Ridgewood NJ, Many thought that the 3 Amigo’s Aronsohn , Hauck and Pucciarelli hit the all time low in Ridgewood politics but Arosohn’s pulling the strings for the Narcissistic driven Harwin campaign continues to break lower lows Attacks have been made on Village institutions, Jamboree, OLMC , the Ridgewood Police and Fire Departments as well as Preserve Graydon ,the Ridgewood Wildscape Association and Friends of Schedler. And once again the whole East Side of 17 was written off by perspective councilmembers .
But most distasteful have been the nonstop misogynistic attacks on the mayor. Attempts to bully the mayor during public comment by Mr Halaby, Lehmann and Delzio in the most frat boy , vulgar ,and bigoted tone have not done much to ingratiate the Harwin cause with Villagers .
Councilmen Voigt a Harwin ally has also attacked female Villagers from the dais and in court ,claiming “harassment”. The school boy mentality of these “masculinity challenged “, “men ” along with several others in the Village only further push voters to the Kundsen and Sedon corner .
Ridgewood NJ, A municipal judge in Hackensack dismissed the latest complaint by Ridgewood Councilman Jeffrey Voigt against one of his constituents on Thursday. Voigt alleged that resident Anne Loving violated a September agreement between herself and Voigt when she filed anonymous OPRA requests for his emails. That agreement was set after the two traded harassment complaints late last year.
Judge Anthony Gallina said that without the opinion of a handwriting expert, there was no probable cause to find that Loving had penned the anonymous Open Public Records Act requests, and found that OPRA requests did not constitute harassment, as they lacked any “offensively course language,” or were “otherwise made to cause alarm.”
In 2017, Loving, her husband and another resident filed separate complaints accusing Voigt of harassment after he posted copies of their requests for Voigt’s council emails on social media, thus revealing “personal information” such as their phone numbers and addresses online.
Voigt counter-charged that the residents had filed the deluge of OPRA requests simply to harass him.
At that time Prosecutor Linda Schwager persuaded the residents to withdraw their claims, citing the lack of evidence to prove a criminal act. Judge Roy McGeady had reached the same conclusion and was prepared to dismiss all claims from both sides.
This time Voigt alleged that five separate OPRA requests for his emails submitted to the Ridgewood village clerk between September 2017 and February 2018 under the name “Victoria Burpee” had in fact been filed by Loving in an attempt to further harass him. Voigt was unable to prove “Victoria Burpee” was Anne Loving.
Clearly the councilmen does understand that every citizens right to OPRA and is attempting to use a short term legal agreement to curtail, the use of the Open Public Records Act ie OPRA and suppress public information.
In the Open Public Records Act the NJ Legislature finds and declares it to be the public policy of this State that:
government records shall be readily accessible for inspection, copying, or examination by the citizens of this State, with certain exceptions, for the protection of the public interest, and any limitations on the right of access accorded by P.L.1963, c.73 (C.47:1A-1 et seq.) as amended and supplemented, shall be construed in favor of the public’s right of access;
all government records shall be subject to public access unless exempt from such access by: P.L.1963, c.73 (C.47:1A-1 et seq.) as amended and supplemented; any other statute; resolution of either or both houses of the Legislature; regulation promulgated under the authority of any statute or Executive Order of the Governor; Executive Order of the Governor; Rules of Court; any federal law, federal regulation, or federal order ;
a public agency has a responsibility and an obligation to safeguard from public access a citizen’s personal information with which it has been entrusted when disclosure thereof would violate the citizen’s reasonable expectation of privacy; and nothing contained in P.L.1963, c.73 (C.47:1A-1 et seq.), as amended and supplemented, shall be construed as affecting in any way the common law right of access to any record, including but not limited to criminal investigatory records of a law enforcement agency.
