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NOTICE: RIDGEWOOD ZONING BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT SPECIAL MEETING

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NOTICE: ZONING BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT SPECIAL MEETING

VILLAGE OF RIDGEWOOD ZONING BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT

AMENDMENT TO MEETING SCHEDULE SPECIAL PUBLIC MEETING ANNOUNCEMENT

In accordance with the provisions of the “Open Public Meetings Act,” please be advised that the Ridgewood Zoning Board of Adjustment will hold a special public meeting on Tuesday, August 14, 2018, at 7:30 p.m. in the Village Hall Court Room, 131 North Maple Avenue, Ridgewood, NJ.

All meetings of the Ridgewood Zoning Board of Adjustment (i.e., official public meetings, work session meetings, pre-meeting assemblies and special meetings) are public meetings which are always open to members of the general public.

Jane Wondergem

Secretary to the Board

c:         ZB Members

Ridgewood News

The Record

Village Manager

Village Clerk

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Murphy Passes “the Buck” on NJ Transit Train Cancellation Epidemic

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August 10,2018

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Newark NJ, At a briefing in Newark this morning, Governor Phil Murphy vowed to resolve cancellation problems plaguing NJ Transit, .Instead of offering any solutions Murphy spent the entire press conference focusing blame on the Christie Administration .

Assembly Republican Leader Jon Bramnick (R-Union) issued the following statement following Gov. Phil Murphy’s press conference at NJ Transit:

“New Jerseyans are tough, fair-minded people but they need information every morning to plan their day. Commuters have not received that information as to the status of trains and train delays. Blaming Chris Christie seven months into the new governor’s term does not provide the needed information for our commuters.”

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Harwin Spent Over $40K in her Failed Village Council Bid

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August 9,2018

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, According to the final report Alexandra Harwin submitted to the NJ State Election Law Enforcement Commission, she spent $40,135 on her campaign.

Check out the listing of donors.  Quite an eye opener.

Ridgewood residents who made cash donations identified on official reports were:

Halaby, Rurik – $800

Pollock, Michael – $396

Vagianos, Paul – $500

Weitz, Evan – $500

Wilday, Gabriella – $500

Winograd, Siobhan – $500

 

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Ridgewood Downtown beautification vs. crosswalk/pedestrian safety

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August 9,2018

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, Readers:  What’s your opinion?  Do the planters downtown on East Ridgewood Avenue adversely impact crosswalk/pedestrian safety?  Let us know what you think.  Thank you.

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Gary Busey will sign his new book: Buseyisms at Bookends in Ridgewood September 4th

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August 9,2018

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, Bookends will be hosting Gary Busey on Tuesday, Sept 4th at 6:00pm. Busey is prolific character actor in The Buddy Holly Story, Lethal Weapon, The Firm, etc, Gary Busey will sign his new book: Buseyisms .

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

 

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RIDGEWOOD CENTRAL BUSINESS DISTRICT ADVISORY COMMITTEE AGENDA

CBD

CENTRAL BUSINESS DISTRICT ADVISORY COMMITTEE AGENDA
Thursday, August 9, 2018
Village Hall (Garden Room – First floor) – 8:30am

1. CBD Landlords Roundtable
2. Next CBD Community Forum

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Reader says Paint Over the Bike Lane , Send the bill to Aronsohn and Pucciarelli

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Painting over the green bicycle lanes and arrows is essential, but not enough. Two lanes in each direction on the west side of Franklin Ave. underpass MUST BE REINSTATED. They were needed when it was built a zillion years ago and far more now and even more in the future. Rip out the new wider median with the lampposts (a narrower one can be safe if built a little higher; it worked fine for decades) and put back the four lanes NOW or we are DOOMED. Waste of money? Yep. Shouldn’t have happened in the first place. Everybody warned that it would be a disaster. Aronsohn pushed it through. He’d be even more thrilled if it were replaced–more construction contracts. Nevertheless, gotta happen, and if they wait until the construction is in high gear it will be impossible to close that area for the time needed to fix it. PUH-LEASE, Council, just DO it. Send the bill to Aronsohn and Pucciarelli.

