Ridgewood NJ, A pedestrian was struck and seriously injured at the corner of East Ridgewood Avenue and Oak Street, Ridgewood on Sunday evening, 12/25. The victim was transported by a Ridgewood EMS ambulance to a local trauma center. Ridgewood PD, FD, and EMS members, along with a paramedic team from St. Joseph’s Regional Medical Center, all responded to aid the victim. The adult female driver of the vehicle involved stayed at the scene and was cooperating with police officers. The vehicle, a 4-door Volkswagen, had visible damage on the front left fender and bumper, and the front windshield was shattered. It was removed from the scene by a flatbed tow truck. Police at the scene would not say if the victim was in a crosswalk when hit, nor whether any summonses were issued in connection with the incident.
Ridgewood NJ, A rollover crash on Lincoln Avenue near Godwin Avenue in Ridgewood on Saturday afternoon, 12/24, resulted in personnel from Ridgewood PD, FD, and EMS being dispatched to the crash location. The adult male driver of a Ford Explorer was trapped in his vehicle until he was freed by Ridgewood FD personnel, and then transported by a Ridgewood EMS ambulance to a hospital for treatment of a hand injury. The flipped vehicle was removed from the scene by a flatbed tow truck. Glen Rock PD units provided traffic control during the incident. The driver apparently lost control of his vehicle, which mounted a curb, and then rolled over after hitting a utility pole guy wire.
Ridgewood NJ, Hanukkah begins tonight on Christmas eve. The Jewish winter holiday, which is also spelled Chanukah, begins this year on Dec. 24 and lasts eight days until Jan. 1, 2017. It is celebrated, in part, by the lighting of a menorah each night. Doing so represents the eight nights a small supply of oil miraculously lasted for a small group of Jewish people in 165 B.C. fighting to defeat the Greek army.
Hanukkah, the annual Jewish Festival of Lights, overlaps with Christmas this year for the first time since 1978 and won’t take place again until 2027
Celebrants also often mark the occasion by eating fried foods like latkes, playing children’s games, including the dreidel, and exchanging gifts.
Ridgewood NJ, 2017 Annual Parking Permits – Annual Resident, Non-resident and CBD employee parking permits are available for purchase at Village Hall. Driver’s License and car registration are required to apply for all parking permits. The Annual Parking Permits for residents cost $750 or $1,000 annually, depending on which lots are chosen for parking.
Parking Permits
Ho Ho Kus $350
Glen Rock $150 and $80 for the second tag
Fair lawn $1 a day residents $4 a day non-residents
Allendale $50 for residents
Ramsey $15
Other towns including Allendale often pitch new residents; “Compared to Ridgewood it is great! One of the advantages of Allendale. You can get a parking space pretty easily anytime of day (unlike Ridgewood) The resident permit was $50”
Do these people have any integrity? Aside from misleading residensts with their public statement, the Elks Lodge IS part of the plan. Janis Fuhrman, an award winning realtor, Library Board of Trustee member, held to the NAR Code of Ethics…turned to Social Media, in June and December, saying the Elks Lodge and library renovations are not related. “Too funny.”
Perhaps Janis can explain what happened there.
This pedestrian vs. motorist argument is tiresome. Especially in a place like Ridgewood, most of us are both. This is not about two mutually exclusive factions. This is not NYC!
Also – the post this reader is making is redundant. Yes – in a contest between a multi-thousand pound chunk of steel and a human, the steel will always win! I am not aware of anyone who does not get that – and willfully steps in front of a car assuming that it will stop.
At the same time, most drivers are not out to run some pedestrian over or intentionally not pay attention. Especially in the dark, it is easy to miss a pedestrian, all the most so when there are oncoming headlights in your eyes (coming up the slope on Godwin) or just random vehicular traffic (Franklin from the underpass through Maple).
The focus should be on better traffic designs.
For instance, pedestrian operated traffic lights at some of the more accident prone locations. This seems to be a must in and around downtown. I fail to see how this would break the bank for the Village. It is also a safer and less bothersome approach than the current pedestrian crosswalks.
Then we need bright – and I mean VERY bright – lighting of pedestrian crosswalks in downtown. It is easy to miss a pedestrian in the dark with oncoming traffic. We cannot expect all pedestrians to wear reflective clothing. So lets make them more visible.