Ridgewood NJ, amazingly Harwin supporters led of with another round of Jamboree bashing . In case you are unfamiliar ,since 1947, Jamboree has presented an original musical revue to raise need-based scholarship funds for college bound Ridgewood High School seniors.Every year the Jamboree organization coaxes parents who still have dreams of stardom to put on a great show and raise a whole bunch of money college bound Ridgewood High School seniors.
The latest accusations claim the Mayor is profiting from taking and selling pictures of the event .
A reader retorted What part of “Like many other volunteers, Susan Knudsen has devoted countless hours to Jamboree. She is not paid for her services. The Board of Trustees of the Jamboree Scholarship Fund” don’t you understand? The photos are SOLD AS A FUNDRAISING EFFORT FOR JAMBOREE!
Jamboree Scholarship Fund, Inc , PO Box 1295, 143 E Ridgewood Ave
Ridgewood, New Jersey
Ridgewood NJ, in the latest Village eNotice, Village Manager Heather Mailander explained that the Municipal Election, to elect two members to the Village Council, will take place on May 8, 2018. The polls are open from 6:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., and will be held in your usual polling place. All registered voters will receive sample ballots in the mail, prior to the election. If you are unable to go to the polls, you may vote in person, up until 3:00 p.m. on May 7, 2018, by going to the Bergen County Clerk’s Office, One Bergen County Plaza, Hackensack, NJ.
The Public Hearing and consideration for adoption for the 2018 Municipal Budget will be held at the Village Council’s Regular Public Meeting on May 9, 2018 beginning at 8:00 p.m. The budget is posted on the Village website and a budget newsletter will be mailed to all residences, prior to May 9th.
The Health Department would like to remind residents that 2018 dog license renewals are due during the month of June. A $20 late fee will be charged for all renewals received after June 30, 2018.
The Ridgewood FREE dog rabies clinic and micro chipping event will be held on May 16 from 5:30 pm to 6:30 pm at the Graydon Pool Parking Lot on Northern Parkway.
The Health Department will be sending renewal notices via email. If you do not have an email address please call our office and request a renewal to be mailed to you. Renewal applications may also be obtained by visiting our website at www.ridgewoodnj.net or coming in person to the Ridgewood Health Department, 131 North Maple Ave., during regular business hours.
New Jersey law requires owners of all dogs seven months of age or older to be registered with the town where they live. In order for the license to be issued, the owner must present proof that a licensed veterinarian has vaccinated the dog against rabies and that the duration of immunity from that vaccination does not expire before May 1, 2019. To receive the discount for a spayed or neutered pet, proof must also be provided.
Summer is almost here ,Graydon Pool will open on June 2nd, and will be open from 10:00 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. on that day. The Recreation newsletter, which will be mailed to all residences in a few weeks, will have a family coupon for up to $40 off registration for Ridgewood residents, which expires July 15, 2018. Proof of residency will be required. Registration can be done online at www.ridgewoodnj.net/communitypass or in person at the Graydon Pool badge office on May 12th and May 19th from 10:00 a.m. to Noon. In addition, once the pool opens, registration will be done at the badge office, during regular pool hours.
Summer Day Camp registration, for Ridgewood children entering grades 1 through 6, is now open. This popular Day Camp usually has a waiting list, so please sign up as soon as possible. Registration is available online at www.ridgewoodnj.net/communitypass.
Please share this information with your neighbors. For continuing updates, please see the Village website at www.ridgewoodnj.net.
Ridgewood NJ, An intense, but brief, rain storm with high winds tore through Northwest Bergen County early Thursday evening, 05/03. A 19th Century barn located in the rear of a single family home on South Irving Street in Ridgewood was totally destroyed when multiple trees fell on it. Ridgewood Police Patrol Officer Ricky Thomas responded to take a property damage report. No injuries were reported in the incident.
Service Adjustments Required To Advance Positive Train Control (PTC) Equipment Installation
May 4,2018
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, NJ TRANSIT continues installation of PTC equipment on its rail fleet. To accommodate this critical safety upgrade, weekday rail schedules are being adjusted to allow for hardware components to be installed on locomotives and cab cars.
