote on how their tax dollars are spent.”It is time we talked about it,” , said Mayor Ramon Hache. The Ridgewood Council intends to exercise its authority to move the Ridgewood Board of Education elections back to April, restoring the public vote on the school budget. Mark your calendar for Village Council meeting July 18.
The Mayor said the matter would be discussed at the Village Council’s next meeting Wednesday. Members of the Board of Education have been invited to attend the meeting Wednesday.
The Ridgewood Board of Education approved a massive $110 million budget for the 2018-19 school year, with a 4.3% increase including and nearly $95 million local tax levy.
Under a state law that went into effect in 2012, a local board of education or municipal governing body could decide to move their municipality’s school board election from April to November. Doing so meant residents lost the ability to approve their school district’s budget for that coming year as long as the budget remains until the state-mandated 2 percent increase cap.
