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Ridgewood Native Patrick Murray Signs as New Orleans Saints Kicker

Patrick Murray

August 7,2017
the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, Joining the New Orleans Saints 10 days into 2017 training camp, Ridgewood native Patrick Murray will compete with Wil Lutz for kicking duties. The three-year NFL veteran has appeared in 18 games for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Cleveland Browns, drilling 21-of-26 field-goal attempts and 34-of-35 PATs.

Murray  attended Don Bosco (Ramsey, N.J.) Prep where he was a three-time letterman as a kicker and punter, earning All-State as a senior…Member of state championship teams from 2006-08…Played baseball and wrestled…Uncles, Ciaran and Brendan, and cousin Aeden, are national Gaelic football players in Ireland…Active in community as a member of Buccaneers, purchasing gifts for patients at children’s hospitals and visiting patients during the holiday season…Has also participated in events involving military veterans, service members and their families…Enjoys reading, playing guitar and playing golf in his spare time…Favorite movie is shooter and favorite TV show is Father Ted…Lists Christy Moore, Darius Rucker and The Pogues as his favorite musicians…Patrick Murray was born on June 22, 1991 in Ridgewood, N.J.

In his collage career Muarry appeared in 44 career games at Fordham, converting on 38 of 54 field goal attempts and totaling 7,985 yards on 186 punts…First-team All-American as senior, kicking 25 of 30 field goals and tallying 52 punts for 2,392 yards…Also won the Fred Mitchell Award, given to nation’s best non-FBS kicker…Earned Third-Team All-America honors as a punter during his junior year…Earned first-team all-league accolade as a freshman punter in 2009…Graduated with a bachelor’s degree in finance.

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“American idol” singer and actress Pia Toscano to appear at Little Nest Portraits in Ridgewood

little nest Ridgewood

August 7,2017

the staff of the Ridgewood

Ridgewood NJ, Little Nest Portraits in Ridgewood, NJ announced that “American Idol” singer and actress Pia Toscano will make a live appearance at the studio on Friday, August 18 from 11:00 am – 12:30 pm.  Pia has toured with J. Lo and recently released the EP “Belong.”  At the Little Nest event, Pia shares posing tips she’s learned from years in front of the camera.  Everyone will then have a chance to show his/her best side for Little Nest’s professional photographer.  Attendees receive a photo compliments of Little Nest to use on social media.  This free event is appropriate for all ages, from kids to grandparents.

Pia Toscano said that she’s “really excited to be partnering with Little Nest Portraits for this event! Being in the Entertainment Industry for 10 years I’ve learned plenty of styling secrets and working the camera tricks of the trade. I’m thrilled to be sharing this with the families of Bergen County and what better way to do it than in front of the talented photographers at Little Nest Portraits in Ridgewood! ”

Attendees can show up any time between the hours of 11:00 am and 12:30 pm.  Local businesses are scheduled to be on hand with giveaways plus Pia will raffle off a signed copy of her new CD.    Cupcakes by Carousel provides complimentary baby cakes and Panico Salon helps primp with camera-ready makeup and hair.  The Alkaline Water King will hand out free waters.  Little Skye Children’s Boutique has exclusive discounts for our new social media stars.

Little Nest Portraits is a national luxury boutique brand of photography studios specializing in maternity photography, newborn photography, and family portraits.  Little Nest’s Ridgewood studio is located at 168 E. Ridgewood Avenue.

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2017-2018 Meeting Schedule of the Ridgewood Planning Board

S12_Blueprints

MEETINGS ARE HELD THE FIRST AND THIRD TUESDAYS OF THE MONTH,
UNLESS NOTED OTHERWISE
DATE TYPE OF MEETING LOCATION TIME___

