December 12, 2014 Last updated: Friday, December 12, 2014, 12:31 AM
The Ridgewood News
Jack Lorenz
As flags flew at half-staff last week, the community remembered the side-by-side relationship it shared with Jack Lorenz, who for years was entrusted with the education of perhaps Ridgewood’s most impressionable citizens.
Written and spoken tributes to Lorenz, 69, who served as Ridgewood High School principal from 2006 to 2011, quickly emerged soon after the brief details of his passing surfaced during the latter half of this past Thanksgiving weekend.
PSE&G – Energy Strong Gas Upgrade Project – Phase II
Elements of the Village Gas Service Upgrade Project :
• Ferreira Construction will again use Village Police Officers for traffic control, like they did for the work in the East Glen Avenue area earlier this year.
• There will be no steel road plates used. All parties agreed to this.
• Trenches will be topped with hot mix I-5 asphalt mix, followed by final restoration later.
• The contractor’s crews would like to work 6 days per week, weather and Village permitting. No work on Sunday.
• Trenches will be generally 18-inches wide.
• House services will be done after the main work is complete, but coordinated to minimize natural gas service interruptions during the winter heating days.
• Ferreira will continue to use their current staging area. Some equipment will be left on streets overnight in the Lawns area.
• Work will not occurred during inclement weather periods.
Ridgewood considers restoring sculpture by Paterson artist
DECEMBER 7, 2014 LAST UPDATED: SUNDAY, DECEMBER 7, 2014, 10:31 AM
BY CHRIS HARRIS
STAFF WRITER |
THE RECORD
RIDGEWOOD – A sculpture that was crafted by the hands of renowned Paterson artist Gaetano Federici in 1927 could soon be back on display in the village – after being left forgotten for some 40 years.
Ridgewood officials are looking into how much it would cost to have some restoration done to the cast stone piece before having it displayed permanently and prominently outside Village Hall.
No official action was taken on the sculpture at the council’s meeting last week. But Councilwoman Susan Knudsen argued that the Federici piece was worth saving.
“It belongs to the people of Ridgewood,” Knudsen said. “It is priceless and deserves to be brought back and preserved.”
The statue depicts an earlier version of New Jersey’s state seal, with two female figures – Liberty and Ceres – and three plows, representing agriculture’s importance to the state.
As with the state seal, the head of a horse – New Jersey’s official animal – tops the sculpture.
DECEMBER 6, 2014 LAST UPDATED: SATURDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2014, 1:21 AM
BY MARY JO LAYTON
STAFF WRITER |
THE RECORD
The village of Ridgewood is asking a Bergen County judge to dismiss a lawsuit The Valley Hospital filed after its plan to nearly double in size was rejected, according to court documents filed this week.
The lawsuit, which hospital officials filed in October, targeted the Ridgewood Planning Board and the village, arguing the board illegally sided with neighborhood opponents rather than permitting a change in the hospital zone to upgrade “an inherently beneficial regional hospital.”
Valley’s expansion plans have been defeated twice in recent years and have triggered strong protest from some residents who spent more than $100,000 over several years to block the proposals.
DECEMBER 5, 2014 LAST UPDATED: FRIDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2014, 12:31 AM
THE RIDGEWOOD NEWS
To the Editor:
On Nov. 24, the mayor held a meeting on civility. It appears that attendance was by invitation only, but because we are a small village, the word got out rather quickly. I wonder what the true purpose of this meeting was.
It seems the first thing that one would do if there was a perceived problem is to hold a public meeting so that all interested parties could attend and that all our council members would be included. Transparency is at the heart of all public discourse. If conduct at sporting events is an issue, then where were all the participants? As long as I have lived, there has always been an occasional out-of-control parent and/or coach, but I don’t see it as a new issue or one particular to Ridgewood.
