Mayor’s Office Hours for Residents – October 3rd, 2015
Mayor Paul Aronsohn holds office hours for Ridgewood residents on Saturday’s every month. Mayor Aronsohn will meet with residents on Saturday, October 3rd from 9AM to Noon in the Council Chambers (Sydney V. Stoldt, Jr. Court Room) on the fourth floor of Ridgewood Village Hall.
For an appointment to meet with the Mayor, please call the Village Clerk’s Office at 201-670-5500 ext. 206. You may come to the Mayor’s office hours without an appointment, but those with appointments will be given priority.
September 28,2015
Lorraine Reynolds
Citizens for a Better Ridgewood
Ridgewood NJ, As you may or may not know, on September 30th the village council will be continuing the 2 night hearing and voting on the 5 ordinances regarding the high density housing. These ordinances would increase the density allowed from 12 units per acre (current) to 35 units per acre (UPA) in our downtown. Here’s a comparison as to what some other towns in our area allow: Fort Lee 50 UPA, Teaneck 28 UPA, Englewood 12 UPA, Hackensack 22 UPA. If passed, Fort Lee would be the only town in our area, similar in population, with a greater density per acre. I do believe the majority of the town is accepting of development, but on a smaller scale. Maybe 25 units per acre? Do we really want to be built up more than Teaneck? I certainly don’t want to be anywhere near Fort Lee’s density.
The planning board spent approximately 3 years in discussions and 1 1/2 years in a public hearing before voting. The village council had a small portion of their Sept 16 meeting devoted to this and now the council will be coming to the sept 30th meeting with their written statements prepared on how they are voting and why. The Ridgewood News had an editorial last week about “what’s the hurry?”. I have to agree with them. While I don’t want this to drag out, I do want the council to do their due diligence and get all of the facts before they vote. During the Valley hearings at the council level, the council brought in the traffic expert, planner, geotechnical engineer, etc and each council member asked questions of these experts and based their vote on what was discussed at council.
It appears that the majority of the council does not want to bring in any experts. They are ready to vote without asking any questions of any experts as to how this will effect Ridgewood. At the planning board level, a concern about the increase this would bring to our taxes was brought up several times by residents. The discussion was always shot down, because “it is not in the purview of the planning board to consider finances.” In fact, the village planner stated, “residential housing almost always increases taxes, we should not be doing this if we think taxes will go down, but there are other benefits to residential housing.” The council has a much broader scope of items they can discuss, finances being one of them. You may remember that Tom Riche voted yes to the Valley amendment at the PB level, but no to it at the council level. That is because the council is able to look at a broader range of issues. Finances should definitely be discussed.
I would like to see the council bring in several experts in addition to a financial expert. Water must be discussed. I know this year is an exception with the lack of rain, but we have mandatory water restrictions every year. Can you imagine an additional few hundred apartments to supply? I can’t.
Schools must be discussed. The planning board did not have a member of the BOE at their public hearings. The council needs to ask Dr Fishbein to appear at the council hearing to answer questions.
The traffic expert, the engineer, the planner, etc should all be questioned. I do hear the planner will be there, but that’s it.
I don’t know how anyone could possible vote on something so monumental without questioning all of these experts to see what the impacts will be for Ridgewood.
I urge you to e-mail our council and ask them to have these experts at the hearing, get the facts first hand, and then vote.
These people are our elected officials, and we have a right to make sure they have done their due diligence before they vote.
Whether you are for or against the increase to 35 units per acre, I think we can all agree that each council member needs to be able to ask questions of the experts to help them in their decision making process.
Below are the e-mails of all the council members. Please send them an e-mail today and forward this to friends. Thanks
Ridgewood NJ, Master Youngmin Kim competed and achieved championship medals at the highest levels in Korea.
He also earned full athletic scholarships from middle school through college.
In addition, he has a masters degree in sports management.
Since 2012, Master Kim has focused on teaching by founding and running Taekwondo All In in Ridgewood, NJ.
The efforts of his teaching and his students’ perseverance have amounted to exceptional results.
33 Chestnut St
Ridgewood, New Jersey
(201) 857-0445
ANNUAL STREET FAIR, Sunday, September 20th Ridgewood Parks and Recreation will again sponsor this seasonal outdoor market on Sunday, September 20th, 12 noon to 5 pm, on East Ridgewood Avenue (rain or shine). There is no fee to attend. Vendor wares will include arts and crafts, jewelry, holiday ornaments, novelties of many sorts, home goods, and clothing and accessories. Children’s events will include pony rides, sand art, a petting zoo, inflatables and more. The food court offers a wide variety of refreshments.
Stage 4 water restrictions are still in effect.