July 18, 2016 Reorganization & Village Hall Court Room 7:30 p.m.
Regular Meeting

August 1, 2017 Regular Meeting Village Hall Court Room 7:30 p.m.
August 15, 2017 Regular Meeting Village Hall Court Room 7:30 p.m.
September 5, 2017 Regular Meeting Village Hall Court Room 7:30 p.m.
September 19, 2017 Regular Meeting Village Hall Court Room 7:30 p.m.
October 3, 2017 Regular Meeting Village Hall Court Room 7:30 p.m.
October 17, 2017 Regular Meeting Village Hall Court Room 7:30 p.m.
November 7, 2017 Regular Meeting Village Hall Court Room 7:30 p.m.
November 21, 2017 Regular Meeting Village Hall Court Room 7:30 p.m.
December 5, 2017 Regular Meeting Village Hall Court Room 7:30 p.m.
December 19, 2017 Regular Meeting Village Hall Court Room 7:30 p.m.
January 2, 2018 Regular Meeting Village Hall Court Room 7:30 p.m.
January 16, 2018 Regular Meeting Village Hall Court Room 7:30 p.m.
February 6, 2018 Regular Meeting Village Hall Court Room 7:30 p.m.
February 20, 2018 Regular Meeting Village Hall Court Room 7:30 p.m.
March 6, 2018 Regular Meeting Village Hall Court Room 7:30 p.m.
March 20, 2018 Regular Meeting Village Hall Court Room 7:30 p.m.
April 3, 2018 Regular Meeting Village Hall Court Room 7:30 p.m.
April 17, 2018 Regular Meeting Village Hall Court Room 7:30 p.m.
May 1, 2018 Regular Meeting Village Hall Court Room 7:30 p.m.
May 15, 2018 Regular Meeting Village Hall Court Room 7:30 p.m.
June 5, 2018 Regular Meeting Village Hall Court Room 7:30 p.m.
June 19, 2018 Regular Meeting Village Hall Court Room 7:30 p.m.
July 3, 2018 Reorganization & Village Hall Court Room 7:30 p.m.
Regular Meeting
July 17, 2018 Regular Meeting Village Hall Court Room 7:30 p.m.

All meetings are open to the public, except for closed sessions, which may be held at any time. Regular
meetings may include work sessions, at which no formal action is taken, and/or items involving formal action
of the Board.

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N.J. school district merger sets good example

Ridgewood EA teachers protest

Updated on August 6, 2017 at 8:46 AMPosted on August 6, 2017 at 8:45 AM

By South Jersey Times Editorial Board

Please, someone, bottle whatever is in the drinking water in Elmer borough and Pittsgrove Township, and feed it regularly to residents and officials in at least 100 of New Jersey’s smaller towns.

Whatever is in the water of the two Salem County municipalities has given them immunity against a lack of common sense. As of Aug. 1, the Elmer school district is no more, having been integrated into Pittsgrove’s public school district.

This merger of not-quite-equals gives New Jersey one fewer school district, and it was accomplished without all the Sturm und Drang that usually accompanies even whispers about district combinations.

Pittsgrove and Elmer officials who drink the water have, thankfully, refused to drink the Kool-Aid that suggests New Jersey requires every school district and municipal government it now has. Vast quantities of this punch are usually served by teachers’ unions and municipal lobbying groups.

https://www.nj.com/opinion/index.ssf/2017/08/nj_school_district_merger_sets_good_example_editorial0.html

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He was for the Garage before he Was Against it ? An Open Letter to the Village Attorney

Village Council -Halaby

file photo by Boyd Loving

An open letter to Mr. Matt Rogers, the Village attorney:

Dear Mr. Rogers:

I could not attend the Village Council meeting of 2 August on account of my delayed flight back home. Fortunately my plane had WiFi and I was able to stream quite a bit of the meeting.

In response to a question by Councilman Voigt you described some procedure the Village Council was following to short circuit the process to hire Pike to build the garage. As a layman I was unable to follow your answer. Could you possibly tell me what is happening?

More importantly, the Mayor appears to have her mind made up on using Pike and it is damn the torpedoes and full speed ahead. Compared to the previous Village Council which held innumerable public meetings to present various plans to the community, the Mayor in typical fashion is playing her cards close to the chest. The Deputy Mayor and Councilman Hache seem to be in on her plans but I was shocked how uninformed Councilmen Voigt and Walsh are.