Ridgewood NJ, On Monday, December 12, an audience of more than 50 family, friends and fellow volunteers gathered in The Valley Hospital Shotmeyer Lobby to dedicate the Reception Desk in memory of Ann B. Alford. Audrey Meyers, President and CEO of The Valley Hospital and Valley Health System, expressed her appreciation of Ann and emphasized what a fitting tribute this was to her memory. As a faithful volunteer at the front desk every Monday morning for more than two decades, Mrs. Alford welcomed countless patients, families and guests while graciously directing them to their destinations.
Ann Alford has a long history with Valley, which began in the 1970s when her husband, George Alford, joined The Valley Hospital Board of Trustees. From 1984 to 1989, Mr. Alford served as Chairman of the Hospital Board. He passed away in 1990, and Ann’s commitment to Valley deepened in the subsequent years.
In 1994, Ann joined The Valley Hospital Foundation Board and served for 12 years. Through nine of those years, she was an Officer of the Board, including three years as Chair. She was an Honorary Trustee of The Valley Hospital Foundation and was serving as a trustee on the Valley Health System Board when she passed away.
Ann was a founding member of Valley’s Women for Health program. Each year, this women’s group pools their social and philanthropic resources to assist Valley in providing the best possible healthcare.
Valley is incredibly grateful to Ann for her tireless dedication and devotion.
Ridgewood NJ, a vehicle that had just been returned to its owner after having been repaired by a local auto body shop dropped all of its automatic transmission fluid in the travel lane on the southbound side of South Maple Avenue near Prospect Street, Ridgewood on Thursday afternoon, 12/22. Ridgewood FD personnel applied an absorbent material to the roadway and ensured that no fire hazard was present in the vehicle. Ridgewood PD officers provided traffic control during the incident. A tow truck was summoned to return the vehicle to the auto body shop
In my area D, the leaves where not picked up until after the first snow fall. So much of the leaves had been pushed onto the side walk by the snow plows. Well, needless to say the leaves where left on the side walk by clean up crew. And they just pushed the leaves around and pushed them onto the walk way. So now you have to jump over the mound of leaves to cross the street. So now parts of the west side around Dorimus Ave. have leaves all over the street and sidewalks. This is going to cause a problem with the storm drains and it looks awful. The town has paid for leaf clean-up but there is no clean-up, It’s just a mess. Leaf clean up in area D is a disgrace.
Heather: Do not blame the snow and freezing weather for leaf pick up being behind schedule. The current leaf collection process is antiquated – slow, time consuming, personnel intensive, equipment intensive, dangerous, and expensive; that’s the problem. The people in charge of leaf collection don’t want to change the process because it ensures they keep their jobs. Buy one or two of the single operator, automated leaf vacuum shredders and stop the madness now.
I use the crosswalks.I look once, twice, three times and then look again. I keep looking as I cross the road. Most importantly I DO NOT trust the drivers to follow the rules of the road and yield to pedestrians…
I’ve probably walked hundreds of miles over the years just crossing streets and I’ve never been hit.
Defensive walking and self-responsibility keeps you alive and in one piece. Sometimes that involves waiting, even if it is not “practical” – better to be late and alive than on-time and dead.
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This is not to excuse the poor driving by some – it acknowledges it (or at least the potential for dangerous drivers).
the biggest mistake is to look to the law or the police or the government to “fix” bad drivers. The responsibility is on the pedestrian to keep himself safe. No matter how “in the right” you are, you will ALWAYS lose an “argument” with a motor vehicle.
There is no justification for this increase – There was a 15% increase only 2 years ago ($650 to $750) and now a whopping 25% increase only two years later?!?!? When I complained about the increase two years ago I was told the town had done a study of the neighboring towns to make sure the cost was in alignment, which was totally BS since they would never share this study, and when I did my own study the next highest cost in a neighboring town was Ho Ho Kus that was charging residents $295/year – Sometimes I truly hate this town.
