The Ridgewood Blog Brings a Free Market Laissez-faire Point of View to Local, New Jersey State and National Issues.
photo courtesy of NJ State Police
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Point Pleasant NJ, The State Police Marine Services Bureau would like to remind everyone to take proper precautions when operating vessels on the waterways.
Continue reading Take Proper Precautions during Summer Boating Season
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Ridgewood NJ, Summertime is officially here! There are still spaces available for our Summer Sessions.
These workshops are suitable for younger students just beginning their Art Journey, as well as older students working on a portfolio for college applications. All students are taught in direct relation to their own personal skill level.
Why not give your child the Gift of Art this summer?
12 E Glen Ave
Ridgewood, New Jersey
Call (201) 652-9615
photo courtesy of ArtChick Photography
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Seaside Heights NJ, Assembly Republican Leader Jon Bramnick called on Gov. Phil Murphy to sign legislation fixing a 2018 law that inadvertently taxed owners of summer rentals. The bill (A4814) has been sitting on his desk since June 27.
“Quick action is needed to save what remains of the summer vacation season,” said Bramnick (R-Union). “Every day that passes with this tax still in place is less income for families to spend while on vacation at the Shore.”
Both houses of the Legislature unanimously passed the bill in June. It exempts homeowners who rent directly to vacationers from last year’s Airbnb tax, which extended the 6.625 percent sales tax and the 5 percent hotel and motel occupancy fee to private rentals of less than 90 days.
Continue reading Time for Murphy to sign tax relief on Jersey Shore rentals
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Ridgewood NJ, summer time: warm weather, sun, vacations, swimming and… air pollution? It might not be the first thing that comes to mind when you think of summer, but it’s true. Air pollution is at its highest during the summer months.
The Ridgewood Health Department and the American Lung Association offer these helpful hints to keep you and your family healthy and safe this summer while also reducing air pollution for everyone.
As the weather heats up, ground-level ozone pollution increases as pollutants react to heat and sunlight. Ozone levels also increase due to summer wildfires. When ozone levels are high, anyone who spends time outdoors may be at risk, but children, seniors and people with lung disease are particularly vulnerable.
Continue reading Air Pollution is at Its Highest During the Summer Months
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Ridgewood NJ, There are many events taking place in the Central Business District during the summer months.
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Ridgewood NJ, There is still time to join Graydon Pool and cool off during the long, hot days ahead. Graydon Pool is open daily from 10:00A.M. – 7:30P.M. Residents can purchase memberships in person at the Pool Office or www.ridgewoodnj.net/communitypass.
Amenities & Program Offerings include Spray fountains, Adirondack chairs, shade system; recreational game area; picnic area with tables & charcoal grills; Wi-Fi accessibility; Water’s Edge Café open daily from Noon to 7p.m.; Swim lessons; Story time Under the Pavilion; Lending library; Special events – movie nights, concerts & more.
Anyone who lives in a climate where they need air conditioners will know how awful it is to come home to a house that feels like an oven.
Air conditioners are great at keeping our homes at a comfortable temperature, and it is wonderful to return to a house that feels cool while outside is boiling.
But should we leave the air conditioner on all day?
The question that often goes side-by-side with this one is whether leaving the air conditioner on all day is better than tuning it off and how much energy do we save with each option.
It has been shown that wasting energy not only costs us more money, it also contributes to global change because it burns more fossil fuels.
While it may seem like you are wasting energy by turning the air conditioner off and on, doing this does in fact save you money. Additionally, it helps your unit to work more efficiently.
Manufacturers will tell you that while the unit may have to work hard at first to get the temperatures down from 80 to 75 degrees, the systems are designed to run most efficiently at full power. It is better for them to do this than to work at shorter periods at less powerful speeds.
For the air conditioner to be able to efficiently dehumidify your home it needs to work at full speed.
What’s the best temperature to leave it at?
If you want to stop your home feeling like an oven when you return, then you may opt for leaving it on while you are out.
For central air conditioning or a window unit you should leave the temperature at 78 degrees or higher while the house is empty.
Your air conditioner will use 3-5% less energy with every degree that you raise the thermostat. The best energy savings will be in the 78 degree and over position. While this will not be comfortable while you are in the house, it is the best level for the air conditioner to be at while you are out.
Leaving the air conditioner on
If you choose to leave the air conditioner on all day, you must make sure that you check the filters regularly. If they become clogged the unit will cease to work efficiently or may not work at all.