Comments by some of the mayor’s supporters in the social media seems to indicate that some in her circle are in the know, but not two of her colleagues.

(Side note to Councilmen Voigt and Walsh: By allowing yourselves to be shut out, you are failing miserably in executing your fiduciary to your constituency.)

Thank you,

Rurik Halaby

Village Attorney Matthew Rogers responds :
On Aug 4, 2017, at 13:42, Matthew Rogers <[email protected]> wrote:

Rurik, 
There is nothing nefarious afoot. I’m responding to you, the
Council, present Village staff and your wife. You can always share with
whomever you’d like. 
The Local Redevelopment and Housing Law permits municipalities to
consider property(ies) within its borders for redevelopment if the property
meets certain criteria. The Statute was designed to promote the
rehabilitation and/or the reconstruction of properties that have long gone
without attention, particularly in commercial locations or areas. There is a
process prescribed by the Statute that must be followed in order to take
advantage of the statute’s benefits, which allows the municipality to avoid
the public bidding process and negotiate directly with one or any entities
that the municipality wants to consider for the project in mind. 
The Council can start the process by requesting the a study be
performed by the Planner to determine if the property, in this case the
Hudson Street parking lot, meets the criteria of the Statute. If it does
and the process is completed, then the Village can negotiate directly with
any contractor it so wishes. As you know, there has already been a
presentation from PIKE at a Council meeting, where it became apparent that
they can both provide a design and build the garage. The thought is that by
utilizing the statute, the Village can avoid the time it takes to bid out
design and then bid out to find a contractor to build the design.
Additionally, it is the hope that by directly negotiating with the a
contractor, the Village can also save money on the cost for several reasons.
It will hopefully work and provide those benefits. If not, then the bidding
process can always be utilized. 
This is the process that was used several years ago with
Kensington’s proposal for the development of Walnut Street garage and the
age restricted housing, which although extensively negotiated, the
contractor withdrew. 
I hope this answers your question and if not, please let me know. 

Matt 

Matthew S. Rogers, Esq.
Law Offices of Matthew S. Rogers, L.L.C.
123 Prospect Street
Ridgewood, New Jersey 07451

Phone (201) 857-3700
Fax: (201) 857-3699

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Reader says the Village could obtain the Town Garage at a depressed price by declaring the area “blighted” and invoking its power of eminent domain

town_garage_theridgewoodblog

The Village would presumably be stuck with 100% of the remediation costs if it decided to obtain the property at a depressed price by formally declaring the area “blighted” and invoking its power of eminent domain. On the other hand, the Village could just make a free market offer with a lowball number that takes into account the anticipated costs of remediation. One wonders, however, if the current owners would be motivated to sell in that circumstance. More likely, they would take such an offer as an invitation to negotiate. In that event the Village would need to have a (closely guarded secret) topmost number in mind and be ready to threaten to walk, and then actually walk away from the deal, Trump-style, if (when) the current owners get too greedy.

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RIDGEWOOD VILLAGE COUNCIL REGULAR PUBLIC MEETING AUGUST 9th 8PM

Village Council

file photo by Boyd Loving

VILLAGE OF RIDGEWOOD  VILLAGE COUNCIL  REGULAR PUBLIC MEETING  AUGUST 9, 2017  8:00 P.M.

1. Call to Order – Mayor

2. Statement of Compliance with the Open Public       Meetings Act

3. Roll Call – Village Clerk

4. Flag Salute and Moment of Silence

5. Acceptance of Financial Reports

6. Approval of Minutes

7. Proclamations

A. Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over 2017  Statewide Crackdown B. Declare September Ovarian Cancer Awareness  Month C. Declare September National Preparedness Month   8.   Comments from the Public (Not to exceed 3              minutes per person – 40 minutes in total)