Dear Friends at the Ridgewood blog ,
There are several year-end items to share with you…
1. Leaves… Earlier this week our leaf collection was slowed down by snow and freezing weather – We are now finishing up in Area D. We will be back with our vacuum truck to Area A and other areas requiring finishing touches. We ask that from this time forward you do not put any leaves in the street. Branches, plants and leaves can be brought to the Recycling Center or placed in paper biodegradable bags. Filled bags will be picked up at the curb if you call us at 201/670-5585. All yard waste must be brought to the recycling center or held until Yard Waste pickup begins in the spring. Please consult your 2017 calendar for spring pickup schedules.
2. 2017 Village Calendars will arrive in the mail the first week of January. The calendar for January 2017 is also found on the page after December in the 2016 Calendar.
3. Reminder – when there is snow and ice, please assist us by placing your garbage cans at the end of your driveway, by the curb. This will ensure that our employees are able to safely pick up your solid waste.
4. 2017 Annual Parking Permits – Annual Resident, Non-resident and CBD employee parking permits are available for purchase at Village Hall. Driver’s License and car registration are required to apply for all parking permits. The Annual Parking Permits for residents cost $750 or $1,000 annually, depending on which lots are chosen for parking.
5. New in 2017 – “Shopper/Diner” parking spots available in the Hudson, Prospect and Chestnut Lots. These parking spaces will be marked with arrows, and commuter parking will not be allowed in these parking spaces.
6. As a reminder, Village Hall offices will be closed December 23rd & 26th and January 2nd.
Best wishes for the holiday season and a happy and healthy New Year,
Ridgewood NJ, So much for the Library Board’s recent statement that the building renovation plans announced by Councilman Jeffrey Voigt: ” . . thus far have been merely speculative” and ” . . . should not have served as an announcement.”
From the official minutes of the Ridgewood Public Library Board of Trustees dated January 21, 2016:
“LIBRARY SCHEMATIC PRESENTATION”
Ms. Greene described the five-year planning process conducted by the Library, which included development of a Strategic Plan with consultant Alan Gray of Darien Library, and a Building Program with consultant Leslie Burger of Princeton Library.
Ms. Campbell welcomed Mr. Gisolfi, Ms. Abate and Mr. Mintzes (of Peter Gisolfi Associates, Architects) as participants on the Ridgewood Library schematics team.
Mr. Gisolfi explained his goal of developing transparency and further unifying the Library’s architectural styles from the 1950s and 1990s. He narrated a slide presentation which included these recommendations:
• Install a square clerestory in the center of the original roof to admit additional light.
• Create a 28′ x 28′ opening in the center of the original building, between the 1st and 2nd floors.
Mr. Gisolfi also showed an alternate location for the opening which had been considered earlier.
• Transform the Auditorium into a Performing Arts Center: expand the footprint and height, build tiered
seating, eliminate the raised stage and add backstage and storage areas.
• Create a large new meeting room against the 1st floor south wall, and a smaller new meeting room on
the northwest corner of the 2nd level (location of existing staff room.)
• Enlarge Young Adult Center on the 1st floor and move it against the building’s west wall.
• Enlarge Tech Training Center, encompassing existing Silent Study room and part of Heritage Archives.
• Enlarge 2nd floor Lobby to envelope elevator.
• Open east wall of Bolger Heritage Center toward Reference Center.
• Add Silent Study and 2 smaller study rooms to south wall of Mezzanine; add windows to solid walls.
• Reduce size of staff service desks and offices; add small staff “pods” in all public areas.
The estimated cost for construction and finishes is $5,252,126 to $6,374,583.
The following questions from members of the Board, Friends and Foundation were answered by Mr. Gisolfi.
(1) Will the parking issue be addressed? A: No, Parking was not in the Schematics proposal.
(2) Would the Young Adult area get larger? A: Yes, it would increase by almost 66%.
(3) How will the Performing Arts Center be different? A: The new space would allow for both fixed
seating and removable chairs, and could fit up to 260 seats all together.
(4) Will there be a new kitchen and ticket sale areas for accommodate entertainment and events?
A: The Lobby will feel larger due to the new layout of cafe counter. The larger kitchen area will be
on the 2nd level.
(5) Can the Auditorium open up to the outdoors? A: It’s possible with doors opening toward the patio.
The layout of the stage is also changed to encourage a more fluid flow of people.
