The Ridgewood Blog Brings a Free Market Laissez-faire Point of View to Local, New Jersey State and National Issues.
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, the word is that there is a shakeup at Village Parks department. Apparently the tree supervisor has been missing for a month and Director of Parks and Recreation Nancy Bigos is scrambling for someone to cover the position .
photos courtesy of Boyd Loving
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, Ridgewood firefighters were called to mitigate a hydraulic fluid leak onto the street in front of 381 Linwood Avenue on Thursday morning, 03/14. The leak emanated from a Village of Ridgewood owned tree chipper, which was stationed on the street in connection with the removal of a damaged tree. The leaking chipper was transported away from the scene to be repaired. Another one was brought in to finish the job off.
photo courtesy of Village Shade Tree
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, its planting season and according to Councilman Sedon the Village of Ridgewood is in the process of planting 140 street trees throughout the Village.
The Shade Tree Division is responsible for the maintenance and care of approximately 15, 000 Village owned street trees on 100 miles of public ways, as well as additional trees and shrubs in parks and on other public grounds. This includes all aspects, such as removal, planting, and pruning. The Shade Tree Division does a tree planting for Arbor Day, which is usually the last Friday in April. The division currently offers a memorial tree/bench program to honor the memory of a friend or family member.
Hollow sycamores can still lead long lives.
Age and Changes
As a sycamores mature, the brown, gray and green bark on their lower trunk peels in patches. The colorful patches contrast with the white inner bark , forming a colorful mosaic. When sycamores get to be 200 years old, their sapwood no longer transfers minerals and water from their roots. Resins and tree wastes collect and harden in the heartwood or core of the tree. This heartwood frequently rots, but hollow sycamores can still lead long lives.
the staff of the Ridgewood
Ridgewood NJ, resident Jacqueline Hone voiced concerns over the Schedler clean up .Jacqueline Hone said the $99,000 was very large and the residents were in the dark about many aspects to that cleanup , including sidewalks.
Hone went on to voice her concerns on the discovery of artifacts on the property and speculated on the lack of qualifications of the clean up crew dealing with antiquities .
Also Hone voiced fears over over development and the loss of a natural space and also the many inaccuracies and falsehoods on the 2009 application that have still not been addressed .
Janice Willett then followed up about transparency in public notices specifically with the potential costs for Schedler if the Village does not get any grant money resident could be on the hook for the whole $635,000 to renovate a property with no designated purpose .
July 29,2017
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, isn’t it Ironic that so many main roads are beyond hell bound.And town is still fining people thru forced sidewalk plant repair for sidwalks damaged by towns neglected tree maintenance and poor selections of tree types when they installed them in the first place. Classic case do as they say and Be READY TO PAY all day every way.
file photo by Boyd Loving
I can’t get anyone to answer simple questions in less than a week.
How did he get verbal permission from Cronin? Why doesn’t he need to follow the rules?
They should have removed the rock wall while they were there, unless Cronin gave him verbal permission to erect it.
June 15,2017
by Boyd Loving
Ridgewood NJ, An ordinance regulating tree removals on private property was unanimously passed by Village Council members on 6/14. A permit will now be required to remove any tree larger than 8 inches in diameter. Any healthy tree removed must be replaced, or a payment made in lieu of replacement. Key provisions of the new ordinance are outlined below.
Chapter 260, Section 260-4, Cutting or Removal of a Tree No person, property owner, hired firm, or other entity shall cause to be cut or removed any existing tree, with a diameter at breast height (DBH) greater than 8- inches, upon any lands within the Village of Ridgewood, without a permit. Any such cutting or removal of a tree or trees, with a DBH greater than 8-inches, shall only be permitted in accordance with the provisions of this chapter. Exemptions to these requirements are set forth in Chapter 260-8.
Chapter 260, Section 260-7, “Permit Requirements for Tree Removal” Any Qualified Tree desired to be removed, with a diameter at breast height (DBH) of greater than 8-inches, in the Village of Ridgewood, shall require a permit issued by the Division of Engineering of the Department of Public Works, unless said tree meets the criteria for exemption from permit requirements in Chapter 260-8. No tree over 8-inches DBH shall be cut or otherwise removed from any lands in the Village without a tree removal permit, with the exception of those meeting the conditions of the exemptions as set forth in Chapter 260, Section 4 and 7. All such trees shall be referred to as Qualified Trees. All applications to the Village of Ridgewood Planning Board, Zoning Board of Adjustment, Building Department, or Engineering Division that require, as part of the proposed work, the removal of any Qualified Trees, as defined in this Chapter, unless otherwise exempt pursuant to the provisions of this Chapter, shall submit an application for a tree removal and protection permit. All applications for a tree removal and protection permits, whether in conjunction with a major or minor subdivision application, major or minor site plan application, or other development of property improvement action, shall be made to the Engineering Division of the Department of Public Works for review and subsequent action. The Engineering Division shall coordinate all applications with the appropriate land use board, the Village’s Shade Commission, and the Village Arborist.