9. Public Hearing – Maple Park Turf Replacement

10. Village Manager’s Report

11. Village Council Reports

12. ORDINANCES – INTRODUCTION – RIDGEWOOD WATER

NONE

13. ORDINANCES – PUBLIC HEARING – RIDGEWOOD WATER

3606 – Water Capital Ordinance ($1,600,000) – Purchase       of Elks Club Property – Appropriates this money     from the Water Utility Capital Fund for the      purchase of 111 North Maple Avenue, Ridgewood,     NJ which is the Elks Club property

14. RESOLUTIONS – RIDGEWOOD WATER

17- Award Contract Under National Joint Powers  Alliance Program – Backhoe Loader (NTE $135,478) 17- Award Contract Under State Contract – Ford F250  Pickup Truck (NTE $32,219.50) 17- Award Professional Services Contract – Engineering  Services for Evaluation of SUEZ Treatment Changes  and Associated Work (NTE $177,300) 17- Award Professional Services Contract – Legal  Services for Evaluation of SUEZ Treatment Changes  and Associated Work (NTE $)

15. ORDINANCES – INTRODUCTION

3613 – Establish Bus Stop – Goffle Road

16. ORDINANCES – PUBLIC HEARING

3607 – Blue Collar Union Salary Ordinance 3608 – White Collar Union Salary Ordinance 3609 – Amend Chapter 145 Fees – Establish Fees for Tree    Protection 3610 – Amend Chapter 265 – Vehicles and Traffic – No      Stopping on Portion of West Ridgewood Avenue 3611 – Enact Title 39 on All Public School Properties 3612 – Unlawful Enrollment of Students in Ridgewood     Public Schools

17. ORDINANCES – FINAL VOTE

3574 – Bond Ordinance – Water Main Replacement at       Stream Crossings and at Linwood Avenue and          Beechwood Road 3577 – Bond Ordinance – Street Paving and Streetscape,      Police Department Scheduling Software, and        Renovations to Fire Houses 3605 – Amend Chapter 260 – Trees and Shrubs

18. RESOLUTIONS

17- Title 59 Approval – Initial Cleanup (Phase I)  Schedler Property 17- Award Contract – Initial Cleanup (Phase 1)  Schedler Property (NTE $99,875) 17- Award Contract Under Houston-Galveston Area  Council Cooperative Purchasing Program – 2017 Ford  F550  Type 1 Horton Ambulance ($249,348) 17- Award Contract Under State Contract – Ford F350  Extended Cab – Parks Department (NTE $44,000) 17- Award Contract Under State Contract – Furniture  for Conference Room at Village Hall (NTE $5,000) 17- Award Professional Services Contract – Auditing   and Accounting Services (NTE $37,640) 17- Award Professional Services Contract – Parking  Garage Allocation Study (NTE $8,500) 17- Award Contract – Parking Kiosk(s) 17- Declare 1989 Pierce Fire Engine Surplus Property 17- Declare Police 2005 Ford Crown Victoria Surplus  Property 17- Authorize Execution of Lease Extension – Cell  Tower at Water Pollution Control Facility 17- Approve Dedication of Bench on Dunham Trail for  Andy Antista 17- Establish Special Projects Task Force 17- Direct Village Planner to Conduct a Study for  Redevelopment of the Hudson Street Parking Lot 17- Authorize Payment of Settlement for Sewer Backup  Claim – 115 Bellair Road

19. Comments from the Public (Not to Exceed 5 minutes  per person)

20. Resolution to go into Closed Session

21. Closed Session

A.  Legal – HealthBarn  B.  Contract Negotiations – Town Garage Property

22. Adjournment

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US T-SHIRT COMPANY SELLS SWASTIKA DESIGN AS ‘SYMBOL OF LOVE AND PEACE’

SWASTIKA DESIGN AS ‘SYMBOL OF LOVE AND PEACE’

 Dizzying phenomenon of the swastika shaped fidget spinner

 Antisemitic graffiti targets WZO in Ukraine

BYDANIELLE ZIRI

AUGUST 6, 2017 09:01

Before being used by Hitler’s Nazi regime, swastikas were commonly known as an ancient sign used by Hindus and Buddhists carrying positive associations such as auspiciousness and good fortune.

https://www.jpost.com/Diaspora/US-T-shirt-company-sells-swastika-design-as-symbol-of-love-and-peace-501687

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New Fresh Coat Painters Business Comes to Ridgewood Area

New Fresh Coat Painters Business Comes to Ridgewood Area

August 6,2017

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood, NJ,  Long-time friends and business partners Frank and Valerie O’Brien and Keith Hartig are pleased to announce the launch of their new professional painting business, Fresh Coat of Ridgewood.

