file photo by Dana Glazer
October 11,2016
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, not sure you are registered to vote ? New Jersey has a system where you can check your status .
https://voter.njsvrs.com/PublicAccess/servlet/com.saber.publicaccess.control.PublicAccessNavigationServlet?USERPROCESS=PublicSearch#
“Those who protest that children need more unscheduled time are using a half-baked argument.”
Not according to, The Creative Spirit, written by Goleman, Kaufman and Ray, companion book to PBS series by the same name.
According to these experts and Gardner, children develop their ability to be creative by the age of eight years of age. Unscheduled free time to explore and play as the child chooses,especially time to focus on one activity as long as he wants to, determines a child’s ability to solve all kinds of problems for the rest of his life.
Not only must a half-day kindergarten schedule remain, but learning to read in kindergarten, forcing a developing brain that wants to be free to explore all day is destructive. At least coming home after a half day gives the child time to explore without being exhausted after a full day.
If I were a parent with a young child nowadays, I would home school for kindergarten or send to, only a half-day Montessori type education. I would enter the child in the first grade. And believe me, folks , he would learn to read and understand what he read.
file photo by Boyd Loving
Even if their attorney told them it’s okay, as was reported on Facebook, I still think it’s a bad idea. It serves to alienate a significant number of taxpayers for no reason. The sign isn’t going to result in a significant number of yes votes. They seemed to have learned nothing from what happened with the parking garage fiasco. Take the sign down now Dan.
Either someone should go take the damn sign Down, or then its ok to put up a Vote NO to full day kindergarten sign also in the same spot – taxpayer funded public property. Equal voice on public funded property. My voice should count too!
BOE members seem to be clueless/out of touch (i.e., parking garage issue). This will cost them more votes than they’ll gain by the stupid little sign. Arrogance continues to reign at 49 Cottage Place
Ridgewood is in the process of taxing itself to death. Look at houses at the high end of the market that are already not selling. This will creep down to the middle market as we continue to make avoidable expenditures like this that increase our taxes. Remember that we already have unsustainable union contracts and expenditures legislated by Trenton to swallow every year. We need to be looking for ways to reduce spending – not increase it for the benefit of the few.
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MLS # 1639391 653 Robert St, Ridgewood, NJ 07450 4 Bedroom, 2 Full Bath, C/C Jane Certo, Broker Associate Tarvin Realtors
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MLS # 1640155 371 S Pleasant Ave, Ridgewood, NJ 07450 4 Bedroom, 2 Full Bath, C/C Carolee Chirico, Broker Associate Keller Williams Valley Realty
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MLS # 1621787 379 S Pleasant Ave, Ridgewood, NJ 07450 4 Bedroom, 1 Full Bath, C/C Jee E. Chang, Sales Associate Weichert Realtors, Fort Lee
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MLS # 1634331 640 Linwood Ave, Ridgewood, NJ 07450 3 Bedroom, 2 Full Bath, 1 Half Bath, Col Theresa Jung, Sales Associate Realty 7, LLC
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MLS # 1635658 30 Maltbie Ave, Ridgewood, NJ 07450 3 Bedroom, 1 Full Bath, Col Ghada Abbasi, Sales Associate Coldwell Banker, Ridgewood
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MLS # 1640302 474 Sheffield Rd, Ridgewood, NJ 07450 4 Bedroom, 2 Full Bath, Col Laura Gill, Sales Associate Coldwell Banker, Ridgewood
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MLS # 1636142 506 Farview St, Ridgewood, NJ 07450 4 Bedroom, 2 Full Bath, 1 Half Bath, Col William W. Mack, Sales Associate Coldwell Banker, Kinnelon/Butler
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MLS # 1639318 359 Linwood Ave, Ridgewood, NJ 07450 5 Bedroom, 2 Full Bath, 1 Half Bath, Col Jennifer McSherry, Sales Associate Marron Gildea Realty, Inc. Ridgewood
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MLS # 1639914 165 Kemah Rd, Ridgewood, NJ 07450 3 Bedroom, 2 Full Bath, Col Nicholas R. Alutin, Sales Associate Keller Williams Village Square Realty
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MLS # 1640554 130 Woodside Ave, Ridgewood, NJ 07450 5 Bedroom, 3 Full Bath, Col Ghada Abbasi, Sales Associate Coldwell Banker, Ridgewood
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MLS # 1628041 135 Woodside Ave, Ridgewood, NJ 07450 4 Bedroom, 5 Full Bath, Col Erin Pruitt, Sales Associate Frances Ekblom, Sales Associate Tarvin Realtors
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MLS # 1639467 620 Albert Pl, Ridgewood, NJ 07450 3 Bedroom, 2 Full Bath, 1 Half Bath, Col Jeff Vander Molen, Sales Associate Terrie O’Connor Realtors-Wyckoff
