Council Elect Ramon M Hache , Today we honor the brave men and women who have proudly served this great nation and made the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom. We should honor them everyday, as well as their families, by loving and respecting the greatest nation in the world. As I do every Memorial Day, I like to read, reflect upon, and share the letter of condolences from President Abraham Lincoln to Mrs. Lydia Bixby who was believed to have lost five sons during the Civil War:
Executive Mansion Washington, Nov. 21, 1864.
Dear Madam,–
I have been shown in the files of the War Department a statement of the Adjutant General of Massachusetts that you are the mother of five sons who have died gloriously on the field of battle.
I feel how weak and fruitless must be any word of mine which should attempt to beguile you from the grief of a loss so overwhelming. But I cannot refrain from tendering you the consolation that may be found in the thanks of the Republic they died to save.
I pray that our Heavenly Father may assuage the anguish of your bereavement, and leave you only the cherished memory of the loved and lost, and the solemn pride that must be yours to have laid so costly a sacrifice upon the altar of freedom.
Since the founding of our country, there have always been brave men and women who understood what it takes to protect our freedom and democracy. And there has always been a grateful nation that understands that everything we have is because of their bravery. They are the very best that America has to offer.
Today, we remember those who gave their lives in service to the United States and we thank them for their sacrifice. Our words will never be able to express what their service meant to us, but we can continue to honor them with our actions. We can continue to live our lives in freedom and stand up to tyranny and oppression in whatever form it takes. It is our responsibility to pass along the gift of liberty that many in our armed forces died to protect.
To those who have lost family, friends, and loved ones—please know that our country stands with you today and every day, humbled by the sacrifice you have given to protect freedom and democracy. May God bless those who died in service to our country, and may God continue to look over those who put on a uniform every day and fight for United States of America.
On this Memorial Day the staff of the Ridgewood blog remembers those who made the ultimate sacrifice for our country. Thanks for all your efforts to keep the US safe !
On this Memorial Day weekend, we remember those who sacrificed their lives for “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.” Our thoughts and prayers are with all those who are grieving. May we, as Abraham Lincoln famously said, “highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain–that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom–and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.”
Good evening. This is Mayor Paul Aronsohn with a special announcement about our Memorial Day activities. In light of the expected rain storms, we are making contingency plans.
Regarding the American Legion Sponsored Memorial Day Service scheduled for 11am … the Service will be conducted rain or shine, but if it is raining, we will hold the Memorial Day Service in Mount Carmel Church at the same time, 11am.
Regarding the North Jersey Masters Ridgewood Run scheduled to start at 8:15am … the Run will also happen rain or shine, UNLESS the weather becomes dangerous.
For both events, I urge you to check the Village website for the latest information. Our website is www.ridgewoodnj.net .
And for more information on the Ridgewood Run, please visit www.ridgewoodrun.com.
Thank you. Have a great holiday. And please be safe.
photo by Boyd Loving
May 29,2016
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, The two major events on Memorial day in the Village of Ridgewood today . First there is the Fred D’Elia Ridgewood Run at Veteran’s Memorial Field, Monday at 8 a.m. and the American Legion Post 53 will host a service at Memorial Park Monday at 11 a.m. in Van Neste Square on East Ridgewood Avenue.
The Ridgewood Run is the premier road race in northern New Jersey and one of the longest running races in the tri-state area and the Village of Ridgewood Memorial Day commemoration is honoring those who made the ultimate sacrifice.
Please leave plenty of time for travel the Fred D’Elia Ridgewood Run leaves many roads inaccessible .
The Ridgewood Run is a rain or shine event. In the event of dangerous weather, updates will be posted here and on our Twitter page. You may also call the race hotline at (973) 333-483
1st Place winner, Alexandra Gutierrez with Scott Garrett
May 26,2016
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, Rep. Scott Garrett (NJ-05) announced the winners of the 2016 Congressional Art Competition at Sussex County Community College in Newton this Saturday. The Congressional Art Competition is open to all 9th-12th graders from New Jersey’s Fifth District, and this year’s competition featured 90 pieces of artwork from New Jersey high schools in Bergen, Passaic, Sussex, and Warren Counties (full list below).
This year the winners were: 1st Place, Alexandra Gutierrez, “Split Vision,” Bergen County Academies; 2nd Place, Grant Brewster, “Forgotten,” Delbarton School; 3rd Place, Nicole Spangenburg, “Doug,” Wallkill Valley Regional High School; 4th Place, Nicole Spangenburg, “Rasta Man Dan,” Wallkill Valley Regional High School; 5th Place, Sophia Bevacqua, “Landscape,” Northern Highlands Regional High School; 6th Place, Nicolina Kanapinski, “Take Me For a Ride,” High Point Regional High School; 7th Place, Maansi Srivastava, “The Afternoon Glow,” Bergen County Academies; 8th Place, Sarah Vargas, “The Dreamer,” Bergen County Academies.