September 19,2015
Dear Ridgewood Water customers,
Your cooperation with Stage 4 restrictions has started to ease the stress that the water system experienced during this unusually dry summer. Weather forecasts predict that dry conditions will continue, so Stage 4 restrictions will remain in effect until further notice.
No irrigation of any kind is allowed on Mondays, Thursdays, or Fridays.
Irrigation using only a hand-held hose with a spray nozzle is permitted for odd numbered addresses only on Tuesdays and Saturdays and for even numbered addresses only on Wednesdays and Sundays.
Waivers for special circumstances such as irrigating newly planted lawns and shrubs, cleaning cars or houses, and filling swimming pools will be considered on a case-by-case basis. For more information on waivers please call Ridgewood Water at 201-670-5520 or email Customer Service at cswater@ridgewoodnj.net.
You can always find the current status of restrictions at our website,water.ridgewoodnj.net. Your patience is greatly appreciated
Ridgewood NJ, so how many times can Mayor Aronsohn, Deputy Mayor Pucciarelli and Councilwoman Hauck, in cooperation with Village Manager Sonenfeld, disregard our local laws? Let us count the ways :
Telephonic or electronic communication between or among Councilmembers or between a Councilmember and a member of the public during public meetings is prohibited. This resolution was written by the Deputy Mayor (and former councilwoman Bernadette Walsh). When questioned publicly, Aronsohn admitted that his wife texts him, Hauck admitted that she “forgets” to turn her phone off, and Pucciarelli stated that he must be able to hear from his family at all times. So this rule is bent, disregarded, or ignored by the three of them as they see fit. Councilman Sedon and Councilwoman Knudsen stated that they do not use their phones or email during meetings.
2. A Human Resources Director (or confidential secretary, or whatever the title turned out to be) was hired before the position even existed. Once they got her up and running then they decided to create the position by rewriting the organizational chart. This was done over the objections of Sedon and Knudsen, who wanted the law to be followed. The position should have been created and then the person could be hired.
3. Local laws dictate that for certain positions, new hires must come in at the lowest end of the salary range. This has not always been happening. So now they are writing a new ordinance allowing for salary flexibility in such hirings. Once again, break the law, then rewrite the law. Once again, Sedon and Knudsen voiced objections while the other three smiled and nodded approval.
4. The most recent application for a grant for the Schedler property has a complete inaccuracy as well as some “sins of omission.” It was not shown to certain council members before it was sent (can we guess who did not see it and who did?). When this was pointed out, with a suggestion that the application be pulled and amended before being resubmitted, the reply was that “these things happen all the time,” you know, what’s a little inaccuracy among government agencies? Are we seeing a pattern here?
Our lawyer on the Council, Mr. Pucciarelli, characterized their behavior best when he stated that “Maybe we’re breaking the law, but it’s not a good law.”
The three of them absolutely do not care if they broke a law. Here is a DIRECT QUOTE from Pucciarelli from last Wednesday
“Maybe we’re breaking the law, but it’s not a good law.”
This is a perfect quote, demonstrating without question that the Deputy Mayor needs to be retired from public office ASAP.
Public figures are not at liberty either to violate the law, or blithely leave the impression that they are flouting the law. If a Councilmember thinks a law is bad, they should act to bring about a change to the law, not simply break it in an act of contempt to demonstrate how bad it is!
Yes, our deputy mayor, who happens to be a LAWYER (something he loves to remind us of every other minute) has that little respect for the law. Listen to him on the U-stream. Who would believe that a lawyer would say this? Who would believe that an elected law-maker would say this?
Disgusting, despicable, disgraceful, disingenuous, dastardly, damnable. The three of them stink.
Aronsohn – he looks like a doe staring at headlights, absolutely no comprehension of what is being said, he is not paying any attention whatsoever, and as soon as the speaker finishes he finally brings his eyes into focus and says Thank You For Your Comments. And he never replies to anyone’s concerns.
Sonenfeld – did you check her out when the TV was focused on her on Wednesday nonstop? Her head bobs up and down when someone is at the microphone, like a chicken pecking around for scattered corn kernels. And she makes little sounds of disapproval or disagreement, while her hand fidgets with her chin.
Hauck – she stares at her ipad when anyone speaks, and reads whatever notes are being sent to her electronically from her “handlers,” who dictate what she should say (read) next.
Pucciarelli – he also stares at his ipad, but he has it on “camera” and the camera is reversed so he is looking at himself and trying to determine if the toupee needs a little more salt-and-pepper highlights woven into it yet.
Only Sedon and Knudsen actually pay attention and give thoughtful responses, even though Aronsohn has instructed all council members that they are not to engage in conversation with any member of the public.
