The Ridgewood Blog Brings a Free Market Laissez-faire Point of View to Local, New Jersey State and National Issues.
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River Edge NJ, a teenager has been arrested in connection with an armed robbery that took place at a gas station in River Edge earlier this month, according to a recent announcement by authorities.
Continue reading Teenager Arrested for Armed Robbery at River Edge Gas Station
file photo by Boyd Loving
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Paramus NJ, Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella announced the arrest of 74-year-old STEPHEN E. SWEET, a church pastor, who resides in Paramus, NJ on charges of aggravated sexual assault, sexual assault, endangering the welfare of a child, aggravated criminal sexual contact and criminal sexual contact. The arrest was the result of an investigation conducted by the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Special Victims Unit under the direction of Chief Matthew Finck.
Continue reading 74 Year Old Paramus Pastor Charged With Sexual Assault of Early Teen
all photos courtesy of the “Ice Cream Lady” of Paramus
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Paramus NJ, the beloved “Ice Cream Lady” of Paramus, Monica Pidhorecki, is back on the road after a devastating fire destroyed one of her trucks and left her home temporarily uninhabitable. Thanks to the generosity of local families, a fundraising effort has enabled Pidhorecki to continue delighting the sweet tooths of countless Bergen County kids.
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Franklin Lakes NJ, Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin today announced that two brothers who operate a school bus company in Paterson were arrested Tuesday, Dec. 20, after they allegedly employed unqualified drivers — including some with suspended licenses, arrest records and criminal convictions — all while misleading public school districts about who was transporting their students to school.
file photo by Boyd Loving
Ridgewood Police: A black bear has been spotted on the east side of town this morning. Bears live in our area and will leave the woods in search of food. If seen, make yourself known with loud noises and do not corner it /make sure it has an escape route. Black bear attacks are very rare but if you see one acting aggressively, give us a call.
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ho-Ho-Kus NJ, according to the Ho-Ho-Kus Police yesterday at 532pm , a bear was still in the area, now seen on Racetrack Road. NJ Division of Fish & Wildlife has been contacted and provided same advice.
Do not approach. Leave it alone. Keep kids and pets out of the area. Bring any bird feeders inside.
Continue reading UPDATE: Bear Sighting in Ho-Ho-Kus
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Glen Rock NJ, The final totals from the July 7th NJ-5 primary are in, with key highlights including:
Arati earned 26,432 votes (33.52%) after narrowing the margin significantly by averaging 45% of the vote in late vote-by-mail ballots and on Election Day. Arati earned the most votes of any Democratic primary challenger to an incumbent representative in at least the last decade in New Jersey.
Continue reading ARATI KREIBICH STATEMENT ON OFFICIAL DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY ELECTION RESULTS
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Pearl River NY, Pascack Valley line once again hit by tragedy. This past Sunday two teen passengers inside a Porsche SUV died after the car burst into flames on NJ Transit’s Pascack Valley Line. A two-car collision sent a Porsche SUV plummeting off an overpass onto train tracks below, where it burst into flames, killing two teenagers and sending a third to a hospital with serious injuries.
Continue reading Pascack Valley line hit by tragedy again
April 4,2018
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Fair Lawn NJ, State Senator Bob Gordon (D-38) is going to the Board of Public Utilities (BPU).Bergen sources had speculated for some time on this eventuality and today a source confirmed it.Gordon represents Hawthorne, Fair Lawn, Glen Rock, Bergenfield, Hasbrouck Heights, Maywood, Lodi, Oradell, New Milford, Paramus, Oradell, Rochelle Park, Paramus, River Edge, and Saddle Brook.
As chairman of the N.J. Senate committee responsible for overseeing public transportation issues Gordon came under criticism ,for seeming out of touch with New Jersey Transits problems and failing to act until far to late.
The departure of the battleground district senator sets up the most likely potential for Assemblyman Joe Lagana (D-38) and Assemblyman Tim Eustace (D-38) to challenge for it. Republicans have long eyed the district and have come close to taking it several times.
November 5,2017
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Glen Rock NJ, the campaign seemed to finally heat up this weekend with America’s Mayor Rudy Giuliani endorsing the GOP District 39 ticket, Senator Cardinale, Assemblyman Auth and Holly Schepisi and helping us raise additional money last night.