To another point, I have attended and ran many meetings and hardly ever has civility been a problem. Where I have seen a breakdown of civility is at the council level, when at the dais personal attacks have been directed at other council members. We have guidelines to prevent this, Robert’s Rules of Order and the Open Public Meetings Act, but they were not always followed, and some meetings became very contentious.
Also, as a citizen coming to the microphone, it is an intimidating experience. It is very difficult to express a contrary opinion in such a setting. On rare occasions, a speaker may get personal, but the chairperson can properly silence that with a reminder of meeting protocol. But how do we stop it when it is coming the other way?
Last, while I have never observed a lack of civility at the Board of Education meetings, I believe its policy of not responding in any way to speakers at the microphone is incredibly rude. As one speaker recently said, it is like talking in a vacuum and the silence is deafening.
We elect our council and board members. We believe in a representative government. Public meetings need to be open and inclusive. As tax-paying residents of the village, we need to feel that are voices are being heard. Respectful behavior goes both ways.
IMPORTANT VILLAGE ROAD WORK NOTICE -PSE&G Paving – December 8 & 9
We have just received word that PSE&G will be paving the following streets on December 8 & 9 : Vesta Ct.; Down St.; Meadowbrook Ave.; Rose Ct.; Libby Ave.; Pearsall Ave.; Northern Parkway.
LEAVES ON THESE STREETS WILL BE COLLECTED ON FRIDAY, DECEMBER 5TH – Residents are asked to NOT put leaves in the street over this weekend.
Historic Ridgewood parking studies have familiar findings
DECEMBER 3, 2014 LAST UPDATED: WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 3, 2014, 10:32 AM
BY LAURA HERZOG
STAFF WRITER |
THE RIDGEWOOD NEWS
They’ve been mentioned. They’ve been complained about. They’ve been disbelieved.
And now, for easy referral, all four of Ridgewood’s much-discussed parking studies – from 1945, 1967, 1971 and 2002 – are on the history page of the library’s website.
They were put online this fall by local realtor Bill Gilsenan, partly for the public’s research and perusal, and partly just to add urgency to what has been characterized by some members of the public as an increasingly tiresome parking conversation.
“They [the studies] were all around in different places, but they weren’t around in one central location … People don’t believe us when we say this has been going on forever,” said a half-laughing and half-exasperated Gilsenan.
Gilsenan, who owns Gilsenan & Company on East Ridgewood Avenue, scanned all the studies and worked with Ridgewood librarian and local historian Peggy Norris to get them online.
The realtor, who was in possession of the 1971 and 2002 studies, happens to have a personal connection to the studies: His uncle was president of Ridgewood’s Chamber of Commerce for many years and is actually mentioned in one of the studies, Gilsenan noted.
To complete the study package, Gilsenan obtained the 1967 study from longtime local businessman Tom Hillmann. The library had the 1945 document.
T’is the Season – join the Celebration in Ridgewood 2014
The Ridgewood Chamber of Commerce Wishing everyone Happy Holidays
The Seasons is here!
Ridgewood presents its 29th Annual Tree Lighting Celebration and
Downtown for the Holidays.
Bring you family, friends and neighbors to share the excitement of this evening,
Friday, December 5th, 2014
5:30pm-9pm … enjoy
the music, lights, shopping, dining,
and (you bet) Santa!
Tree Lighting will happen around 7:30pmish!
For more details: info@ridgewoodchamber.com
201-445-2600 www.experienceridgewood.com
see you there!
DECEMBER 2, 2014 LAST UPDATED: TUESDAY, DECEMBER 2, 2014, 1:21 AM
THE RECORD
RIDGEWOOD — Village officials are seeking volunteers to serve on a number of boards and committees.
The council needs residents to serve on the Community Relations Advisory Board; the Open Space Committee; the Library Board of Trustees; the Green Team Advisory Committee; the Parks, Recreation, and Conservation Board; Project Pride; and the Shade Tree Commission.