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Things to Consider Creating the Best Garden in Ridgewood

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August 8,2018

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, A beautiful garden always attracts attention and is a source of pride for the owners. However, to create it this way, it’s not enough just to plant “something”, cut this with a powerful electric lawn mower and wait until it becomes beautiful. You need to competently approach to planning your garden in Ridgewood, NJ.

Take Climate into Account
When deciding on the creation of the best garden, keep in mind that there is a moderate climate in Ridgewood, NJ. Moderate climate, fairly humid, with a mild summer, mild winters, long warm in spring and autumn, provides an opportunity for favorable growth and development of a huge number of plants. The garden of temperate climate is characterized by the use of deciduous broad-leaved trees and shrubs in combination with herbaceous flowering plants.

Trees and Flowers to Choose
The main accent in the compositions of such a garden is made on the diversity of color and structure of foliage, on the combination of various forms of trees, ornamental shrubs and herbaceous perennials.
Such trees as maples, chestnuts, ash trees, mountain ash, hazel, barberry, hydrangea, varieties of spirea, buddleias, junipers, and from herbaceous perennials – hosts, ferns, polyanthus roses, primroses, dicentra, bells, astilbe will look good in your garden.

What to Avoid
When creating a garden in Ridgewood, NJ, avoid bright, contrasting combinations of yellow, red and blue. For the garden of a local climate, the prudish British restraint, the use of more tranquil, close-to-natural colors or a monochrome scale is more suitable.The main color of this garden should be green with all its shades. As you can see, very much of the traditional European plant set is quite suitable for the middle band. Although the selection of plants for winter hardiness should be more stringent and care – more thorough.

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Ice Cream by Mike a Great Addition to the Central Business District

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August 8,2018

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, we checked out Ice Cream by Mike yesterday . Ice Cream by Mike offers a rotating selection of flavors crafted using the best possible ingredients like Valrhona chocolate and Tahitian vanilla beans. Mike uses only the finest fresh and when he can local ingredients .If you follow Mike’s social media you will see the current specials and you can signup to receive updates on limited edition releases! We tried the chocolate ,it was crazy good !

 

 

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Ridgewood Central Business District Choke Points and Congestion about to get a lot Worse

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photo of Ken Smith

August 8,2018
the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ , in April 2017 the Ridgewood blog https://theridgewoodblog.net/ridgewoods-central-business-district-problem-is-not-parking-but-congestion/ suggested that the over looked issue for the central business district is not parking , but congestion . There are just to many choke points in the CBD. Be they caused by ill planned “traffic easing” with suicide bike lanes or PSE&G upgrades it has become increasingly difficult to get in or out of the Central Business District.

Bike Lane Traffic Easing Ridgewood

suicide bike lane

With 3 current projects going forward , Brogan Cadillac, Ken Smith and now the Hudson Street garage congestion will be far worse than it is now .We still need need a comprehensive plan that factors in moderate development, infrastructure , retail, restaurants , mass transit , pedestrians, cycles and parking .

Brogan

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Ridgewood Fire Department Extinguishes a Small Attic fire on Pershing Avenue

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Photos courtesy of Boyd Loving’s Facebook page

August 8,2018

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, Members of Ridgewood Fire Department extinguished a small attic fire in a single family home located within the 200 block of Pershing Avenue, Ridgewood on Tuesday evening, 08/07. No injuries were reported in the blaze, which may have been related to an intense electrical storm. Ridgewood Fire Department , Ridgewood EMS, and Ridgewood Emergency Services personnel also responded to the incident.