(6) Is the total area of shelving changed? A: There is a slight reduction.
(7) To add versatility to the space, can you avoid using fixed table lamps? A. There can be mostly
ceiling lighting.
(8) How can we be sure the proposed budget is feasible? A: The owner’s architect contract would
include a clause requiring the architect to stay within proposed budget.
(9) Construction management? A: Construction supervision is included in the architect cost.
Mr. Fisher pointed out that from a taxpayers’ point of view, the library will be more multi-functional.
Ms. Campbell and the Board thanked Mr. Gisolfi and his team for the detailed presentation.
From the official minutes of the The Ridgewood Public Library Board of Trustees dated November 22, 2016:
“ARCHITECT PRESENTATION —Peter Gisoifi & Robert Mintzes”
Mr. Gisoifi presented revised floor plans and new hand-drawn renderings for the proposed library renovation.
Option A is the new plan which gives the Teen Center a prominent location with windows and an adjacent Makerspace Lab. Option B places a large Meeting Room in that location. Both versions show new meeting rooms of all sizes throughout the Library, and feature a circular central opening with spiral staircase that connects the 1st and 2nd floors under two new rooftop skylights. Phase 1 of the project would renovate all areas of the existing library, and Phase 2 would update the Auditorium into a Performing Arts Center, featuring tiered seating in a slightly larger footprint. From very early cost estimates, Phase 1 and Phase 2 are forecast to cost roughly $4 million and $1 million, respectively.
The plans were well received by all present. Mr. Gisoifi will firm up and verify the construction cost estimates, and will prepare a proposal for architectural design development.
Ms. Greene noted that the Library will need to develop a full Capital Budget Proposal to include all related costs – construction, site work, professional fees, furnishings, technology, moving and storage of all holdings and contingency. The Trustees discussed where to base the Library’s operations during the year or so of major construction. Ideas mentioned: Elks Club, Zusy Center at Village Hall, Brakeorama site, a storefront similar to the mini-mall space used by Wyckoff Library during their construction, or a temporary modular library in the parking lot, delivered by tractor trailer.
Ridgewood NJ, some big tax changes on way for 2017 . After a host of political deal-making in Trenton , in October of 2016, Governor Chris Christie officially signed legislation implementing a new tax package to help raise money for the Transportation Trust Fund to help repair New Jersey’s roads, bridges and various other infrastructure.
The increase in gas tax is what caught the attention of most people, this was not the only change potentially affecting you and your wallet.
The new law includes:
An increase in the tax on gasoline in the amount of 23-cents per gallon; A complete phase-out of New Jersey’s Estate Tax (not the New Jersey Inheritance Tax); Increasing pension and retirement income tax exclusions; and A slight reduction in the sales tax.
Ouch: A massive increase in New Jersey Gas Tax
News media has focused on a 23-cent-per-gallon hike in the gas tax to pay for transportation work. Under the legislation, the gas tax will increase for the first time since 1988 from 14.5 cents per gallon to 37.5 cents per gallon to fund the Transportation Trust Fund over the next eight years. This increase is set for November 1, 2016. The New Jersey gas tax is pegged to consumption, not to the price of a gallon of gasoline. The tax rate will not rise or fall automatically as gas prices rise or fall. Instead, the law puts a “cap” on how much money the state can raise from the tax. Therefore, if gas consumption increases and the state sells more gasoline, then the tax rate will go down (or at least it is supposed to). If consumption decreases, (which typically happens on any increase in gasoline price which results in an increase of people purchasing hybrid vehicles) then the tax rate will increase to make up for the slowing revenue.
Good news for Bergen County Homeowners ; the Repeal of the New Jersey Estate Tax
New Jersey has long held the distinction of being atop the list of worst states in which to die by having an exemption for estate tax of only $675,000. This will all change on January 1, 2017. Under the new legislation, the New Jersey Estate Tax will be phased out over a period of time. On January 1, 2017, the New Jersey estate tax exemption will increase from $675,000 (the lowest exemption in the nation) to $2,000,000. The estate tax exemption is the maximum amount of property that a New Jersey resident may currently pass at death, free of New Jersey Estate Tax. This means that individuals dying on or after January 1, 2017, can leave $2,000,000 to children or other Class A beneficiaries and not be subject to any New Jersey Estate Tax. There is still no tax between spouses as the tax occurs on the second spouse’s passing.