Each spring, the Congressional Institute sponsors a nationwide high school visual art competition to recognize and encourage artistic talent in the nation and in each congressional district. Since the Artistic Discovery competition began in 1982, more than 650,000 high school students have participated. Students submit entries to their representative’s office, and panels of district artists select the winning entries. The first-place winner from each congressional district is invited to attend a reception in Washington, D.C., and the winning artwork is displayed in the U.S. Capitol for a year. Read more here.
Students from the following schools will be participating (by county):
Bergen County Academies
Bergen County Technical High School (Student lives in district)
Ridgewood NJ, The CRR vs. PB and Valley complaint reads like a Shakespearean tragedy (or comedy), brought about by Valley’s scorched earth tactics and Gail Price’s hubris. How so?
First, during those “Whispering Woods” hearings, Valley attack dog/super lawyer Jon Drill sends an oh-so polished legal brief to the Board demanding Wendy Dockray be recused for being on Jeff Voigt’s campaign team. What a smarty pants Jon must have thought he was. But OOPS, wait a minute Jon, guess you didn’t know that Valley’s second favorite attorney, Ms Gail Price, is married to candidate Richard Brooks? (Hurrah for women who retain their maiden names.) You didn’t see that one coming, did ya? And as a good attorney like Jon knows, the ethics rules that govern lay people (like Dockray) go QUADRUPLE for attorneys. It’s called the “appearance of impropriety” standard, meaning CRR doesn’t need to prove there will be a new “Price-Brooks” wing at Valley; there just needs to be the potential for some stank. But to make it ACTUALLY stanky, when confronted with the conflict allegation in public, Gail still refused to step down as PB attorney and went straight to Facebook and threatened anyone in Ridgewood with “libel” for mentioning that she and Rich are married.
Gail hurdled “impropriety” and went straight to the “F–k you all, I know what’s best for Ridgewood” standard. That’s why I’m betting we say bye-bye to that mediated settlement, and perhaps to Gail as well. And as for Drill, though he can’t unhoist himself from that petard, I’m thinking Queen Audrey will give him a reprieve because she didn’t know Price and Brooks were married either.
Will Sign Copies of His Debut Book Go Big or Go Home
April 26,2016
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, ACM, BMI and CMT Award winning country music singer/songwriter Scotty McCreery, who first captured America’s hearts when he won “American Idol” Season 10 five years ago at age 17, is now an author. The multi-Platinum-selling sensation will be appearing locally as part of his 14-city tour for his new book Go Big or Go Home: The Journey Toward the Dream (Zondervan, May 3). McCreery’s book is his travelogue, sharing stories of growing up in small town America with a big dream and the perseverance that led him to his country music success today. More details on the tour can be found at:
Book purchase from Bookends Bookstore is required for line entry. Books may be purchased day of or pre-ordered from Bookends here or by phone at: 201-445-0726.
The signing is limited to books only; no CDs or memorabilia please. Attendees may take photos while standing in line.
Go Big or Go Home narrates McCreery’s journey from a kid imitating Elvis on the school bus to 30 million across America tuning in to see him win season ten of “American Idol” to building a successful country music career. McCreery shares a glimpse of where he came from and the impact his faith, family and friends have had on a humble guy who keeps asking “why me?” This is his journey from his North Carolina roots to winning America’s most popular singing competition and moving on to launch the musical career he had always dreamed about.
About Scotty McCreery
Scotty McCreery burst onto the national music scene in 2011 at age 17, quickly establishing himself as one of country music’s hottest new stars. Now 22 years old, the talented singer/songwriter has sold more than 2.5 million albums and received both Platinum and Gold album certifications, debuted three consecutive albums at No. 1 on a Billboard chart, achieved one Gold and three Platinum-certified singles and two Top Ten hits, toured with Brad Paisley, The Band Perry and Rascal Flatts, headlined his own tours, and earned multiple industry and fan accolades. He was named “Best American Idol” by the readers of The Los Angeles Times in February 2016. Earlier this month he was named “Country Music’s Hottest Bachelor” by the readers of NASH Country Weekly Magazine. That publication also named him “Country Music’s Sexiest Man” in November 2015. For more information, visit www.ScottyMcCreery.com
Political signs in the village-owned planters and in the sidewalk cutouts (for the shade trees) in the Central Business District were unheard of in Ridgewood until someone (as yet unidentified) paid to have the “Vote Yes” signs printed, assembled, and distributed around the Village last Fall in time to influence the Parking Garage vote. And now we are told that there is some kind of regulation in place for political signs that permitted these kinds of signs to be put up in this manner?