Beginning Monday, June 4th, some trains will be temporarily discontinued or have changes of origin/destination. This will impact customers along the Northeast Corridor, North Jersey Coast Line, Morris & Essex Lines, and Pascack Valley Line. Other trains throughout the system will have schedule and/or station stop adjustments. These schedule adjustments are temporary and will be restored in early 2019.
“NJ TRANSIT understands that any change to the train schedule has an impact on the travel patterns of our customers,’’ said Executive Director Kevin Corbett. “We are doing everything in our power to install this important safety technology as quickly as possible. I ask for customers’ patience during this process as the end result is a safer railroad for everyone.”
The following trains will be temporarily discontinued or have a change in origin: Customers are strongly encouraged to view the full timetables on njtransit.com for all travel options.
Main Line /Bergen Line Unaffected
Northeast Corridor (NEC)
INBOUND
Train 5822, the 7:05 a.m. departure from New Brunswick to Newark Penn
Earlier option departs at 6:59 a.m. (Limited additional capacity)
Later option departs at 7:10 a.m.
OUTBOUND
Train 3811, the 4:51 a.m. departure from PSNY to Trenton
Earlier option departs at 4:17 a.m.
Later option departs at 5:07 a.m.
Train 5869, the 6:03 p.m. departure from Newark Penn to Trenton
Earlier option departs at 5:56 p.m. (Limited additional capacity)
Later option departs at 6:11 p.m.
Pascack Valley Line
INBOUND
Train 1618, the 7:59 a.m. departure from Spring Valley to Hoboken. (Metro-North express)
Earlier option departs Spring Valley at 7:37 a.m.
#1620 moves 5 minutes earlier to depart Spring Valley 4 minutes later than the discontinued #1618. Metro-North customers arrive in Hoboken 13 minutes later than the current #1618
OUTBOUND
Train 1639, the 7:20 p.m. departure (M-TH) from Hoboken to Spring Valley (Metro-North express)
Earlier option departs at 6:48 p.m.
Later option departs at 7:29 p.m.
Note: Train 9653 which currently operates only on Friday afternoons and before specific holidays (departing Hoboken at 2:58 p.m.) will operate only on 7/3, 8/31, 11/21, 12/21. On those dates, train 1633 (departing Hoboken at 5:58 p.m.) will not operate.
Ridgewood NJ, Sample ballots arrived today in the mail. Five days remaining till election day . Every single vote counts on MAY 8TH. Polls open from 6am to 8pm .
Notice the ballot firs two spots are Harwin and Willett and then Knudsen and Sedon .
Ridgewood NJ, On May 17th at 7 PM at the Ridgewood Community Center in Village Hall at 131 N. Maple Avenue; Age Friendly Ridgewood, The Valley Hospital, Van Dyk Healthcare, and the Ridgewood Parks and Recreation Department will host our first Community Health Talk with Dr. Thomas Perls. Dr. Perls is a geriatrician and researcher in the study of aging at Boston University School of Medicine. He also leads the National Institute on Aging-funded New England Centenarian Study (the NECS), the largest study of people living to 100 years and beyond in the world. In addition, he directs the Long Life Family Study at Boston University. These studies are leading the way in finding out how and why centenarians and their children, who are in their seventies and eighties, live the vast majority of their lives disability-free.
Dr. Perls is the author of Living to 100: Lessons in Maximizing Your Potential at Any Age and over 120 academic publications on extreme longevity and the avoidance of age-related diseases. Dr. Perls has appeared on 60 Minutes, CBS Sunday Morning, The Today Show, Good Morning America, nightly news programs, and NPR.
Centenarians and supercentenarians, those living to 110 and over, represent a new paradigm of aging; rather than “the older you get the sicker you get,” the centenarian study is finding that “the older you get, the healthier you’ve been”! Though genetics plays an important role in living to 100 and beyond, most people should be able to live to nearly 90 in exceptional health. These 25 to 30 years beyond age 60 of good health could mean a gold mine of new possibilities and vast potential for today’s Baby Boomers and future generations. People of all ages and those working with older adults are encouraged to come for what will be an intriguing and thoughtful discussion of healthy lifestyles and aging.