The Community Relations Advisory Board deals with diversity issues in the village, while the Open Space Committee examines properties in Ridgewood for potential open space preservation.
The library trustees establish library policy, and the Green Team Advisory Committee promotes green initiatives. The Parks, Recreation, and Conservation Board recommends rules for use and monitors recreation facilities. Project Pride plants and maintains flowers and plants in the central business district, and members of the Shade Tree Commission regulate trees in the village.
James, I think people here are really more eager just to ban “hate lawn-signs”.
Ridgewood blog asks what qualifies as “Hate Lawn Signs” lol
Any lawn sign that criticizes a regionally significant inherently beneficial use of otherwise tax-revenue-generating chunk of real estate is a “hate lawn sign”.
your views are repulsive, and I am ashamed of you for propagating them. There are no “sensible restrictions on free speech,” and whoever thinks that stifling speech eliminates hatred, anger, and violence, is plainly wrong. The answer to hate speech is more speech, not less.
By the way, anyone who wishes to cling to “fire in a crowded theater,” just remember that the ruling was used to imprison Yiddish-speaking pacifists for handing out fliers to protest World War I. Is that “sensible,” #16?
brought to you courtesy of one of our nation’s finest institutions of higher learning (much more where that came from):
Reader says People post and make comment on this blog when they want their cause championed but turn around and condemn this blog when they don’t need it anymore
Mayor Paul Aronsohn,Councilwoman Gwenn Hauck hosted the meeting and , Deputy Mayor Albert Pucciarelli, made comments. Well it sound like an open public meeting which was not posted in a timely manner ( Friday for a Monday Meeting) The next questions. Were there meeting minutes taken and if so when will they be available to the public?
“Baney also called out The Ridgewood Blog, a news and opinion aggregation website, for contributing to incivility.” Baney Who is a member of the anti Valley Hospital group had no problem when commenter on this blog blasted Valley Hospital. Where was she the?. These people are all cut from the same cloth.
Baney also called out The Ridgewood Blog, a news and opinion aggregation website, for contributing to incivility.
James you know what ironic. People send thing for you to post and make comment on this blog when they want their cause championed but turn around and condemn this blog when they don’t need it anymore or they disagree with other posters. Which ever way the wind is blowing like the Three Amigos.
Reader suggests that if the Mayor would start representing the interest of Ridgewood the blog would be irrelevant
the 3 clowns Huey, Dewey, and Louie should focus on representing tax payers ,residents and the interests of Ridgewood and then people would not be criticizing them on this blog 24/7 .
Ridgewood is not Hudson County , nor do we have the demographic , Ridgewood is Ridgewood , best to pack up the Hudson County mafia and your developer friends and move back ..
Reader suggest “Civility ” meeting was violation of NJ Open Public Meetings
Wait just a Ridgewood minute – Mayor Paul Aronsohn, Deputy Mayor Albert Pucciarelli, and Councilwoman Gwenn Hauck all participated in this meeting. Isn’t that considered a quorum in terms of the Village Council? If so, why wasn’t this billed as an offical meeting of the Council, with minutes taken and legal notice given? A violation of the NJ Open Public Meetings Act or not? Matt Rogers where are you?
Ms Hauck has been counted before even when she was not present . It is my understanding that there were two member of the council hosting the meeting on civility last Monday. What is confusing is that the Deputy Mayor was in the audience and even took part in the conversation so I been told. If true does this now become a official public meeting which should have been post in a timely manner ( not on Friday for a Mondaymeeting? ) Where there minuets taken and will they be available? Can someone shed some light on this. Did the Deputy Mayor speak ?
But the Deputy Mayor only introduced himself we are told , but its the spirit of the law that is still of concern?
Of course Mr. Pucciarelli was there, he is attached by a firm cable to Mr. Arohsohn Mr Arohsohn should keep his ATTACK DOG on a shorter leash. So was not the purpose of the Deputy Mayors presence to quell dissent , and intimidate people ?