What is the text of that regulation as it appears today? How did it appear last fall when the “Vote Yes” signs were erected? What earlier iterations of that regulation existed by which these kinds of shenanigans were completely prevented in the past? Or are we just now seeing the results of a creative interpretation on an old, unchanged regulation by an enterprising new election lawyer or cynical political operator? If that regulation was changed in such a way as to permit or encourage this kind of nonsense, what was the “before” and “after” of this change, and exactly how and when did it occur?
The guiding hands of Councilwoman Hauck, Mayor Aronsohn, Deputy Mayor Pucciarelli, and the Village Manager so clearly appear to be behind this unfortunate development that nobody should ever accept an explanation that does not implicate them. If we want to revert back to a non-partisan form of local government, which we are supposed to be guranteed under the Faulkner Act, nobody that supported the Three Amigos in their misbehavior in recent years, or who is currently receiving political support from them, should ever be elected to Village Council, even by mistake.
If the events that transpired last night do not shake your faith in the sham of a process that has transpired, nothing will. We are being held hostage by an institution that is engaging in a scorched earth policy against Ridgewood. They do not want to be a good neighbor and it is clear they would rather destroy our neighborhood than offer any real compromise.
I’m extremely disappointed that the majority of PB members did show a spine. I understand their concerns but we have to be firm in our resolve that this is not right for Ridgewood and we will continue to fight. What is the point of a Planning Board that can’t plan???
I’m sure many of you realize this, but if you haven’t made the connection yet to the Valley expansion, Garagezilla, and the increase in allowed housing density in town, let this be clear: any judge and court will. Therefore, even if you haven’t signed the garage petition yet, please consider doing so. We need to show the courts and other interested parties that we aren’t going to cause self inflicted wounds first in order to help prevent a hospital that will triple in size in a residential neighborhood.
Secondly, the upcoming VC election is more important than ever. We need to get strong defenders of our town in place because clearly the troika in charge of this town has had their own agenda. Please consider supporting Bernie Walsh and Jeff Voight in May.
Some Bergen County politicians reacted with surprise earlier this month when the Federal Aviation Administration announced it was moving a busy flight path to Teterboro Airport, apparently at the last minute.
A toxic chemical that recently raised concerns throughout the region when it was found near the Wanaque Reservoir has been detected in several smaller drinking water supplies that serve more than a dozen North Jersey towns.
Test results compiled by the federal government in the past three years show 1,4-dioxane, a probable carcinogen, in Fair Lawn, Garfield, Pompton Lakes and several other towns that rely heavily on wells. It has also been found in almost 80 other water systems in every part of the state, from Shore towns to Highlands communities.
Environmental officials say there is no imminent health threat from the levels of 1,4-dioxane that were detected, but there is still no clear consensus on how much of the chemical can be in drinking water before it makes anyone ill. The federal government has yet to develop a national standard for the chemical in water supplies. New Jersey does not yet have one. And the standards established in other states vary wildly.
Those whose drinking water has 1,4-dioxane are left with little information or guidance about whether it is dangerous.
“We need direction based on good science,” said Ken Garrison, the borough engineer for Fair Lawn, which supplies water to 32,000 residents. “It’s difficult for a water supplier to do anything without getting guidance from the regulators.”
The findings in North Jersey range from a barely traceable amount in Park Ridge to a sample almost 30 times greater taken from some of Fair Lawn’s wells that are in a Superfund site.
While the amounts of 1,4-dioxane found in North Jersey are incredibly small — the highest recording of 3.24 micrograms per liter in Fair Lawn is equivalent to three drops of water in an Olympic-sized swimming pool — they are important to regulators in setting baselines that determine how much exposure creates a health threat.
Unlike arsenic, PCBs and other dangerous substances that scientists have studied for decades, 1,4-dioxane belongs to a group of chemicals the Environmental Protection Agency classifies as an “unregulated contaminant” because the agency doesn’t have enough data to determine all of its health implications and its prevalence in water supplies.
The chemical, 1,4-dioxane, is a clear, man-made substance used in paint strippers, degreasers and varnishes. It is also created unintentionally when mixing certain chemicals. It blends with water very easily and is difficult to remove.
