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Reader calls Need for Water Restrictions “just poor management “

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file photo by Boyd Loving

Like sheep. Focus energy and anger on the ridiculous water restrictions Absolutely no droughts, hasn’t been in years, steady demand even in the summer, just poor management.
Wake up folks. You are getting played. How do you think this will be when the apartments are built and demand does increase? I for one have given in, did no new planting this year, no flowers, and cut back the mowing. Landscaper and local nursery lost some business. 50k a year in taxes and I can’t water my lawn. For sale sign is up, will take what we can get and regrettable move on after 25 years. Only getting worse and council is useless

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Army National Guard Helicopter Pays a Visit to the Jr.Police Academy in Ridgewood

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photos courtesy of Boyd Loving’s Facebook

June 27,2018

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, an Army National Guard landed a Helicopter at the Jr.Police Academy today.The helicopter was piloted by Ridgewood Fire Department Firefighter Oscar Martinez, who serves as a Reservist in the United States Military, landed early Tuesday afternoon, 06/26, at the athletic field of the Benjamin Franklin Middle School, 335 North Van Dien Avenue, Ridgewood. The landing was scheduled in connection with the Chief Michael Feeney Jr. Police Academy being held at that location. Jr. Police Academy participants listened to Firefighter Martinez explain the helicopter’s operation and also got to tour the copter’s interior. Three (3) other Ridgewood Fire Department Firefighters who also serve as military reservists were on board the helicopter with Firefighter Martinez when it landed at the school.

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Pro Arte Chorale will present two Summer Sings with our new and exciting Music Director, Bryan Zaros

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June 26,2018

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, Pro Arte Chorale will present two Summer Sings with our new and exciting Music Director, Bryan Zaros. Please join us as Bryan takes us on these lovely musical journeys:
– Monday, July 30th, “Choral Treasures”, a variety of masterpieces from Mozart, Schubert, Haydn, and Palestrina

– Monday, August 27th, “Mosaic Mass”, a selection of magnificent works from Durufle, Beethoven, Bach and Mozart.

Pro Arte warmly welcomes you to these two enjoyable evenings to experience and sing with Masetro Bryan Zaros and the Chorale! 7:30- 9:00 pm at Bethlehem Lutheran Church, 155 Linwood Ave, Ridgewood, NJ. $10 admission includes score rental and refreshments. No registration required. For more information visit www.proartechorale.org; or call 201-497-8400.

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Ridgewood Art Institute : Summer Sessions for Young People 2018

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Drawing
August 6-10
2:30-4:30pm
Rebecca Leer
[email protected]
201-906-6839

Drawing for Young People – ages 8 to 17 (East Studio)

All levels are welcome. Students will learn basic techniques of line, shape, proportion, perspective and shading while working from a variety of still-life objects and the human face. Instruction will be tailored to each student.
Fee: $185 supplies purchased: $35

August 27-Aug 31
2:30-4:30pm
Joel Popadics
[email protected]
(973) 851-0366

Learn How to Draw-People, Landscapes & Still Life -ages 9 to 17 (East Studio)

All levels will discover the basics of drawing with exercises that are designed to be fun and easy to comprehend. Each session will focus on a different subject – everyday objects, people, landscapes and perspective while working in pencil, charcoal and pen & ink. Fee: $185 supplies purchased: $35

Painting
July 30-August 3
2:30-4:30pm
Sue Barrasi
[email protected]
(845) 548-2305

Oil Painting for Young People – ages 8 to 17 (West Studio)

Students will learn and explore the world of classical painting. Emphasis will be on painting directly from life as students will learn to “see” the beauty of the prismatic flow of light. Students who wish to paint landscapes will be given the opportunity to paint from plein air color studies in order to observe effects of the atmosphere and learn basic principles of landscape painting. Beginner to serious young artists. Fee: $185 supplies for the week: $25

August 6 -August 10
2:30-4:30pm
Diana Gibson
[email protected]
(973) 962-6436

Oil Painting for Young People – ages 8 to 17 (West Studio)

Great for beginner and serious young artists. High School students, create a piece for your college admissions art portfolio. Traditional art instruction in a fun encouraging environment. New & returning students welcome! Fee: $185 supplies for the week: $25

August 13-17
2:30-4:30pm
Laura Paray
[email protected]
(201) 281-6940

Oil Painting for Young People – ages 8 to 17 (East Studio)

Your child will learn the basic techniques of oil painting and will create still life and landscape paintings to completion. They will learn concepts such as massing in, color and value.
Fee: $185 supplies for the week: $25