The mayor is such a liar. He acts like the idea of a second meeting is a new idea and he is jumping right on it due to the back to school night conflicts. So much bullshit from our egomaniacal leader. Boyd Loving spoke publicly in the summer and implored Aronsohn to have more than one hearing, stating that of course not everyone could make one certain date. In this instance the mayor stated that people could talk at other meetings during the summer (when it would not be an agenda item and when half the town is away). A woman from N. hillside spoke on Wednesday night and said she was there on the 9th because she has back to school night on the 16th. In this instance the mayor stared blankly at her and made no comment. This high density housing will probably go through even if a thousand people speak up. But those thousand people will never vote for Paulie Boy ever again.
Ridgewood NJ, The Mayor Paul Aronsohn and the Village Council has given in to the public outcry for a Second Meeting to hear public comments on the multi-family housing . On June 24 at a public meeting the Mayor basically told resident Boyd Loving to sit down and shut up when he suggested that more than one public hearing was in order.
Boyd was adamant that one night would make it difficult for some people to attend and that this one-night plan was completely contrary to the manner in which the Valley hearings were conducted. At that time the Mayor was unwilling to listen to this reasonable suggestion.
Perhaps recent events such as the lawsuit brought by the CBR, as well as intense public outcry about the single meeting, and even the Ridgewood News editorial, have caused a change of heart. Boyd it seems, was dare we say it, RIGHT.
Now perhaps you will listen to Boyd’s other suggestion to secure a larger venue for the hearings, so that overflow citizens are not sequestered in the basement of Village Hall and are somehow shuttled up and down stairs to the microphone.
SEPTEMBER 11, 2015 LAST UPDATED: FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 2015, 12:31 AM
THE RIDGEWOOD NEWS
Another great season at Graydon
to the editor:
Labor Day was the last day of another great season at Graydon Pool.
I’d like to take this opportunity to thank the village for continuing to operate Graydon — and for finding a way to keep it open on Labor Day weekend — as well as to thank the lifeguards and other staff for their professionalism and courtesy throughout the season.
This summer may not have been great for our lawns, but all those hot, sunny days were terrific for hanging out at Graydon. Some highlights: watching groups of children in the deep end play what looked to be a very fun game whose rules I never quite figured out but which involved guessing names of movies and swimming very fast; looking across to the “kiddie” side and seeing young families with small children splashing in the water or building sand castles; listening to groups of kids establish and administer the rules during volleyball games (we should all be proud—they are models of fair play); watching first-timers go off the high dive, or dazzling displays of prowess by high-dive veterans of all ages; reading undisturbed for hours on end with my feet in the sand; the hymns on the church bells every evening at 6:30 p.m.; the guards’ sincere-sounding announcement at closing time that they look forward to seeing us the next day; sunset swims late in the season as the days got shorter.
The only negative was the dreaded sound of the lightning-detection system at Vet’s field.
Is Graydon pristine clean? Perhaps not — but what lake is? Still, it’s treated and there’s a constant flow of water. Could the bathrooms use updating? Sure — but they work, and they have a certain old-school charm. I had a backyard pool, and it was lovely, but I was constantly running back into the house for more snacks for everyone or to throw another load of laundry in. At Graydon, my only responsibilities are to stay sunscreened and keep my library book dry.
I know that many of you don’t go to Graydon anymore, but it’s truly a gem. There’s a certain camaraderie — and at the end of the season, as at high-school graduation, people who haven’t spoken to each other all season commiserate about it being the last day and wish each other a good year. It’s a place where everyone is happy — and it’s my “happy place.”
In fact, next year will be the 50th anniversary of my first afternoon at Graydon.
Tupac made the do-rag famous
September 11,2015
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood Nj, Ridgewood Police report that on Thursday September 3, 2015, a Brookside Avenue resident reported that his/her unlocked late model high-end vehicle was entered while parked in the driveway of his/her home. The initial investigation revealed that a white or silver sport utility vehicle had dropped off a dark skinned male actor with facial hair wearing a “do-rag” and that this person was observed rummaging through the vehicle and pulling the doors on other parked locked vehicles in the victim’s driveway.