Drinking 1,4-dixoane can cause liver and kidney damage and is “reasonably anticipated to be a human carcinogen” by the U.S. Department of Health. In 2010, the EPA determined that 1,4-dioxane is more likely to cause cancer than previously thought: Cancer could occur in one person out of 1 million exposed to 0.35 milligrams per liter of the chemical over a lifetime.
The chemical made news recently after it was discovered in groundwater at the Ringwood Superfund site in the Ramapo Mountains, where Ford Motor Co. dumped tons of paint sludge almost 50 years ago. Although that groundwater is in the watershed that supplies the Wanaque Reservoir, 1,4-dioxane has not been detected in the reservoir, which serves up to 3 million people.
But it has been found in water systems that serve Fair Lawn, Garfield, Pompton Lakes, Oakland, Ramsey, Park Ridge, Elmwood Park, Ridgewood, Wallington, Hawthorne, Mahwah and other towns that receive most of their water from wells, according to an analysis of EPA data by The Record.
Last night I videotaped the Historic Preservation Commission meeting and the full recording of everything I shot can be viewed here:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FOCBptQJMcs
My camera angle had an obstructed point of view of the drawings presented, but they can be viewed here:
Last night was unfortunately yet another example of how our local government is conducting business. The misinformation regarding the presentation of this parking garage is in glaring view.
For such a massive project that is going to cost us millions of dollars, why can’t we get a proper view of how this proposed garage is really going to look? Why isn’t there a 3D rendering, both virtual as well as a physical model built of the garage as well as the other buildings, so that we can truly understand what is being proposed? Why is the proposed garage still not residing inside of the municipal lot footprint? Why does the “Plan D” proposal that the Village Council voted in favor of on January 27th now have only one lane of vehicular travel, when for that vote there were two driving lanes?
Lastly, the treatment of Councilwoman Knudsen by other members of our government as well as the architectural firm was beyond reproach. Her concerns were dismissed by Commissioner Parillo – as was her vote. This is not how we treat a Councilwoman or anyone for that matter.
Once again, we as residents are faced with difficult choices. Many of us want a garage, but this is not how to do it.
On March 23rd, the Village Council will be voting on this proposed garage as well as the high density housing issue. I strongly encourage you to mark your calendars for that evening and to share your concerns with our Village Council and members of the Historic Preservation Commission in the meantime.
There is so much that can be done with improving our wonderful village, but let’s do it right and with care.
All — On page 3 of the Ridgewood News, there was an article to try to pressure Mike Sedon and Susan Knudsen to vote for bonding the garage through Ridgewood. If you are skeptical of the viability of the proposed garage, please send Mike and Susan an email to let them know to stay firm on their vote and allow the referendum on the BCIA to go forward. Here’s what I sent to them:
With regards to the full page ad in the Ridgewood News today, I urge you to maintain your position on the bonding of the proposed garage.
I do not believe that a garage in that location will cover its costs and the taxpayers are going to wind up funding it. There is simply not enough demand for parking at the proposed location. There are usually many spots open right across the street. I’d support a smaller structure located more centrally and I know a lot of my fellow residents would too.
Please stay the course and know that most of the residents who voted in support of a garage did not know any specific information at that time therefore there is NO MANDATE to build anything at this time.
Feel free to contact me via email or at 201-445-8222.
SUPPORT WILL HELP TO FIGHT SENIOR ISOLATION AND HUNGER IN ALLENDALE, GLEN ROCK, HO-HO-KUS, MIDLAND PARK, RIDGEWOOD, WALDWICK AND PART OF SADDLE RIVER
Community Meals, Inc. will be participating in the
14th Annual March for Meals
– a month-long, nationwide celebration of Meals on Wheels and the homebound and vulnerable seniors who rely on its vital safety net.
In previous years CMI celebrated Mayors for Meals, a one-day event associated with the March for Meals campaign. This year CMI celebrates 45 years of serving a growing community, and therefore, expanding their “March” program to include a variety of “Community Champions” in hopes of bringing more awareness to this valuable, privately funded community service.
If you wish to learn about March for Meals or Community Meals and how you can be involved, please email our office Community Meals, Inc.
or visit our website.
About Meals on Wheels America
Meals on Wheels America is the oldest and largest national organization supporting the more than 5,000 community-based senior nutrition programs across the country that are dedicated to addressing senior hunger and isolation. This network exists in virtually every community in America and, along with more than two million volunteers, delivers the nutritious meals, friendly visits and safety checks that enable America’s seniors to live nourished lives with independence and dignity. By providing funding, leadership, research, education and advocacy support, Meals on Wheels America empowers its local member programs to strengthen their communities, one senior at a time.
Meals on Wheels