Parking for this talk will be available at Village Hall and at the Graydon Pool parking lot. A shuttle bus will be available to bring people from the Graydon Pool parking lot to Village Hall that evening.
Please RSVP by May 15 using the link above.
Living to 100: Lessons in Maximizing your Potential at any Age
Thursday, May 17, 2018, 7:00PM – 9:00PM
For more information contact [email protected] or call (201) 632-1554.
Location Village Hall – The Annie Zusy Youth Center
131 N Maple Ave
Ridgewood
NJ
07450
USA
201-670-5500
Hamilton NJ, according to James Edward O’Keefe ,Project Veritas last month they sent undercover journalists who blanketed the state of New Jersey visiting dozens of teacher’s union offices. We wondered, how union leaders would react to claims that teachers were physically and verbally abusing students?
What you’re about to see is a man who is a union president, with a PHD, A LEADER; not working for children like the sign above his head says, but working to what he calls, “Bend the truth” and hide a potential crime.
In this undercover investigation, Hamilton Township Education Association President David Perry details the steps the teachers union would take to protect a teacher who physically abused and threatened middle school students from losing their job.
Dr. Perry says he would misrepresent the events of altercations between teachers and students by back-dating reports and instructed the teacher to not tell anybody about incidents with students.
The union president also stressed that a teacher who abuses his students needs to come to the union after any incident so that they can create a report that would best protect them from students that come forward about abuse.
Veritas will be releasing more undercover videos of teachers unions from ALL ACROSS THE COUNTRY in the coming days and weeks. To be alerted as soon as they are published, sign up for our newsletter and check in to www.projectveritas.com frequently for any updates.
Ridgewood NJ, Leigh Kyritz Warren posted in the Facebook Group, Ridgewood Moms and Dads With Free Speech ; UPDATE!!! Jamboree NEVER endorses anyone but we do set the record straight!
“Like many other volunteers, Susan Knudsen has devoted countless hours to Jamboree. She is not paid for her services.
The Board of Trustees of the Jamboree Scholarship Fund”
Alexandra Harwin stop the lies! You keep going low and Susan Traina Knudsen and Mike Sedon go high! They are what is best for Ridgewood!
Alexandra Harwin you poked the bear with your most frequent lying piece of trash you mailed to me! I will get out the vote to defeat you!
I Care about my village where I have lived for the last 23 years!!!!!! “
Hackensack NJ, A New Jersey Transit Pascack Valley Line passenger train struck two (2) individuals near Main Street and Terrace Place, Hackensack on Thursday afternoon, 05/02. Both victims were transported to Hackensack University Center’s main campus; their condition is unknown. NJ Transit Police, Hackensack Police, Hackensack Fire Department, and the Bergen County Sheriff’s Office were among the agencies responding to the incident. Train traffic on the Pascack Valley Line was halted during the investigation process. UPDATE: Both victims were pronounced dead at the hospital.
Trenton NJ, The Department of Environmental Protection’s Division of Fish and Wildlife is providing property owners and outdoor enthusiasts with safety tips as black bears search for food after emerging from winter dens.
“At this time of year, it is important for residents who live in New Jersey’s bear country to be aware of some steps they can follow to reduce the chances of a bear coming onto their properties,” said Assistant Commissioner for Natural and Historic Resources Ray Bukowski. “It is also a good time for anyone who spends time outdoors to become familiar with ways to stay safe.”
Black bears have been sighted in all of New Jersey’s 21 counties but the population is most dense in the northwestern counties of Sussex, Warren, Passaic and Morris.
Bears are not true hibernators but enter a state of winter dormancy known as torpor. During torpor they may lose up to 20 percent of their body weight. They need to restore this weight for the mating season, which begins in late May and continues well into summer.