Fresh Coat offers residential and commercial painting services including interior and exterior painting, wood staining and finishing, and other services for nearly every protective coating application. Their professional painters use quality, environmentally safe materials and the company offers a 24/7 receptionist, online scheduling and detailed quotes. Fresh Coat of Ridgewood serves Franklin Lakes, Mahwah, Paramus, Ramsey, Ridgewood, Waldwick, Wyckoff and the surrounding communities.

“We know from our own experience that it can be a real challenge to find a good painter you can trust. At Fresh Coat, every customer is a priority, and we treat you that way.  We aren’t just coming in to put paint on walls – we want to make sure it’s done right, done professionally and done on time,” Keith said.

The idea to start a business started when Frank O’Brien, who has been a police officer for almost 9 years, decided he wanted to start planning his next steps. Frank and Valerie have friends in Texas who own the Fresh Coat franchise in Denton, so they started asking questions.

“It all spiraled from there and we asked Keith, who we’ve been friends with for a long time, if he wanted to come on board. Valerie has an office management background and Keith is experienced in customer service and sales, so it’s really a perfect fit for us to be working together,” Frank said.

For the owners, opening Fresh Coat is all about bringing a new, high quality painting business to their community and giving people a new, better option, whether they’re looking to have one wall painted or a whole house painted.

“Valerie and I  – and Keith and his wife – bought houses in Bergen County and we’ve realized how subpar the painting industry was in our area. It was nearly impossible for us to get a call back from a quality painter, let alone a decent quote. At Fresh Coat, we offer a different level of customer service and professionalism. We want to change the industry,” Frank said.

As part of their commitment to customer service, Fresh Coat offers a 3-3-3 customer service pledge, so calls will be answered by a live person within three rings, a quote will be delivered within three days (customer schedule permitting) and the job will be started within three weeks.

Fresh Coat was founded in 2004 as part of Strategic Franchising Systems. Since 2015, Fresh Coat has been included in the Bond’s Top 100 and named to Entrepreneur Magazine’s Franchise 500 list. Fresh Coat is also part of the International Franchise Association, the Small Business Association’s Franchise Registry, VetFran and Minority Fran. All Fresh Coat employees are trained, dependable, fully insured and background-checked and Fresh Coat of Ridgewood is bonded and insured.

For more information about Fresh Coat of Ridgewood, call (201)383-4466, email [email protected] or visit www.FreshCoatRidgewood.com.

 

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Ridgewood Traffic Alert road closures beginning the week of August 7th

PSEG

file photo by Boyd Loving

Traffic Alert road closures beginning the week of August 7th.

August 6,2017

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, PSE&G will begin replacing gas lines on East Ridgewood Ave at Reynen Court and work East towards the Paramus border. This project is expected to take several weeks. East Ridgewood Ave will be closed during the day and detours will be in place.
Gas line construction will also continue on North Monroe Street between West Ridgewood and Woodland Ave. Please follow the detours expect delays in both areas.

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The Ridgewood Chamber of Commerce is proud to present its Annual RHS Scholarship Charity Golf Classic

rodney_dangerfield
Charity Golf Classic – RHS Scholarship Fund
Mon, August 07, 2017
Time: 10:00 AM – 9:00 PM

Location: Ramsey Country Club, 105 Lake Street, Ramsey, NJ 07446

Event Description

The Ridgewood Chamber of Commerce is proud to present its Annual RHS Scholarship
Charity Golf Classic, August 7, 2017 at the
Ramsey Golf and Country Club
105 Lakeside Drive
Ramsey, NJ 07446

The mission of this event is to:
“empower children through education”..
our proceeds go to the kids –
going off to college.