District 39 – (Bergen and Passaic) Bloomingdale, Closter, Demarest, Dumont, Emerson, Harrington Park, Haworth, Hillsdale, Mahwah, Montvale, Norwood, Oakland, Old Tappan, Park Ridge, Ramsey, Ringwood, River Vale, Saddle River, Upper Saddle River, Wanaque, Washington (Bergen), Westwood, Woodcliff Lake.
Giuliani also endorsed and campaigned with Kelly Greco Langschultz for NJ Senate. Kelly Landschultz of New Milford is the Republican candidate for Senate, with William Leonard of Glen Rock and Christopher B. Wolf of Saddle Brook the GOP Assembly candidates
District 38 – (Bergen and Passaic) Bergenfield, Fair Lawn, Glen Rock, Hasbrouck Heights, Hawthorne, Lodi, Maywood, New Milford, Oradell, Paramus, River Edge, Rochelle Park, Saddle Brook .
Wednesday, October 18, 2017
Kelly Langschultz for NJ Senate LD38
NEW MILFORD, NJ – New Jersey once again is grabbing headlines as the worst state to do business in. The Tax Foundation, a non-partisan Washington-based think tank, released their 2018 State Business Tax Climate Index earlier this week, ranking New Jersey 50th overall in tax policy.
“While attempting to start a business and raise a family, all while being a constituent of Bob Gordon’s for the last fourteen years, I have personally experienced the unintended consequences of our Senator’s voting record that has led us here.” said Kelly Langschultz regarding the Tax Foundation’s findings.
“Voters in Bergen and Passaic have seen enough of Bob Gordon’s policies, which is why I’m campaigning aggressively to replace Gordon in three weeks and put our state back on the right track.”
The Tax Foundation rated New Jersey dead last in overall business climate, 42nd in Corporate Tax competitiveness, 48th in Individual Taxes, 46th in Sales Taxes and ranked New Jersey’s Property Taxes the highest in the nation.
“Whenever any legislation is on the Senate floor and Bob Gordon gets the opportunity to stand up for his constituents, the Senator fails every time. Every effort to seriously reform our state’s tax code and put New Jersey on the path to affordability and economic sustainability, Bob Gordon balks at every attempt to save those struggling in the 38th District. The sad truth, Bob Gordon has yet to meet a tax increase he didn’t like.”
While serving as councilwoman in New Milford, Kelly Langschultz presented a fiscal stability plan earlier this year that will continue to contribute towards the borough’s taxes remaining flat and will give New Milford a path towards responsibly paying down its debt while protecting taxpayers.
“The stability plan and financial know-how I’ve been providing to New Milford residents is exactly what Trenton needs, and I plan on providing the same kind of relief to the residents of New Jersey when I’m sworn in this January.”
Kelly Langschultz is a mother of four, small business owner, councilwoman in New Milford and a candidate for State Senate in New Jersey’s 38th Legislative District. Learn more about Kelly on her website, KellyLangschultz.com or on Facebook at facebook.com/kelly4njsenate.
District 38 – (Bergen and Passaic) Bergenfield, Fair Lawn, Glen Rock, Hasbrouck Heights, Hawthorne, Lodi, Maywood, New Milford, Oradell, Paramus, River Edge, Rochelle Park, Saddle Brook
October 8,2017
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Saddle Brook NJ, its election year and the Ridgewod blog is once again looking at some of the more interesting stories of this election year . We found one in near by District 38 with a gentlemen named Christopher Wolf. Chris’s home town is Fairlawn ,he is the Pastor at First Reformed Church of Saddle Brook, and he is running State Assemblyman in District 38.For Glen Rock readers that’s you .
Chris is an author of With You Every Step of the Way (2011) and Giving Faith a Second Chance: Restarts, Mulligans and Do-Overs (2007) and he is the host of radio show ,Walk With Me, Wednesday nights, 7pm Est/6pm Cntrl on WYFN 94.9 FM – NY; yfnradio.com .
Chris has been a pastor for 15 years, 7 here in Saddle Brook. The congregation averages about 70 people on Sundays. Chris said , “As the NJ Legislature is part-time, my main priority is my congregation. There are set days for business in Trenton, Mondays and/or Thursdays so I will adjust my congregation hours around that but will remain at the same they are now. My main issues are making NJ more affordable, helping small businesses , creating a Main Street economy, Social Services reform, and bring the community partnership concept to the other towns in the District.”
Chris got the political bug while working at the state assembly many years ago and now feels that in order to practice what you preach in church you need to go out and engage the community .
We asked Chris has his Christian faith ever been an issue on the campaign trail and he said surprisingly ,”No” .