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MLS # 1636234 331 S Van Dien Ave, Ridgewood, NJ 07450 5 Bedroom, 3 Full Bath, Col Qizhan Yao, Broker Owner Realmart Realty, LLC
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MLS # 1614612 676 Terhune Rd, Ridgewood, NJ 07450 4 Bedroom, 4 Full Bath, Ranch Ghada Abbasi, Sales Associate Coldwell Banker, Ridgewood
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MLS # 1615483 200 Claremont Rd, Ridgewood, NJ 07450 5 Bedroom, 3 Full Bath, 2 Half Bath, Col Till Horkenbach, Sales Associate Keller Williams Village Square Realty
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MLS # 1640758 145 W Ridgewood Ave, Ridgewood, NJ 07450 6 Bedroom, 3 Full Bath, 2 Half Bath, Col Cathy Bossolina, Sales Associate Tarvin Realtors
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MLS # 1639438 285 Manor Rd, Ridgewood, NJ 07450 5 Bedroom, 4 Full Bath, 2 Half Bath, Ranch Christine Gubb, Sales Associate Keller Williams Village Square Realty
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Don’t go holier than thou about residents’ trees. What about artificial turf, especially in a flood plane; artificial turf means DEATH to all life. Talk about destruction of our already destroyed ecosystem, NATURE. Plant trees in Maple Field like there used to be. No more artificial turf.
What about the still open possibility of clear cutting trees in Schedler. Even dead trees provide food for birds, where insects inhabit. No dead trees shall be removed in public fields. There are not enough of them.
Kids will have to learn to live with nature be a part of nature not apart from nature and wait for grass to grow before playing their games.
Some residents cut down trees because they are afraid branches or the whole tree could fall on them and kill them in a storm. We have worse storms now because of man made climate change. And now people on the council want residents to risk having their families killed from trees that can fall on them and fall through their house.
Residents should go to court and fight over the idea of having to pay a fine to cut down a tree on their property.
file photo by ArtChick
Dear Friends at the Ridgewood blog,
As autumn leaves fall and residents begin the process of clearing their properties, the Village begins their new season entitled “Turning Over A New Leaf” which signifies the start of the leaf collection program. Leaf removal will begin the week of October 24th. A flyer is currently in the process of being mailed to your homes, outlining the new schedule for 2016.
A notable change in the schedule is that the dates which are indicated in the flyer reflect the time period in which leaves are to be placed in the street. Village crews will be collecting leaves after the dates posted.
Just to highlight some of the rules and regulations for pick up:
Should you have any questions, please call the Street Division at (201) 670-5585.
Thank you for your continued cooperation.
Have a happy and healthy Fall season!
Heather A. Mailander
Acting Village Manager
WHAT??? I was at that meeting and that is not what Councilman Hache said. He was supporting a reduction in the parking fee at Cottage Pl for 60 spots to be set aside for employee parking. It was just for those spots only. He suggested reducing the rate to 25 cents. It was a suggestion in order to get employees to use that lot instead of parking on the street, which will open up spots for customers. And yes, it could also help some of the employees who are minimum wage earners. The free parking was suggested by somebody else.
Editors Note: From what we have heard ,there are over 700(?) employees in the Central Business District so employee parking represents a major issue .Frankly we think employees should be parking at some kind of discounted rate , or free if they park in some distant out of the way spots. We also think meter rates should be lowered but meter times should be extended later into the evening say 9pm ,to give dinners a chance to participate and take some of burden off CBD shoppers .
photo by Boyd Loving
October 8,2016
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, Does the placement of this sign (vote yes for all day K) on public property violate New Jersey state election laws? Didn’t we just go through this in Ridgewood?
photos courtesy of Boyd Loving
October 8,2016
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, Ridgewood PD, FD, and EMS personnel responded to a “pedestrian struck” report on Friday, 10/07 at approximately 1900 hours. The incident occurred on East Ridgewood Avenue near Somerville Road. With the assistance of a paramedic team from The Valley Hospital, the victim was evaluated on location before being transported by ambulance to Hackensack University Medical Center’s Trauma Unit. The extent of the victim’s injuries were not made public at the scene. The driver of the vehicle involved remained at the scene and was cooperating with police.
