If Sonenfeld were still Village Manager today (i.e., hadn’t resigned yet) this would have been good cause for the new Mayor to demand her resignation. And yes, any village employee below Sonenfeld who assisted in the production of this video should now be investigated, and at least be counseled and subjected to some kind of censure or discipline, unless the facts reveal that they participated against their will because Sonenfeld or Aronsohn pressured them somehow or threatened their job. This is a serious situation involving municipal corruption in open defiance of the non-partisan form of government to which Village residents are entitled pursuant to the Faulkner Act. Village management needs to act promptly to ensure that nobody employed by the Village tries to do or even thinks about doing anything like this ever again.
Ridgewood NJ, the Ridgewood Police Announce Extended Hours for Police Records Room.
The Ridgewood Police records room now has extended hours on Thursday evenings to better serve the public. The new hours for the records Bureau are Monday Tuesday Wednesday and Friday 8:30am until 4:15pm and Thursdays 8:30am to 8:30pm.
For more information about obtaining police records visit the Ridgewood Police Department website
from Marcia Ringel, The Preserve Graydon Coalition,
Last night I submitted three comments separately. Only the last one appeared (making no sense of its “P.S.”) I asked about this and was informed that the spam filter has been acting up. PJ asked me to send them again. Here they are:
Interesting that this announcement appeared the day after I submitted an OPRA request for the arborist’s report. Here is my argument: Is it possible that this is all accurate and the tree poses a danger? Sure. But if your doctor says, “There’s nothing I can do; you’re dying,” do you buy a cemetery plot or seek a second opinion? Rutgers has an expert in every county and the one in Hackensack might conceivably agree to look at the sycamore. This is not just any tree, but one that has been admired, photographed, and painted by residents and others for many decades. The decision to cut it down would feel a lot more valid if confirmed by another tree expert. If Rutgers can’t do it, the town can pay for it. An expert arborist has agreed to do a complete report for $750. That is only $50 more than was spent in tax money to create a video that has now been officially deemed an ethical failure. Our sycamore deserves a second opinion. It will hardly be free to take it down. Having a professional written report in the records would help to protect the village in case of an accident. When the town talks about safety, what percentage of that is fear of liability?
Regarding the age of the tree: the Ridgewood Library’s local history section has photos of the sycamore taken before the federal Works Progress Administration (WPA) built the stone wall around the periphery of the Graydon swimming area and a smaller version of the wall around the tree island. (There used to be two such islands with trees along the Linwood Avenue side; one was removed when the swimming area was formalized from its earlier swimmin’-hole past.) The WPA also built the Skaters Shelter, now used as the badge office and food concession but intended as a place to warm one’s toes while ice skating. The cornerstone of that building, located in the lower right corner as you face the door to the badge office, says “1936.” The angles at which the sycamore’s limbs are extended in both old and more recent photos make it clear that the same tree has been there all along, watching Ridgewood go by for over 80 years and perhaps far more. Let’s give it a second look before we knock it down.
P.S. Anyone wishing to endorse this proposal (a second opinion) can reach the Village Manager by calling Village Hall at 201-670-5500 ext. 201 or via email at [email protected]. If this interests you, please don’t wait.
Ridgewood NJ, the Ridgewood PBA Local 20 is collecting unwrapped toys for children for the Holiday toy drive. Toys can be dropped off at Police Headquarters or the PBA tent at Van Nest Square during the holiday tree lighting 12/1/17. Stop by and say hello to our officers who will be handing out hot cider and giveaways for the kids.
We are a small part of a giant area toy drive which takes place on Dec. 18th. It benefits tons of area children including the Valley Hospital Pediatric Center. New Unwrapped toys can be dropped off, at anytime, at the Ridgewood Police Headquarters or you can find us at our tent during Downtown for the Holidays on Dec. 1st. Help us spread some joy this holiday season!
Ridgewood NJ, The Orpheus Club Men’s Chorus presents songs of the Holiday season with our special guest Barbara Dever, mezzo soprano – NY Metropolitan Opera. Also featured are tributes to Ella Fitzgerald’s 100th birthday and the 60th anniversary of West Side Story.
Saturday, December 16, 2017 at 7:30 PM
Sunday, December 17, 2017 at 4:00 PM
at United Methodist Church, 100 Dayton St, Ridgewood NJ 07450
Ticket Prices:
At the door – $25.00,
Seniors and Students under 17 – $18.00
Discount tickets – $15.00 are available online at www.ridgewoodorpheusclub.org and at the following Merchants:
Ridgewood: Daily Treat
Mango Jam
Glen Rock: Perry’s Florist
Rock Ridge Pharmacy
Fair Lawn: Benny’s Luncheonette
Hohokus Wine & Spirit World
Westwood Lewis Drugs
Barbara Dever, mezzo-soprano.