One of their primary natural food sources in spring is skunk cabbage, a leafy plant that grows along edges of rivers, streams and wetlands. Other natural food sources include grasses, forbs, tubers, bulbs and insects. They may also feed on carrion.
Bears have an acute sense of smell and can detect scents over great distances, so great care must be taken to prevent bears from being attracted to other food sources around properties, such as trash, food residue on grills, bird seed and pet food.
“Although bears are by nature wary of people, animals attracted to neighborhoods may learn to associate people with food,” said Division of Fish and Wildlife Director Larry Herrighty. “These animals may become nuisance bears that may cause property damage or seek handouts from people.”
Intentional feeding of a bear is dangerous and illegal and carries a fine of up to $1,000.
The Division of Fish and Wildlife offers the following tips for property owners to minimize encounters with bears:
* Secure trash and eliminate obvious sources of food, such as pet food, easy-to-reach bird feeders, or food residue in barbecue grills.
* Use certified bear-resistant garbage containers if possible. Otherwise, store all garbage in containers with tight-fitting lids and place them along the inside walls of a garage, or in the basement, a sturdy shed, or other secure area.
* Wash garbage containers frequently with a disinfectant solution to remove odors. Put out garbage on collection day, not the night before.
* Avoid feeding birds when bears are active. If you do choose to feed birds, do so during daylight hours only and bring feeders indoors at night. Suspend birdfeeders from a free-hanging wire, making sure they are at least 10 feet off the ground. Clean up spilled seeds and shells daily.
* Immediately remove all uneaten food and food bowls used by pets fed outdoors.
* Clean outdoor grills and utensils to remove food and grease residue. Store grills securely.
* Do not place meat or any sweet foods in compost piles.
* Remove fruit or nuts that fall from trees in your yard.
* Install electric fencing as an effective way to protect crops, beehives, and livestock.
If you encounter a black bear in your neighborhood or outdoors while hiking, fishing or camping, follow these safety tips:
* Remain calm. Never run from a bear. Instead, slowly back away. Avoid direct eye contact, which may be perceived by a bear as a challenge. Make sure the bear has an escape route.
* To scare the bear away, make loud noises by yelling, using a whistle, banging pots and pans, or sounding an air horn. Make yourself look as big as possible by waving your arms. If you are with someone else, stand close together with your arms raised above your head.
* Make bears aware of your presence by speaking in an assertive voice, singing, clapping your hands, or making other noises. If hiking through bear country, always make your presence known through loud talking or clapping of hands.
* The bear may utter a series of huffs, make popping sounds by snapping its jaws and swatting the ground. These are warning signs that you are too close. Slowly back away, avoid direct eye contact. Do not run.
* If a bear stands on its hind legs or moves closer, it may be trying to get a better view or detect scents in the air. This is usually not a threatening behavior.
* Black bears will sometimes “bluff charge” when cornered, threatened, or attempting to steal food. Stand your ground, avoid direct eye contact, then slowly back away and do not run.
* If the bear does not leave, move to a secure area such as a vehicle or a building.
* Families who live in areas frequented by black bears should have a “Bear Plan” in place for children, with an escape route and planned use of whistles and air horns.
* Black bear attacks on humans are extremely rare. If a black bear does attack, fight back.
DEP wildlife experts emphasize that a black bear simply passing through an area and not causing a specific problem, such as breaking into trash or otherwise trying to access food sources on people’s properties or posing a safety threat, should be left alone.
People should leave the area and allow the bear to continue on its way. When frightened, bears may seek refuge by climbing trees. If the bear does go up a tree, clear the area and give the bear time to climb down and escape.
Report bear damage, nuisance behavior or aggressive bears to the Wildlife Control Unit of the DEP’s Division of Fish and Wildlife at (908) 735-8793. During evenings and weekends, residents should call the local police department or the DEP Hotline at 877-WARN-DEP (877-927-6337)
Ridgewood NJ, the Dunham Trail sign has been replaced.It took over a year and a half, but two fabulous people took over and replaced and installed the sign that was stolen !