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The Ridgewood Fourth of July Celebration ,Support the tradition: PLEASE HELP

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June 26,2018

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, The Village Council is in need of several convertible vehicles for the 4th of July Parade – please email me directly if you are willing to loan your convertible for a few hours! [email protected]
The Ridgewood Fourth of July Celebration is an ALL VOLUNTEER, community funded event that receives no direct funding from the Village of Ridgewood. In addition to our generous sponsors and to ensure our tradition continues we need your support!! Donate today by visiting https://ridgewoodjuly4.net/

Don’t miss out on our 2nd annual 50/50! Only 600 tickets will be sold with the winner receiving up to $25,000 and 10 additional winners receiving up to $500 each. Tickets are $100.00 each and can be purchased at Park Wood Delicatessen on Saturdays in June from 11am to 2pm or at the Ridgewood Public Library from June 25 to June 30 from 9am to 3pm. Can’t make it there? E-mail us at [email protected] or post a comment to this thread!

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Reader says I applied for a brief and temporary watering exception due to new planting and was denied

B3HXXR

I applied for a brief and temporary watering exception due to new planting and was denied, even though #1 of the ordinance states watering for the first 21 days of new planting is allowed. Apparently watering exemptions are not allowed from June to September (when else would people apply?) and management reserves the right to change policy without notice, which they did in rejecting my application. I understand there are problems with crumbling infrastructure affecting supply and delivery but I have heard this excuse since moving here nearly 30 years ago. Smart Controllers are costly and seem unnecessary when we are only watering 2 days a week, My system is equipped with a weather sensor which should be sufficient. I’m all for conservation and probably use a fraction of water compared to others, but if we cannot accommodate moderate consumer demand during a non-drought period, then something has to give. We have become so complacent about poor service that it’s becoming business as usual in Ridgewood. We should outsource our water to professionals, rather than have a council of volunteers making decisions on a complicated subject they know nothing about.

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Fallen Tree Leaves Several Ridgewood Homes in the Dark

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photos courtesy of Boyd Loving’s Facebook page

June 26,2018

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, High winds caused a dead tree trunk to fall on a large grouping of primary electric wires and communications trunk cables at the intersection of Hillcrest Road and Norman Drive, Ridgewood on Monday morning, 06/25. Ridgewood Police, Ridgewood Fire Department, and Ridgewood Emergency Services personnel responded to the incident. Several homes in the area were without electric power until it was restored by PSE&G. A PSE&G contracted tree service removed and disposed of the tree.

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Ridgewood Chamber of Commerce : All Invited to Happy Hour Networking

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June 25,2018

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, All Invited to Happy Hour Networking .Convergence week , the only meeting is Wednesday, June 27th, 2018.
Park West Tavern in Ridgewood ,Wednesday June 27th ,Time: 5:30pm-7:00ish, Cash bar and light munchies, No Presenters-Just join the fun.

Networking “building relationships one at a time” . Over hundred business people meeting every week…networking at its best.

Non Chamber members are welcome to join us for 2 meetings, after which you’ll want to become a member.

For more information call the Ridgewood Chamber of Commerce
201-445-2600, [email protected]

 

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Reader says ,Make the Owners Clean Up the Town Garage

Town Garage Ridgewood

Ridgewood council members, Do not be suckered into now taking over the property until it is fully remediated. The LLC bought it assuming you would fall in line, buy it–unremediated–at their higher price. Let them be the suckers, not the Village of Ridgewood. They were so eager to steal it right from under you so now they should pay the price. Turn them in to whatever authority requires clean up and make them do it. They are just sitting on their heels confidently expecting you to buy it at the elevated price and do the clean up for them. It’s beginning to be a hazard with the bricks falling. Make them clean it up!!

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Reader says Ridgewood Conservancy for Public Lands is politically motivated and are definitely not inclusive of people and/or ideas

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Ridgewood Conservancy for Public Lands: The key words here are Publc Lands. They pick and choose what they support and were so vocal about not supporting Schedler in any way and actually said at a council meeting as stated by Cynthia that they fully supported a 90 foot baseball diamond that would have meant the loss of acres of trees. I used to contribute but many in that group are not always nice, they are politically motivated and are definitely not inclusive of people and/or ideas.

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The Ridgewood Board of Education Regular Public Meeting Today !

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June 25,2018

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, the Ridgewood Board of Education will host its regular public meeting at 5pm  on Monday the 25th of June at the Education Center.