Since her debut as Amneris in Aida at the Metropolitan Opera in 1994, Barbara Dever has been in demand throughout the world for dramatic mezzo-soprano operatic and concert repertoire. In 16 seasons at the Metropolitan Opera, Miss Dever has been heard in the house as Azucena in Il trovatore, Amneris in Aida, and Ulrica in Un ballo in maschera, Eboli in Don Carlo, and Herodias in Salome. 2009-2010 marked her 17th season at the Metropolitan, where she performed in Il trittico and as the Countess in The Nose. She was also heard as Mary in Der Fliegende Holländer with the Canadian Opera Company of Toronto, in Mahler’s Symphony No. 3 and Des Knaben Wunderhorn in Mexico City with the Mineria Orchestra.
In addition to her vast operatic repertoire, Miss Dever maintains an active performance schedule with orchestras throughout the world. In recent season she has been heard in Mahler’s Rückert Lieder with the State Symphony Orchestra of Sao Paulo, in the Missa Solemnis and Messiah with Zubin Mehta and the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra, in Des Knaben Wunderhorn with Louisville Orchestra and at the Chautauqua Festival, in the Verdi Requiem with the Florida Philharmonic, the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra, the Pacific Symphony, and the National Orchestra of Mexico, in Mendelssohn’s Elijah with the Netherlands Radio Orchestra with Hans Vonk conducting, and in numerous performances of Mahler’s Symphonies Nos. 2, 3, 8 and Das Lied von der Erde with the National Orchestra of Mexico.
Ridgewood NJ, Due to the Downtown for the Holidays event on Friday, December 1st, with the closure of several streets in the Central Business District, the Public Valet Parking will not be available. The Public Valet Parking will be available on Saturday, December 2nd, from 6:00 p.m. to 1:00 a.m. The cost is $5.00 per vehicle.
Ridgewood NJ, There’s more to the story than just Mr. Aronsohn and Ms. Sonenfeld appearing in the video.
In addition to Ms. Sonenfeld, two (2) other full time employees of the Village made video appearances (Robert Rooney and Christopher Rutishauser), the taxpayer funded Village website was used to host pro-garage “propaganda,” and the Village’s taxpayer funded e-mail server was used to send out a biased electronic communication to approximately 9,000 unique e-mail addresses.
Although Paul “the spin doctor” Aronsohn is attempting to say that it was JUST an innocent video, there was actually a targeted, taxpayer funded, well engineered, pro-garage campaign being executed and the Village Manager’s office was serving as campaign headquarters.
Ridgewood NJ, an amazing headline today from the Ridgewood News , especially when you take into account the one sided journalistic arse kissing and one sided reporting that often take place on their pages . The Ridgewood News like most of New Jersey’s media have been open cheerleaders , excuse makers and supporters for corruption and dishonestly in this ethically challenged state . It’s about time and we say welcome to the real world .
Ridgewood NJ, the Ridgewood Downtown for the Holidays & Christmas Tree Lighting Celebration
Fri, December 01, 2017 , Time: 5:30 PM – 9:00 PM
Location: E. Ridgewood Ave and Memorial Park, Ridgewood, NJ 07450
You do not have to go to NYC to see the lighting of a beautiful tall Christmas tree…
right here in Ridgewood, we celebrate the starting of all the Holidays with the lighting of a 60-80ft. beautiful tree.
Starting at 5:30-7pm,
-Santa will be in the Park for the
“wee” little ones.
-On the streets, the RHS Marching Band and Holiday Chorus will be marching and singing up and down E. Ridgewood Ave…making Merriment with their instruments and voices.
Just added, ride Santa’s trackless train…this will be fun! (FREE)
7:00pm-
On stage is where the excitement happens, lots of singing and dancing by the kids to help us get ready to light our beautiful tree….”Magical” are the words they use.
7:30pmish is the lighting of the tree.
following will be music on stage and
in the streets…
SANTA will be in Park (8-9pm) waiting for your list and checking it twice…and Santa’s track-less train. (will end at 8:55pm-streets open up at 9pm)
********************************************************** There will be no parking on E. Ridgewood Ave from Walnut up to and including parts of S. & N. Broad St. Please note the streets that will be closed for this event will be from Walnut Street up E. Ridgewood Ave. included S. & N Broad St from 5:30-9pmish.
What’s happening in Ridgewood during the Holiday Season….