The Deputy Mayor cannot for one moment pretend ignorance of the Sunshine Law. His adherence to the law was called into question early in his term – this gave him plenty of time to learn the law that he had been accused of breaking. The Village Attorney looked into the matter and decided that the DM had not violated the law at that time. Regardless, Mr. Pucciarelli knew full well that he should not speak last Monday night, but……………surprise surprise………….he spoke! Presto, the law was broken.
Reader says “Civility” meeting, What a bunch of nonsense.
The mayor is simply taking a page out of the resident’s playbook, calling for civility only after he and his minions have already distorted the public discourse, intimidated or demonized well-meaning political opponents, and generally done the damage he intends to do.
Even this event is nothing more than a belligerent shot across the bow to those who would come to public meetings in the future and dare to voice a contrary view at the public microphone, or otherwise level any well-deserved criticism the Mayor’s way.
To his mind, now that we’ve gone and taken the trouble of having a silly public meeting about the need for ‘civility in public discourse’, we have established a new norm, in accordance with which anyone who goes to the microphone to disagree with or criticize the Mayor or his friends is, by definition, engaging in a social ‘taboo’, and will therefore have voluntarily opened themselves up to immediate public abuse from the elected official DuJour, shamelessly served with a culturally toxic side-dish of relish, impunity, and maddening condescension.
Ridgewood Christmas Tree Lighting Celebration
Fri, December 05, 2014
Time: 5:30 PM – 9:00 PM
East Ridgewood Avenue, Ridgewood NJ
Event Description
Come to Ridgewood to start your Holiday season!
Join us on Friday, December 5, 2014
SANTA arrives on Saturday, December 6, 2014..
comes up E. Ridgewood Ave. and goes to Columbia Bank 10am-1pm…pictures and gifts for all the kids!
Starting at 5:30pm
Santa in Memorial Park at Van Neste Square
Live Entertainment on E. Ridgewood Ave.
7:00-8:00pm
On Stage
Live Entertainment & Tree Lighting Celebration
8:00-9:00pm
Santa in the Park
Live Entertainment
more merriement!
Thank You Sponsors:
Columbia Bank,
The Valley Hospital,
Van Dyk Health Care,
The Ridgewood News,
Prestige Motors,
Camp Wekeela,
The Originals Salon
Atlantic Stewardship Bank
The Original Salon Inc.
Precision Orthodontics
From the Top Music Studio,
Art of Motion,
Porch Light Production,
Little Ivy Learning Center,
YMCA of Ridgewood
Janjigian Trading Co., Inc.
CareOne Ridgewood Avenue
West Bergen Mental Healthcare
Huntington Learning Center
C. C. Van Emburgh Funeral Home
Ulrich, Inc.
Duxiana
Huntington Learning Centers
Panico Hair Salon-Ridgewood
Daily Treat
Country Pancake House and Restaurant
It’s Greek to Me
Dr. Frances McGorty
Moxie Blowdry & Beauty Bar
Ridgewood Press
Please say “thank you” to these business for
keeping the “tradition” in Ridgewood.
Breakfast with Santa, The Office Beer Bar & Grill
Saturday 12/6/14 – 8am-10am
Saturday, 12/13 & 12/20 8am-12Noon
call for reservation 201-652-1070.
Store Specials during this event:
Alex and Ani with hot chocolate, holiday cookies and a gift with purchase of $75 or more.
For more details, please call us at 201-445-2600 or email info@ridgewoodchamber.com www.experienceridgewood.com
The Deputy Mayor cannot for one moment pretend ignorance of the Sunshine Law. His adherence to the law was called into question early in his term – this gave him plenty of time to learn the law that he had been accused of breaking. The Village Attorney looked into the matter and decided that the DM had not violated the law at that time. Regardless, Mr. Pucciarelli knew full well that he should not speak last Monday night, but……………surprise surprise………….he spoke! Presto, the law was broken.