Ron Jaremcak, retired Industrial and Graphic Arts teacher at RHS, who now lives in Rockaway, took on this project himself! The sign is beautiful, it took many many hours of his time, and we appreciate it!
Jim Reynolds, of Ridgewood Home Maintenance, installed and reinforced the sign. Please come and enjoy our Wildscapes !
Photos: Ron Jaremcak
Ron Jaremcak and Sandy Antista, President of Wildscape
Jim Reynolds (r) and Oscar Barrera
Jim Reynolds and Oscar Barrera
Jim Reynolds and Oscar Barrera
Reader calls it the Alexandra Harwin’s ” Hate Mailer du jour “: a Vaganios endorsement
He built THE WALL in front of his restaurant. She lives on WALL STREET.Coincidence?
Why would anyone be impressed by an endorsement by the self-serving chamber of commerce guy who doesn’t even represent the views of most of the
business owners…an Aronsohn booster with his own failed attempt at politics?
“Raise the bar for leadership”…”Alexandra doesn’t start fights, she ends them.” HAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!!! The Hypocrisy Mailer. Freud lives!
A quote from Siobhan Winograd is the kiss of death for anyone who has ever attended a council meeting or others. Nooooooooooo.
I am already looking forward to Sunday because there will be no hate-mail delivery. It has been turning my stomach.
Ridgewood, NJ – Ridgewood’s six largest grassroots advocacy groups have released their Village Council endorsements and all support incumbent Mayor Susan Knudsen and Deputy Mayor Michael
Sedon. Each group has a unique focus – Concerned Residents of Ridgewood (CRR), addresses Valley Hospital redevelopment issues, Friends of Schedler promotes a neighborhood friendly plan for the
Schedler farm, Ridgewood Citizens for Reasonable Development (RCRD), champions proper master planning, while challenging overdevelopment, Preserve Graydon and Ridgewood Wildscape Association
seek, respectively, to preserve Ridgewood’s historic pool, open space and landscape, while Ridgewood Chinese American Association serves the town’s growing Chinese American community and advocates
on important village issues. However, all groups are unified in their endorsements, noting the candidates’ attention to hearing residents and acting upon their desires for appropriate development
that preserves Ridgewood’s character. In recent years, Ridgewood has faced a series of large-scale development issues that brought turmoil to the community, including four major high-density housing
proposals, rebuilding Valley Hospital, constructing a downtown parking garage and a plan to turn the wooded Schedler Farm property into a full-size baseball facility.
CRR’s endorsement letter noted Knudsen and Sedon’s role in effecting a plan in which Valley Hospital will construct a new facility nearby in Paramus, rather than on the tighter confines of its current site in
an area of single-family homes. Group President, Pete McKenna, wrote “Susan and Mike have been steadfast defenders of rational development… under their leadership, the council bravely stood up for
the Village in court, and they remained firm in their support of a settlement that was sensible for Ridgewood.
RCRD’s endorsement letter indicated “For many years, Susan and Mike’s positive words and actions have been closely aligned with our cause” of “ensuring that Ridgewood thrives with fitting development
and proper master planning. The group’s spokesman, Dave Slomin applauded Knudsen and Sedon’s role in “spearheading Ridgewood’s first new Master Plan in over three decades.”
Friends of Schedler lauded how these candidates created a “government of inclusion, while Preserve Graydon’s letter indicated how Knudsen and Sedon “Care, observe, research, respond” and “Will make
sure the upcoming Master Plan overhaul does not shortchange Graydon – or the village.
On a civic level, RCRD’s Slomin noted how “so much of the division and negativity we experienced in recent years is gone.” RCRD used to send supporters to every Planning Board and Council meeting to
take notes and look out for unpublicized development issues, but their endorsement indicates “for the past two years, we have been able to call off that guard.”