Nothing was taken from the victim’s vehicle and the matter is under investigation by the detective bureau. There have been numerous similar incidents throughout the state with many occurring in Bergen County where actors have been dropped for the purpose of finding unlocked parked vehicles in homeowners’ driveways during early morning hours where the owner also left the “smart key” or key fob ignition activator in the vehicle. Many of these incidents have resulted in the vehicles being taken. Again many of these crimes can be deterred by locking unattended vehicles and removing the “smart key” ignition activator.
from Wikipedia
A do-rag (also spelled variously as a doo-rag, dew-rag, du-rag or durag), is a piece of cloth used to cover the top of one’s head. Sometimes made of nylon material and having a “skullcap” fit it may also be referred to as a “wavecap“. According to the Oxford English Dictionary and Merriam-Webster dictionary, the term derives from ‘do as in hairdo.[1][2]
History
During the slavery period in the United States, African American women wore scarves that were later to become the do-rags of the 1930s to the 1960s. Do-rags were also used by African American men to hold chemically processed hair-dos in place while they slept. Originally they were most commonly made from women’sstockings; these were called stocking caps, not do-rags. Now, many are made from polyester.
Do-rags re-emerged as a fashion trend among urban youth in the 1990s and 2000s, first among African Americans, who used them to maintain their new hair styles. Do-rags are worn in a variety of colours, with black being the most common. Do-rags are regularly used to create and maintain waves and cornrowedhairstyles. They usually have long ties on either side that are wrapped around the head to secure the do-rag by tying at the back of the head; the old do-rags were tied at the front of the head.
In April 2000, the American National Football League banned its players from wearing do-rags and bandanas underneath their helmets. The ban did not apply to players who wore them for medical reasons.[3]
Over the years motorcyclists have begun to wear do-rags, especially in states with motorcycle helmet laws, to prevent “helmet hair” or “helmet head”.[citation needed]There was also the practical value of the do-rag preventing sweat and scalp oils (especially if the biker is bald) from causing an unpleasant smelling helmet, or wearing a do-rag without a helmet to prevent sunburn. Constructed a little differently with ties and a tail, they come in many different styles and colors.
the staff of the Ridgewood blog and Photos by Boyd Loving
Ridgewood NJ, it was a beautiful fall evening to host the Annual Fall Car Show, presented by the Ridgewood Chamber of Commerce. The Village was buzzing with energy and filled with a wide variety of cars, from muscle cars and hot rods to current models and unique designs , with cars ranging from the years 1930 to 2015!
The Ridgewood Chamber of Commerce dedicated the 2015 Car Show to the memory of those who died on 9/11 and a special “Memorial Award” was given out by Duxiana of Ridgewood.
The huge American flag suspended between two hook and ladder fire trucks! The Ridgewood High School Marching Band gave their first performance of the season and the RHS Maroon Men acapella group started the evening off with the Star Spangled Banner.Many of Ridgewood’s fine restaurants were open for business.
The Ridgewood News editorial today highlights in the importance of the September 16 Village Council meeting for the future of our village, and asks the Mayor and Council, “What’s the Hurry?” (see link below)
The Ridgewood News approached CBR to make a statement about how the Village Council intends to rush the vote to approve ordinances that would allow high density housing, and asked our opinion on holding the public hearing on a night that conflicts with many Back-to-School nights. (see our statement to the Ridgewood News below)
We have asked the Mayor and Council to reschedule the meeting. We urge YOU to also email the Mayor and Council and ask them to either reschedule the public hearing, or to schedule additional opportunities for public comment in the future on this very important matter. The email addresses are below. Also, please continue to reach out to friends and neighbors and encourage everyone to attend this vital meeting on Wednesday, September 16.
Ridgewood Council to hold hearing on multifamily housing
SEPTEMBER 10, 2015 LAST UPDATED: THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2015, 9:35 PM
BY MARK KRULISH
STAFF WRITER |
THE RIDGEWOOD NEWS
The subject of multifamily housing will take center stage at the Village Council’s public meeting on Sept. 16 as the governing body prepares to take action on the related zoning ordinances and hear a last round of comments from the public.
After years of public work sessions and hearings to allow testimony by attorneys and experts for three developers and comments from residents who expressed either satisfaction or concern, the Ridgewood Planning Board ultimately voted to pass the new amendments. They were then sent to the council in the form of an ordinance.
If the ordinances are approved next week, several parcels of land in the village’s Central Business District will be rezoned for housing with densities as high as 35 units per acre and building heights of 50 feet. The original amendments allowed for developments of up to 50 units per acre, but were scaled back due to the concerns of board members and residents.
Four parcels of land are currently slated for re-zoning: The old Brogan Cadillac site on South Broad Street, which would be designated as an AH-2 zone for purely residential development; the old Sealfons building on North Maple Avenue between East Ridgewood Avenue and Franklin Avenue and the Ken Smith property on Franklin Avenue, which would be put in the B-3-R zone for residential or mixed-use development; the C-R zone, a small lot on Chestnut Street for residential or mixed-used development; and the C-zone, which wraps around the C-R zone and is intended only for commercial uses.