At all regular meetings, two opportunities are provided for citizens to make comments. The public comment periods will be scheduled after presentations and approximately 6:00 p.m. or just prior to the end of the meeting, whichever occurs first. The first opportunity may be limited by the presiding officer to conclude at about 5:30 p.m. in order for the Board to continue with its scheduled agenda. The second opportunity will occur at about 6:00 p.m. at the discretion of the presiding officer taking into consideration a break point in the agenda.

At every opportunity for public comment, citizens are invited to comment on subjects on the agenda or general topics.
At the discretion of the presiding officer, public comments may be permitted at other times. Persons wishing to speak must, upon being recognized, rise, sign in, and state their names and addresses. Each speaker shall be limited to four minutes. The Board Recorder will note the time. A speaker who has not finished in the allotted time will be directed by the presiding officer to summarize quickly and relinquish the floor within 30 seconds.

Comments shall be limited to issues. If personal remarks or discourteous statements are made, the presiding officer shall require the speaker to stop. No person will be recognized for a second time until all others asking to speak have been heard.

AGENDA: https://www.ridgewood.k12.nj.us/UserFiles/Servers/Server_207516/File/Our%20District/Board%20of%20Education/Board%20Business/06-25-18.pdf

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VILLAGE COUNCIL SPECIAL PUBLIC MEETING : WATER RATES AND FEES

Ridgewood Water

VILLAGE COUNCIL SPECIAL PUBLIC MEETING

AGENDA VILLAGE COUNCIL SPECIAL PUBLIC MEETING
SYDNEY V. STOLDT, JR. COURT ROOM
JUNE 25, 2018  7:00 P.M.
1. Call to Order
2. Statement of Compliance with the Open Public Meeting Act
MAYOR: “Adequate notice of this meeting has been provided by a posting on the bulletin board in Village hall, by mail to the Ridgewood News, The Record, and by submission to all persons entitled to same as provided by law of a schedule including the date and time of this meeting.”
3. Roll Call – Village Clerk
4. Flag Salute and Moment of Silence
5. Mayor’s Comments
6. Public Comments (Not to exceed 3 minutes per person, 40  minutes in total)
7. Rules of Procedure – Matthew Rogers, Village Attorney
8. ORDINANCES – CONTINUED PUBLIC HEARING
a. Ordinance #3636 – Re-establish Water Rates and Fees –         2010-2017
b. Presentation by Plaintiff’s Expert, Exeter Associates,  on their report
c. Questions for Exeter Associates about their report by  Sills, Cummis & Gross
d. Questions for Exeter Associates about their report by  William Northgrave, Esq. of McManimon, Scotland, and  Baumann
e. Questions/Comments from the Public about Exeter  Associates’ report (not to exceed 5 minutes per  person)
f. Questions/Comments from the Village Council about  Exeter Associates’ report
g. Comments from Howard Woods
h. Questions about Howard Woods’ Water Rate Study by  Sills, Cummis & Gross (if necessary)
i. Questions about Howard Woods’ Water Rate Study by  William Northgrave, Esq. of McManimon, Scotland, and  Baumann (if necessary)
j. Final Questions/Comments by the Village Council
k. Ordinance #3637 – Amend Water Rates and Fees – 2018
9. Public Comments (Not to exceed 5 minutes per person)

10. Adjournment

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Judge green-lights parent’s lawsuit against New Jersey public school teaching ‘Islam is the true faith’

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June 24,2018

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Chatham NJ, If it were not for these two moms, Nancy Gayer and Libby Hilsenrath, the Islamic propaganda videos would still be rolling inside the Chatham Middle School.
A federal judge has refused to toss out a lawsuit brought by a parent against the Chatham, New Jersey, school district, which showed seventh-graders a pro-Muslim video that included an invitation to convert to the “true faith.”
In denying the school district’s motion to dismiss the case, U.S. District Court Judge Kevin McNulty said the motion was worth only “minimal discussion.”

Kate Oliveri, an attorney with Thomas More Law Center, is representing Libby Hilsenrath, whose 12-year-old son attends Chatham Middle School. Oliveri said the decision to let the lawsuit proceed came as no surprise.
“The motion to dismiss was a further attempt by the school district to bully and silence Mrs. Hilsenrath,” she said. “The school district ignored the legal standard and ignored the facts, attempting instead to fool the judge with a poor attempt at sophistry.”