Christopher Wolf is running for assembly, with Kelly Langschultz for Senate, and Billy Leonard for assembly against long time Senator Bob Gordon, assemblymen Tim Eustace and Joe Lagana.
Chris has been spreading the message of affordability, leadership, and community , in in towns like Bergenfield, Fair Lawn, Glen Rock, Hasbrouck Heights, Hawthorne, Lodi, Maywood, New Milford, Oradell, Paramus, River Edge, Rochelle Park, and Saddle Brook . He love events , but he says ,”going door to door in the D38 towns is the best. I love the purity of it , just meeting and talking neighbor to neighbor. And it’s working. People are responding well to our team. Part of the purpose of New Jersey’s Second Chance is to inspire people to believe in leaders and in government again.”
That’s right Chris calls his platform New Jersey’s Second Chance , and says ” it’s because I believe in redemption for New Jersey (Trenton) and it’s a play on the title of my first book, Giving Faith a Second Chance “.
Chris described his life to us as , “Improbable. So many of my stories could be described as improbable. Where I am now, after growing up in a garden apartment in Fair Lawn. You know, I was the kid who played baseball in sneakers because there were times when we couldn’t afford cleats. Becoming a minister and much more. Now I’m on the brink of the most improbable chapter yet – two months from being elected to represent you in the New Jersey General Assembly. You know me, I’ll bring principled, passionate, honorable, game-changing leadership to District 38 towns and to Trenton. It’s a critical time for the campaign”
Chris summed it all up for us , “I want people to look back on November 2017, and know that they were a part of New Jersey’s Second Chance – the season in which we began to redeem our state from financial and social ruin – and started over with affordability, thriving small businesses, and connected communities.”
PVL train tickets will be cross-honored on Main/Bergen County Lines
September 13, 2017
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, Due to grade crossing repairs and signal and track maintenance work, NJ TRANSIT is replacing trains on the Pascack Valley Line with buses on weekends and during midday hours on weekdays beginning on Sunday, September 17 and continuing through Saturday, October 28.
This does not effect Ridgewood Main line and Bergen line passengers , but will impact Montvale , Park Ridge , Woodcliff Lake, Hillsdale, Westwood, Emerson, Oradell , River Edge , River Edge New Bridge Landing , Hackensack Anderson Street, Hackensack Essex Street , Teterboro , and Wood Ridge .
Expect larger crowds on Main line and Bergen line during midday hours and late nights .
During this time, Pascack Valley Line tickets and passes will be cross-honored on the Main/Bergen County Lines trains. At Secaucus Junction, Coach USA buses – which are replacing Pascack Valley Line trains – will arrive and depart from Platforms 9 and 10. Bus times may vary from train times at some station stops. Customers should visit the NJ TRANSIT website for specific schedule times.
While busing is in effect, all Metro-North customers from Spring Valley, Nanuet and Pearl River may use their monthly/weekly commutation passes for travel on Metro-North’s Hudson Line between Tarrytown and Grand Central Terminal.
Monday through Friday, midday hours
On weekdays, during the midday hours, buses will operate in two sections:
Between Spring Valley and Secaucus: There will be several buses operating as express and local between Spring Valley and Secaucus. Customers should be mindful of the signage denoting whether they are express or local buses before boarding. Some buses will operate between New Bridge Landing and Secaucus, making all stops except Teterboro. Teterboro customers may use NJ TRANSIT’s No. 161 Bus, which stops at Industrial Avenue and Route 46.
Note: For Train 1622, buses will operate in three sections: New York State Express between Spring Valley and Secaucus (no local stops in New Jersey); between Montvale and Secaucus, operating express between New Bridge Landing and Secaucus; and between New Bridge Landing and Secaucus, making all stops except Teterboro.
While the busing is in operation during the midday hours, shuttle trains for Pascack Valley Line customers will operate between Secaucus and Hoboken.
Saturdays and Sundays
Local and New York State buses will operate between Spring Valley and Secaucus. Customers traveling between Secaucus and Hoboken should use Main and Bergen County Line trains.
NOTE: For You Night Owls :Bergen County Line Train 69, which operates to Port Jervis and normally departs Hoboken at 12:40 a.m., will depart Hoboken 5 minutes later, at 12:45 a.m. Pascack Valley Line customers traveling from Hoboken and connecting with the last substitute bus from Secaucus will use Train 69.
Teterboro Station customers should note that the last weekend outbound bus of the night will stop at Teterboro ONLY by request.