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Reader says Court Ordered Over development is part of the continuing efforts to punish the “rich’ suburbs and provide another method of transferring money from hard working folks to those who in many cases chose not to contribute

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At the base level, this is not just about housing. This is part of the continuing efforts to punish the “rich’ suburbs and provide another method of transferring money from hard working folks to those who in many cases chose not to contribute. Take a look at why the tolls are so high on the bridges or your NJ Transit ticket so high. There are large percentages of those funds that support the city infrastructures, subways, etc. Money transfer?
There a volumes of books written about these schemes to ‘change’ the neighborhoods through exaction of money, influx of people who could not afford to live there, and try to force people to accept those who they would prefer not to. I don’t care what the politics, race, or lifestyle is of my neighbor as long as they can pay for the house, taxes, and upkeep.
Wake up folks, keep voting for liberals and watch the things you want to protect continue to eroded underneath you. Ridgewood is directly in the sights of the Governor and others. Anyone who thinks we wont have 1000+ units at the Valley site and other locations is just not fully aware of how these things work.

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NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ISSUES A HEAT ADVISORY AND AN AIR QUALITY ALERT !

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August 7,2018

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, the Nation Weather Service issues a HEAT ADVISORY NOW IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 PM EDT WEDNESDAY…

* HEAT INDEX VALUES…95 to 100.

* TIMING…In the afternoon and into the early evening through Wednesday.

* IMPACTS…The heat and humidity may cause heat stress during outdoor exertion or extended exposure.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS

A Heat Advisory is issued when the combination of heat and humidity is expected to make it feel like it is 95 to 99 degrees
for two or more consecutive days, or 100 to 104 degrees for any length of time.

To reduce risk during outdoor work, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration recommends scheduling frequent rest breaks
in shaded or air conditioned environments. Anyone overcome by heat should be moved to a cool and shaded location. Heat stroke
is an emergency! In cases of heat stroke call 9 1 1.

AIR QUALITY ALERT IN EFFECT UNTIL 11 PM EDT THIS EVENING

The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection has issued an Air Quality Action Day for the following counties…

Bergen…Essex…Union…Hudson.

This is in effect until 11 PM EDT this evening.

An Air Quality Action Day means that Ground Level Ozone within the region may approach or exceed unhealthy standards.

For additional information…please visit the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection Web site at…
https://www.njaqinow.net

 

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“Porta-Potty Park” Promoted by the Ridgewood News

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August 7,2018

the staff of the Ridgewood bog

Ridgewood NJ, the Ridgewood News goes out of it way to promote the grassy knoll at the Ridgewood train station. In “Ridgewood to shrink green space to add commuter parking” the news uses out of context quotes like, “Generally speaking, public spaces act as downtown magnets that draw people into local restaurants and retail, said N. David Milder, a downtown revitalization strategist who has worked in places like Morristown and Englewood.” https://www.northjersey.com/story/news/bergen/ridgewood/2018/08/06/ridgewood-increase-commuter-parking/866926002/

Worse yet the news goes out of it way to quote the usual local discredited suspects like the Conservancy for Clear Cutting Ridgewood Public Lands and obviously fails to visit the gasoline fumed, crabgrass strewn unused patch of dirt that was inhabited by a “porta-potty” and heavy construction equipment for over a year . For a decade the grassy knoll has only attracted commuters fleeing the train station after a long day working in New York City ,because all the quality jobs have long since left New Jersey.

When will this silliness end ? The same folks who promote turf fields all over town in flood zones and high density housing in the central business district with no parking or water are now concerned over what the Ridgewood News called a “pocket park” no one has ever heard of in the train station parking lot.

Next the same people will propose high density housing for the spot , quote the municipal planners who promoted the ‘suicide bike lane” and claim it will reduce traffic , just stop!

 

 

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NJ 12th District GOP Candidate Daryl Kipnis Announces Plan To Deal With $1.3 Trillion In Student Loan Debt

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August 7,2018

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

PRINCETON NJ ,  Republican 12th District Congressional Candidate Daryl Kipnis announced his plan today to help some 42 million college students with an estimated $1.3 trillion in loan debt.
The Student Debt Relief and Reform plan Kipnis will sponsor in Washington, D.C., will help those students truly in need of student debt relief, put into place checks to make sure rising tuitions are needed, and that students and families are better educated about all of their options before taking on these large financial burdens.