Chapter 260, Section 260-8, “Exemptions from Permit Requirements” The following tree conditions shall be exempt from the provisions of this Chapter. If a tree is deemed exempt, its removal shall not require a replacement tree. B. Removal of any tree or trees which are dead, dying, or obviously diseased, as determined by a Qualified Tree Expert for those on private property or the Village’s Arborist if the tree is within the public right-of-way of any street or road, or public property, in the Village. Trees that have suffered damage, trees whose growth has been compromised, or are a danger or hazard to structures and human life as confirmed by a Qualified Tree Expert or the Village Arborist shall be permitted to be removed without the need to obtain a permit. A replacement tree shall not be required for such trees under the provisions of this Chapter.
photos courtesy of Boyd Loving
May 3,2017
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, A large tree limb fell unexpectedly during an operation being performed by a Village of Ridgewood Shade Tree Division crew working near 558 Hillcrest Road, Ridgewood on Tuesday morning, 05/02. Primary electrical wires and a pole mounted transformer were damaged as the limb fell. Ridgewood PD and FD personnel responded to the incident. A portion of Hillcrest Road was blocked for several hours until PSE&G workers completed repairs. It is unknown how many homes in the area lost power as a result of the mishap. No injuries were reported by members of the tree crew.
URBAN FORESTRY EXPERT PRESENTS – SUSTAINABLE STREET TREE MGMT – MAY 9
April 27,2017
te staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, a New Jersey Urban Forestry Expert will Present ‘Sustainable Street Tree Management’ at Ridgewood Library.
Taking comfort under the shade of an oak tree is one of summer’s greatest pleasures. But, have you wondered how these mighty trees are maintained, or how the village ensures a healthy and diversified tree canopy will comfort residents for years to come?
The Ridgewood Shade Tree Commission will welcome New Jersey Certified Tree Expert Nick Polanin to address these very questions on Tuesday, May 9, 2017 at 7:30 pm at the Ridgewood Public Library.
Sustainable Tree Management
Mr. Polanin will discuss sustainable street tree management, the problems facing our urban trees, the challenges and even liabilities involved with the selection of our street trees, as well as issues with care and maintenance, including pest management intervention.
Robust and Healthy Tree Ecosystem
“We are so excited to have Nick Polanin speak at the Ridgewood Library,” said Monica Buesser, Chairperson of the Ridgewood Shade Tree Commission. “Village residents will have the unique opportunity to learn the complexities and importance of maintaining a robust and healthy tree ecosystem in our community.”
This lecture is free and open to the public. Continuing education credit is also available for attendees.
The Ridgewood Public Library is located at 125 N. Maple Avenue, Ridgewood, New Jersey.
For more information, contact Monica Buesser, mkbuesser@gmail.com.
Having over 30 years of experience in the municipal, residential, and academic sectors of arboriculture and urban forestry, Nick has taught countless professionals and volunteers on many aspects within urban forestry. He has been nationally recognized for his leadership and educational initiatives in training arborists and other tree care professionals on the selection and care of trees and pest intervention, as well as sustainable street tree management. He currently serves as statewide coordinator for the Rutgers NJAES Master Gardener Program. Nick holds an M.S. in Horticulture/Urban Forestry (1989), and a B.S. in Natural Resource Management/Forestry (1982), both from Rutgers University.
Protect, Preserve and Enhance Shade Trees
The Ridgewood Shade Tree Commission’s (STC) purpose is to protect, preserve and enhance the shade trees in the village. Shade Trees are defined as trees planted next to streets on the Village’s property. The STC’s goals are to foster public-private partnerships to 1) educate the community about the contribution shade trees make to the Village environment and, 2) increase the number of shade trees in the village by actively promoting community tree planting programs.
photos courtesy of Boyd Loving’s Facebook page
May 26,2016
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, Personnel from the Village of Ridgewood’s Parks Department Shade Tree Division work to remove a large limb that fell at 7:00 AM on Thursday, 05/26 and blocked the intersection of West End Avenue and Grandview Circle. A RIdgewood PD patrol officer had cordoned off the roadway with caution tape prior to the arrival of tree workers.
Ridgewood NJ, Christina Ercolano, age 51, of 59 Ehtelbert Place, Ridgewood, blocked Village of Ridgewood employees from removing a towering shade tree on Friday morning, 12/11, until threatened with arrest by Village Engineer Christopher Rutishauser. Several of her Ethelbert Place neighbors stood by as Ms. Eroclano asked Village officials why a “perfectly healthy” tree was being cut down.
Montvale Council introduces tree ordinance
While the Ridgewood Village Council struggles to reach agreement among themselves regarding a tree ordinance, other communities seem to be moving forward.
https://www.northjersey.com/news/240816601_Montvale_Council_introduces_tree_ordinance.html