Make sure you have the correct size unit for your home. Too large a unit will mean that it continues to turn itself on and off through the day. This means an inefficient use of energy and you may end up with higher bills.
Having a unit which is too small for your home will mean that it must work far harder to maintain a constant temperature. Not only will your bills be higher, but the air conditioner will wear itself out quicker and you may end up replacing it sooner.
If the air conditioner is in the wrong place in the house, you will come home to find that the house is still at an uncomfortable level and the unit needs to work harder to cool the other areas.
If your unit is portable or placed in a window you must make sure that there is no foliage near it to stop it working efficiently.
Leaving the air conditioner off
If your house is empty for most of the day, there is no reason to keep it at the temperature you enjoy at night. This wastes money and makes the unit work harder. Turning it off then on when you get home means that it has time to rest and will make it last longer.
While it is a good idea to turn the unit off, leaving it off for extended periods are also not a good idea. Mold can start to grow in the unit and this will be detrimental to health when you turn it on again.
On your return make sure that you lower the temperatures gradually and not all at once. This will simply overwork the system.
Other ways to cool your home
Install a programmable thermostat. This way you can leave the temperature higher when you are out and have it lower to a comfortable level just before you arrive home.
Get a ceiling fan. While they will not lower the temperature, fans will do a lot to move the cooler air around the room. This will also let you leave the air conditioner at a slightly higher temperature and use less energy. Leaving the ceiling fan on while you go out will, however not make any difference to the temperatures and will cost you money so best to turn it off.
Think about crosswinds. An easy way to cool the house is to leave a window open. Do not open it all the way, a few inches are enough to cause a draught through the house. This is also a natural freshener for your home. Try to open windows on the opposite sides of the house so that fresh air flows through the rooms.
Think shade plants. The parts of the house that heats up the most are the south and west side. Planting large shade bushes and shrubs will help cool your home down a few degrees.
To sum up
Leaving the air conditioner on all day while you are out does not make a lot of sense. In the long run you will end up paying more for your energy, unless you leave it at a higher temperature. Leaving it on also means that the unit works harder and may need replacing sooner.
Turning the air conditioner on and off seems the better option, particularly if you reduce the temperature gradually when you come home.
Making use of ceiling fans and programmable thermostats is a good idea to help keep your home as cool as you like during the summer months.
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Upper Freehold Twp NJ, A New Jersey State Trooper swam to rescue a stranded kayaker, who fell overboard while fishing on Assunpink Lake in Upper Freehold Twp., Monmouth County.
On Sunday, June 23, at approximately 4:06 p.m., Troopers responded to Assunpink Lake for the report of an overturned kayak. When troopers arrived, they observed a man clinging to the capsized vessel approximately 150 yards from shore.
Continue reading NJ State Trooper Rescues Stranded Kayaker
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New Bridge Landing NJ, Love baseball? Love history? Step back into yesteryear when the Bergen County Historical Society once again hosts an old-time game in the Meadow at Historic New Bridge Landing in River Edge. Featuring the Flemington Neshanocks versus the Enterprise Club of New Bridge! It is said that the Enterprise Club was the best base ball team in the County in the 1870’s, can they regain that form after a long lay off?
Experience the crack of wood against leather, the cheers and jeers of the crowd, and baseball the way great-grandpa saw it, when these reenactor teams play with 19th century rules, equipment, and uniforms in an open field. A great way for the family to enjoy America’s game and cap of their Fourth of July celebrations!
Continue reading Vintage Baseball at Historic New Bridge Landing
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Ridgewood NJ, Do you like Ridgewood and meeting your neighbors and discovering new places? Then sign up for a Ridgewood Walk! Parties Unplugged is hosting one this Saturday at 1:00 starting at Mango Jam! Hope to see you there for some fun and treats (rain or shine — we’ll bring the umbrellas if needed!)
https://signup.com/client/invitation2/secure/2818608/false#/invitation
GRAYDON POOL 2019 SEASON
June 1 through Labor Day, September 2, 2019
Early Season – June 1 through June 23
Weekdays – 12 noon to 7:30 pm
Weekends – 10 am to 7:30 pm
Regular Season – June 24 through August 11
Daily 10 am to 7:30 pm
**Holiday**, July 4th, closes 4 pm
Late Season – August 12 through Labor Day, September 2
Weekdays – 12 noon to 7:30 pm
Weekends/Holiday – 10 am to 7:30 pm
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Ridgewood NJ, As New Jersey residents prepare to celebrate Memorial Day and the unofficial start of summer, the Division of Consumer Affairs and the U.S. Product Safety Commission today kicked off “Summer Safety Week” to raise awareness of the increased risk of injury that warm weather brings.