This day is always fun for- serious golfers, beginners, or if you just want to be out on the greens golfers and/or if you just want to join us for the BBQ Lunch or the delicious dinner in the dinning room.

This year will have some, other than golfing
going on…keep checking out the website.

Don’t miss the silent auction, prizes, hole-in-one.

New this year…kids from the RHS golf teams,
are going to play for you…or beat the Kids…
(beat the Pro).

Come and win the “Putting Contest” –
always a challenge and laughs.

If you are a single golfer, join one of our two and or threesomes. If you want to do networking…
the golf course is always the best place.

We have the entire golf course to enjoy…
“two beverage holes” and a “beverage carts”
this will help to keep your score under 90!

For more details call 201-445-2600,
email us [email protected]

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Reader says I cannot believe that Ridgewood would buy the Town Garage without remediation by the present owners

Town Garage Ridgewood

I cannot believe that Ridgewood would buy that property without remediation by the present owners. They rushed in to buy it before Ridgewood could finalize their decision to buy. They knew they would make a large profit on it as they knew Ridgewood would eventually buy it from them. They knew massive amounts of remediation were necessary but bought it anyway. If we let them get by with that–and the names of the purchasers should show very familiar names–they have succeeded in proving that Ridgewood can be suckered as they originally believed. Wake up Council! Make them clean it up, or reduce the price by the cost of cleaning. That would probably leave them in the hole on the purchase. The buyers knew what they were doing. Does Ridgewood?

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Ridgewood Police, Fire, and EMS Rushed to Aid two separate seizure victims at the exact same time

Ridgewood Police, Fire, and EMS Rushed to Aid two separate seizure victims at the exact same time

photos courtesy of Boyd Loving’s Facebook page

August 6,2017

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, Ridgewood Police, Fire, and EMS aided two (2) separate seizure victims at the exact same time, and in the same location (Tito’s Burritos Restaurant, 166 East Ridgewood Avenue, Ridgewood), on Saturday evening, 08/05. The seizures appeared to have been unrelated, with the exception of occurring at the exact same time and address. One (1) victim sustained a serious head injury after collapsing in a restaurant bathroom; he was transported by ambulance to The Valley Hospital (a paramedic team from The Valley Hospital assisted with this case). The other victim was evaluated at the scene by Ridgewood EMS personnel and declined ambulance transport. The incident drew a response from eight (8) separate vehicles belonging to Police, Fire department, and/or EMS personnel.

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Reader says I guess I’m in the minority, but buying Town Garage and building the parking garage makes perfect sense

Town Garage Ridgewood

I guess I’m in the minority, but buying Town Garage and building the parking garage makes perfect sense and I support the council on taking steps to improve the downtown area, finally taking a financially prudent approach to building a smaller parking garage and working to build up our town using a smart approach, not just sitting back and watching stores close and the town deteriorating. And I think they meant the lot would take 5 months of revenue collection to make up for lost property tax revenue, not the bond. Enough talking, enough procrastinating, it is time to get things done as a collective effort with an in depth parking plan. If we sit back and do nothing our property values will drop and Ridgewood will lose its character as a great downtown. It should also be noted the town would be buying property, something that is of value.

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Elevated natural gas readings Prompt Quick Response by Ridgewood Fire Department

Elevated natural gas readings Prompt Quick Response by Ridgewood Fire Department

photos courtesy of Boyd Loving’s Facebook page

August 6,2017

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, A large tree limb fell onto a passenger car in front of 51 Leroy Place, Ridgewood during a Saturday, 08/05 overnight storm. Telephone, cable, and internet service to a home was severed in the incident. The responding Ridgewood PD uniformed patrol officer detected a natural gas smell in the vicinity of the fallen limb and requested Ridgewood Fire Department be dispatched to investigate. Elevated natural gas readings were isolated to a nearby manhole by Ridgewood Fire Department Engine Company #35 members. PSE&G’s Gas Division was requested to respond. Fire Department personnel also secured the downed FIOS wire.

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