Saturday, December 2, 2017
10am-1pm
Santa will arrive at Columbia Bank
(60 S. Broad St.), free gifts for all the kids
10:30am FREE Movie at the Bow-Tie Cinema-
movie will be ELF, Will Ferrel.
2-4pm Santa will now be at Memorial Park at
Van Neste Square, weather permitting.
Saturday, December 2,9, 16, 2017 – 12N-3pm
Visit SANTA at his house in the center of Ridgewood, Memorial Park at Van Neste Square.
weather permitting.
Saturday, December 23, 2017 – 12N-2:30pm
weather permitting.
Come to do your Holiday Shopping in historic downtown Ridgewood and dine at our delicious
restaurants. Give yourself a gift of shopping and dining.
The Ridgewood “tradition” is supported and presented by the members of the Ridgewood Chamber of Commerce as follows…
Columbia Bank
Valley Hospital
Van Dyk Health Care
Freedom Bank
Bethlehem Lutheran Church
Prestige Family of Fine Cars
Atlantic Stewardship Bank
Park West Tavern
Santoni’s Pizzeria
Pearl Restaurant
ConnectOne Bank
West Bergen Mental Health
Serendipity Labs
Clemente Orthodontics
Serendipity Labs Ridgewood
Duxiana
S&SO Produce Farms
Country Pancake House and Restaurant
The Village Health Coach
Charles J. X. Kahwaty, Esqu.
Biltmore Tuxedos
C.C. Van Emburgh Inc.
Beyband International, Inc.
Janjigian Trading Co,, Inc.
Ridgewood Party Rental
Life Opportunities Unlimited
Haagen-Dazs
E. Clark Travel
YWCA of Bergen County
Ben & Jerry’s
for details call 201-445-2600, [email protected]
Ridgewood Chamber of Commerce
celebrating 90th Anniversary
1927-2017
one of the nation’s oldest running Chambers
********************************************
DOWNTOWN FOR THE HOLIDAYS-TREE LIGHTING CELEBRATION…
starts Friday, December 1, 2017
Santa, music and merriment 5:30-9pm
Tree Lighting 7:30pmish
******************************
Saturday Santa arrives at Columbia Bank at 10am-gifts and pictures for all the kids.
10:30am FREE MOVIES FOR THE KIDS…
SANTA IN THE PARK 2-4PM
FOR ALL THE DETAILS CHECK OUT www.experienceridgewood.com
Look there are 160 homes on the market in the village Ridgewood as of today. Senior citizens and other residents are moving out we’re downsizing because of the taxes they will not retire in town on the realtor and this is what I’m told every single day. Don’t let anybody give you any kind of bullshit story the taxes are way too high in town. Yes there are buyers coming from Europe and all major cities throughout the United States because they all want to work in Manhattan People are following the money but days of working for someone for 25 years is pretty much over there is no more loyalty. For few between. Make the money and run.
Dear “James”
Please source your random facts… because to me, almost none of them are accurate.
“And let us not forget Ms. Hauck, who actually hired the video company that made the video, paid for it, and then collected reimbursement from public money.”
I did not pay for them. Bob Rooney, the CFO payed the video prod. co. and the printer directly. You can check.
And your personal opinions are just that, yours to share as you think are appropriate. But, I will never understand people who seem to actually enjoy turning good philosophical disagreements into such vindictive personal attacks.
Reader reminds us this is the same Gwenn: Calling members of the public terrorists, stalkers, creeps…..telling them they should move, they should not have moved, and they should sit down.
Ridgewood NJ, Nine (9) high school students from the Immaculate Heart Academy in Washington Township escaped injury when the school bus on which they were riding collided with a Volkswagen Passat sedan at the intersection of Godwin Avenue and South Monroe Street, Ridgewood on Wednesday afternoon, 11/29. The adult male driver of the Volkswagen sustained a non life threatening injury, but declined ambulance transport to a local hospital. The school bus driver was uninjured. Ridgewood Police, EMS, and Fire Department personnel responded to the incident. A flatbed tow truck removed the wrecked Passat from the scene; the school bus was able to drive away on its own power. Ridgewood PD issued one (1) crash related summons to the Volkswagen’s driver.
Ridgewood NJ, Two (2) individuals sustained non life threatening injuries in a crash between a 4-door sedan and a cargo van at the intersection of Gardner Road and Lincoln Avenue, Ridgewood on Wednesday morning, 11/29. Ridgewood Police, EMS and Fire Department responded to the incident. Both vehicles were removed from the scene by a flatbed tow truck. Fire Department personnel attended to a moderately sized crash related fluid spill.