Under pre-2017 law, an individual estate of $2,000,000 with no surviving spouse will generate a New Jersey Estate Tax of approximately $100,000. A $100,000 savings sounds great, but hold on, it gets better! On January 1, 2018, the New Jersey Estate Tax will be completely eliminated. Therefore, the only estate tax you would have to worry about is the Federal Estate Tax, which is currently $5,450,000 and is indexed for inflation.
This all sounds fantastic except there are many unknowns. Will the next governor of New Jersey freeze the New Jersey Estate Tax at $2,000,000? Will the next President of the United States change the Federal Exemption to $3,500,000? There is a lot of uncertainty and only time will tell. The old adage still rings true: the only thing that is constant is death and taxes.
No news here ;New Jersey Inheritance Tax
Missing from the new legislation is any relief from New Jersey’s Inheritance Tax. Only a handful of states have both an estate tax and an inheritance. You guessed it – New Jersey is one of those states that have both. This tax does not apply to inheritances by a spouse, parent, child, grandchild or great-grandchild of the deceased individual (known as “Class A” beneficiaries). Transfers to anyone other than a Class A beneficiary or a charity is subject to New Jersey’s Inheritance Tax at rates between 11% and 16% depending on your Class. For example, an individual leaving a $1,000,000 estate to his nieces and nephews will be subject to approximately $153,000 in New Jersey Inheritance Tax. The New Jersey Inheritance Tax is here to stay and there has been no discussion to change it.
Good news for retirees ; Retirement and Pension Income Tax Exclusion
The retirement and pension income tax exclusion is only available to taxpayers with $100,000 or less in gross income. That benefit is only available to taxpayers 62 years of age or older or those who, because of a disability, are eligible for Social Security benefits. This exclusion however, will be phased in and will not be immediately implemented. The phase-in is as follows:
For a married couple filing jointly, the level at which income taxes are excluded will rise from $20,000 to $40,000 after Jan. 1, 2017; to $60,000 after Jan. 1, 2018; to $80,000 after Jan. 1, 2019; and to $100,000 after Jan. 1, 2020.
For a married person filing separately, the exclusion will increase from $10,000 to $20,000 after Jan. 1, 2017; to $30,000 after Jan. 1, 2018; to $40,000 after Jan. 1, 2019; and to $50,000 after Jan. 1, 2020.
For an individual filing as a single taxpayer, the exclusion will rise from $15,000 to $30,000 after Jan. 1, 2017; to $45,000 after Jan. 1, 2018; to $60,000 after Jan. 1, 2019; and to $75,000 after Jan. 1, 2020.
A small break for shoppers and shopkeepers; New Jersey Sales Tax
On January 1, 2017, the sales tax will decrease from 7 percent to 6.875 percent. The following year, the sales tax will decrease another quarter of a point to 6.625 percent. How long it will stay at this rate is unknown, but it seems like it will be ripe to increase back to 7 percent at some point in the future to make up for the loss in “sales tax revenue” New Jersey will surely claim.
This subject comes up about every two months and the resulting comments are always the same. We get a few sensible comments but they are drowned out with these made-up and exaggerated accounts of dodging pedestrians who run out, some putting on make-up, some are texting. I’m not suggesting that some pedestrians aren’t reckless but these stories are simply untrue. They are the same stereotypical stories of teenagers driving while applying make-up or aggressive, latte-sipping moms from the Heights in their big SUVs.
I urge some of you road warriors to actually spend some time trying to use crosswalks during busy times. It’s not a case of waiting for that one car to pass by before crossing. Traffic is heavy, and it comes in multiple directions. One lane might stop for the waiting pedestrian, but the other lane does not. Stopped driver gets frustrated and thinks the pedestrian is being stupid for not crossing, so he shakes his head and drivers on.
It’s not that simple. It’s easy to say just wait, but that often isn’t practical. The only real safe way to solve this would be to have traffic lights at every crossing. The downsides of this, however, would be massive costs and massive traffic congestion while the generally free-flowing traffic is caught up in multiple traffic lights.