photo courtesy of Boyd Loving’s Facebook page
October 7,2016
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, The adult male driver of a Jeep SUV was taken into custody, handcuffed, and transported to Ridgewood Police headquarters following a single vehicle crash (into a tree) at the intersection of Godwin Avenue and South Monroe Street, Ridgewood, late night on Thursday, 10/06. A small, crash related engine compartment fire in the Jeep was extinguished by Ridgewood FD members. Ridgewood EMS responded to evaluate the driver; he refused medical aid. The crashed Jeep was removed from the scene by a flatbed tow truck.
Did you hear Councilman Ramon Hache suggest that because most employees in the CBD make minimum wage the Village of Ridgewood should give those employees free parking. So let me understand this Councilman because the employers only pay their employees minimum wage it now becomes the Village taxpayers responsible to supplement there income by giving them free parking. How are you going to know if they are indeed being paid minimum wage Councilman ask for their w 2 before you give them free parking ?
To Mike Sedon: You are a nice guy BUT leave me and my trees alone! I don’t need more government telling me what trees I can and cannot take down on MY property. AND, if the village needs to plant more of their own trees then they should start planting the trees that were never planted and died at the recycling center!
“village to examine trees on private property and if a tree had a diameter larger than 6 inches, it could not be taken down unless it was deemed diseased, dead or a hazard.” Hey Deputy Mayor Mike Sedon your going to tell taxpayer that they cannot take down a tree on their own property “village to examine trees on private property” are you kidding me? We pay taxes on or land and if we the taxpayers want to take down tree on our property because we want more sunlight or plant a garden who the hell do you and the village think you are to tell us what to do. You are really get out there on this one .
October 7,2016
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, Village Engineer Christopher Rutishauser seemed to contract “foot in mouth disease”,on Wednesday night when talking about the Village tree stock he used the term Ghetto Palms to describe a tree that grows in Patterson ,saying “The Paterson Palm. A tree that grows best in ghettos.” he would like to eradicate in Ridgewood. It was said in a somewhat derogatory manner and both Anne and Boyd spoke about this during public comment. They were highly offended. Other felt it was a dumb and insensitive comment.
If you missed the comments from Mr. Rutishauser, here’s a link to the OFFICIAL Village of Ridgewood video of the meeting: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IixAGgdClMA&feature=youtu.be&t=2h31s
The word is that Ms. Johnson ( bike lanes to nowhere guru) is planning on leaving Ridgewood as her children have graduated. Regarding Chris Rutishauser’s reference to the lovely and sturdy honey locust tree as a “ghetto palm” found all over Paterson, I would like to quote The National Arbor Day website: the honey locust tree “has captured the hearts of community foresters and homeowners throughout America and is tough enough to withstand just about any urban setting.” Sounds like a great tree for Ridgewood that is becoming more urbanized as we speak.
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, Wednesday nights presentation by the village engineer and resident Jeanne Johnson on the availability of a grant for the purpose of pedestrian safety and alternate transit opportunities ( bikes) for municipalities. Better stop lights, bike lanes, refuge islands etc. Mayor Knudsen felt that she would need more information as there had been many complaints regarding the Garber Square do to the so called improvements ie “traffic easing” and “suicide bike lane”. The council will read the plans and come to a decision. The grant application is due November 10th.
Jeanne Johnson actually had the audacity to say that she regularly sees bikers using the “bike lane to and from nowhere,” and to blame all of the complaints about it on the fact that “there was a new Village Council and new Village Manager at the same time?” Hello Jeanne: What have you been smoking lately. The Garber Square bike lane is useless.
Jeanne Johnson claimed she has many photos of people using the bike lane under the railroad tracks??? You take your life in your hands if you use it. I would like to see her MANY photos.
Rutishauser was unwilling to show the plan to the council for the new bike lanes, even when the mayor asked for the plan. Too large to print. Too large to burn onto a disc. Too large to email. What the heck? He wanted them to approve a plan without seeing the plan? For real? And then when the Mayor asked him what happened to the suggestions for the grant that she and other council members had submitted to him he just said that the suggestions were no good and he dismissed them.
But then a reader asked the obvious ,In what capacity was Jeanne Johnsohn sitting with the village engineer? What’s her qualification and has village hired her to be a consultant?