“For many people, the months between Memorial Day and Labor Day are the most fun and exciting months of the year. But summer activities come with preventable risks, especially for children,” said Paul R. Rodríguez, Acting Director of the Division of Consumer Affairs. “As we head into the Memorial Day weekend, we’re urging consumers to learn how to avoid seasonal risks to themselves and their children so that everyone stays safe while enjoying summer activities.”
Continue reading May is among the leading months for home grilling fires!
Sometimes you have a long weekend ahead of you and you have no idea of what to do with it. Well, you might end up sleeping in the better part of it, only for ideas to start overflowing when you get back to work. Quite unfair, right? To avoid the feeling of regret, do something about it: have a plan. Do not wait until a long weekend catches up for you to start planning; it will probably be over before you even make the most out of it. Here are a few things that you can add on your weekend to-do list. They are fun and will keep you engaged during your entire break.
1. Volunteer
Have you ever thought of giving back to the community? If you haven’t, now should be the perfect time to start. Many volunteer groups will appreciate an extra hand. It could be volunteering to meet emergency medical needs: long weekends usually have so much going on. You could visit a children’s home, visit the old people and even help in cleaning up your town. The beauty of this is that at the end of the day, you will have had enough time to bond with new friends over something productive and meet a lot new people. Also, there is a feeling of satisfaction giving back.
2. Stay indoors and play
You do not have to leave your house to have the time of your life. Not exaggerating but, no joy matches having fun without leaving your home. Thanks to online casinos, you can gamble the entire weekend. The best part is that you can take advantage of casino bonuses and do some free spins. You will also get the chance to make some money.
Board games is also a good idea for some indoor fun.
3. De-clutter your home
This can be a bit tiresome but also very satisfying. An organized home has a way of making everyone happy. If your home is filled with clutter dating back to over a decade ago, a long weekend will be the perfect time to do something about it. You need to get rid of everything that you do not need.
More so, it is very rejuvenating to start a new week on a clean slate: literally. You can call a friend over to help you with that as you bond over a glass of wine.
4. Study or read a book
If you have played enough casino games already and there is no sign of an upcoming volunteering event, you might want to get to books. A long weekend will give you enough time to catch up with all the topics that you might have been left behind during the week. Also, it is enough time to binge read a novel and complete it.
5. Go on a vacation
You do not always get the chance to go out of town and leave everything behind. You should take advantage of that long weekend and go out of town. Vacations are therapeutic and rejuvenating. The beauty of this is that most of your friends will be more than glad to tag along.
6. Sleep in and relax
How often do you regret not resting on a long weekend? We only get to appreciate the chance of having an uninterrupted sleep and just relaxing when we are not overwhelmed with work. Just like a vacation, sleeping in and just relaxing can be very refreshing. The best part is that you won’t have to spend a dime. All you need is clean sheets and enough food at your place.
7. Binge watch
Have you been dying to watch Game of Thrones or any other show but never had the time? This is an opportunity for you to binge watch everything you find interesting. A long weekend is a great time to watch over ten episodes of a show without interruptions. You do not want the weekend to end and hop onto another hectic week and miss out on a chance to watch everything that you have been desiring.
Add the four ideas to your list, and you will never have dull and slow weekends!
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, TENNIS COURT LOCATIONS There are 16 tennis courts throughout the Village of Ridgewood at the following sites: Bellair Road (3) off Ackerman Avenue South Pleasant Avenue (4) opposite Somerville School East Glen Avenue (2) at Glen School Monroe Street (2) West Glen Ave. & North Monroe St. East Ridgewood Avenue (5) at Ridgewood High School .
Continue reading Ridgewood Tennis Badges
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Ridgewood NJ, Purchase Graydon Pool memberships online beginning April 1st. **Resident adult and child memberships are discounted 10% when you purchase early between April 1 and April 30**Click here to purchase your Graydon Pool membership on Community Pass.Visa/MasterCard accepted.
Preseason in-person assistance at the Graydon Badge Office -Saturdays, May 11 and 18, 10 am to 12 noon.