The lawsuit claims that seventh-grade students at the Chatham Middle School were forced to watch a set of videos in their World Cultures and Geography class that sought to convert them to Islam. Here is a sampling of what the students learned by watching just one of the 5-minute videos:
God gave Muhammed the noble Quran
The Quran is a Perfect guide for Humanity
The Quran is divine revelation
Islam is a shining beacon against the darkness of repression, segregation, intolerance and racism​
The Beautiful Quran is Guidance for the wise & sensible.
Then came the topper. The video ends with this: “May God help us all to find the true faith, Islam.”

A musical version of an Arabic poem plays in the background throughout the video. The lyrics describe Christians and Jews as infidels and praises Muhammed for slaughtering them: . . . “their white shining swords red with the blood of infidels
. . . until they looked like meat on the butcher’s block.”

When Libby Hilsenrath first brought her concerns to the school board’s attention, on Feb. 6, 2017, they were dismissed out of hand.
And, when she and fellow parent Nancy Gayer appeared on Fox News’ Tucker Carlson Show a week later to express her concerns to the nation, she was roundly condemned by the school community. [See interview with Tucker Carlson below]

Because of Hilsenrath’s attempts to persuade school officials to remove the videos and stop the Islamic indoctrination of her son and the other seventh-grade students, she has been subjected to a barrage of vicious personal attacks on social media and in public venues across her community.
Oliveri said the Chatham Board of Education and certain school-district teachers are “waging a war” against the religious protections afforded by the First Amendment.
“They attack religious liberty by enticing young school children with a direct call to convert to Islam and providing a step-by-step guide on how to effect that conversion,” Oliveri said. And then when two parents complained, the school district embarked on a concerted effort to smear their character.

TMLC attorney Kate Oliveri
If anything remotely this aggressively Christian were presented to public-school children in any corner of the United States, the ACLU would be ready to pounce with a lawsuit. But the ACLU is curiously silent in the New Jersey case.
Thank God for the Thomas More Law Center, said James Komaniecki, president of RestoreAmericanLiberty.com.
“Thank Almighty God that TMLC is taking these people to the mat on this,” said Komaniecki. “If we don’t stand up to radical Islam in our own nation, we will be undermined from within until nothing remains of our own culture and Christian faith.”
The federal lawsuit was filed Jan. 23 in the New Jersey District Court against several officials and teachers of the Chatham Middle School and the school district.
Richard Thompson, president of TMLC, said the absurdities introduced to students at Chatham Middle School are the same ones being introduced to students at schools across the U.S.
“Witless school officials have converted classrooms across America into Islamic indoctrination centers,” he said. “These schools do not educate, they propagandize. Under the guise of teaching social studies courses, teachers promote the religion of Islam in ways that would never be legally allowable for Christianity or any other religion.
“Because the explicitly stated goal of Muslim leaders and organizations is to dominate America by a ‘civilization jihad,’ these schools collude with them to jeopardize our national security.”
The Thomas More Law Center is a national public interest law firm based in Ann Arbor, Michigan.
“To protect our children and our nation from the insidious Islamic propagandizing going on in our public schools, courageous parents like Libby Hilsenrath must take the time to know exactly what their children are being taught,” Thompson said. “And if it’s Islamic propaganda, take action to stop it.

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Readers say there is Zero Enforcement of Water Restrictions

Sprinkler watering the lawn

Zero enforcement. On Friday I saw watering during the day, even on busy Glen Ave by Travell.

Either enforce it or scrap it.And  I agree with you it taste like shit and smells like chlorine , apparently management has let our clean deep wells fall into disrepair and chooses to buy surface water to supplant the deficiency so it must be treated with chlorine . Which brings up the question. So we buy all want then why both to restrict ? Just allow irrigation at 3-6am so the inadequate storage tanks don’t get depleted.

Since we must water only during dark hours and only certain days, hire some students to drive around town at 6AM and see all the wet streets (they dry pretty quickly but often are there until 8.) Another good clue is a green lawn–those are the houses that need checking. make a list and have those houses have an early morning check. The town could make a fortune on the fines.

 

 

 

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Reader says Looks good but did Parks & Rec add much needing lighting to the parking lot?

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Looks good but did Parks & rec add much needing lighting to the parking lot? After all Habernickle Park has had lights in the parking lot for 3 years. This field gets used a lot past dusk and could benefit from lights after all Tim said ALL Parks will be getting parking lot lights So either take them down at Habernickle or put them up at ALL Parks!!!!! Let’s face it our kids safety is way more important then the business at the gatehouse in Habernickle Park.