“We must act now to avert the impending cataclysm of more than $1.3 trillion in current student debt before it destroys the financial health of an entire generation,” Kipnis, who is running in New Jersey’s 12th District against Democratic incumbent U.S. Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman, said. “Unless we ease the financial burden of these loan debts for some 42 million students now, the future financial impacts will be devastating to our overall economy.”
According to data from the U.S. Department of Education, student loan debt more than doubled from 2007-2017 from $516 billion to more than $1.3 trillion.
The number of students owing money increased from 28.3 million to 42.6 million during the same period, according to the data.

“When elected, I will proudly sponsor a comprehensive bill expanding loan assistance programs, refinance options, income-based modification of loan balances, and most importantly, the ability to discharge student loans in bankruptcy for those most in need, which is greatly needed to take people who are badly struggling financially and place them in a position where they are empowered to grow our economy and live the American dream,” Kipnis, who owns his own law practice in Somerset, said. “For many of our youngest, and most promising citizens, student debt has forced almost an entire generation into a form of indentured servitude. Their debt runs in the thousands to more than $100,000, giving them the equivalent of a mortgage payment before most of them even have a job.”

Kipnis said that he sees the economic hardship this issue causes when young people come into his office and ask for help to ease the struggle with handling the debt.
“Many of the degrees students eventually obtain do not lead to jobs and salaries that allow them to significantly pay the debt down to manageable levels,” he said. “I don’t imagine many of us, especially in New Jersey, would be financially successful carrying this kind of debt right at the start of our professional lives.”

In addition to legislation to help students with existing debt, Kipnis also wants to work on reforming the system that causes students to borrow way beyond their means.
Those solutions include; tightening the requirements for getting student loans to align with the student and family’s ability to pay, as well as making sure the student is getting good enough grades to demonstrate an ability to successfully complete the degree program in a timely manner.

Kipnis also wants to see more accountability from colleges and universities that are continually hiking tuition and related costs dramatically.

“Because these loans are, for the most part, guaranteed by the government and easy to get, the institutions have little incentive to be competitive and run on a cost-efficient basis,” Kipnis said. “This makes it almost impossible for free market forces to work, bringing costs down and delivering the product of education to the masses at a reasonable cost.”

His plan includes regulations on schools accepting the federal loans to ensure any increases in tuition are warranted and necessary, similar to rent control protections in place in cities and towns across the nation.
This part of the plan will not only protect students with these loans, but all students facing a debt burden for attending them.

It also will make the schools think more critically about how they spend resources and make it more difficult for them to finance discretionary capital projects, like stadium upgrades or other renovations that do not directly impact academic performance, on the backs of students.

Another avenue is to fully educate students and parents about the true costs of attending college, the alternatives, and what kind of return on their investment they can realistically expect.
Kipnis said he also wants to expand availability of stackable credentialing, defined by the U.S. Department of labor as: ‘part of a sequence of credentials that can be accumulated over time to build up an individual’s qualifications and help them move along a career pathway or up a career ladder to different and potentially higher paying jobs,’ as an alternative to traditional 4-year degrees, as well as encourage enrollment in vocational and technical post-secondary education programs and create better relationships between employers and educational institutions to fill employment needs.

By helping students with existing debt, and taking on the root causes of the problem, Kipnis wants to ensure future generations of students have the tools to make attending college the bright gateway to achievement and prosperity it was intended to be.

“Students should be looking to the future to pay for cars, homes, weddings, children and retirement, not worrying each month where their student loan payment is coming from,” he said. “It may seem like a lot of money today but easing or eliminating this indebtedness will pay big dividends in the future, allowing the entire economy to prosper.”

District residents can learn more about Kipnis’ campaign at www.kipnisforcongress.com, on Facebook at www.facebook.com/KipnisForCongress, or on Twitter at @Kipnis4Congress.
Source: U.S. Dept. of Education
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