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Ridgewood Art Institute : Summer Sessions for Young People 2018

Ridgewood_Art_Institute_theridgewoodblog

Drawing
August 6-10
2:30-4:30pm
Rebecca Leer
rebecca_leer@msn.com
201-906-6839

Drawing for Young People – ages 8 to 17 (East Studio)

All levels are welcome. Students will learn basic techniques of line, shape, proportion, perspective and shading while working from a variety of still-life objects and the human face. Instruction will be tailored to each student.
Fee: $185 supplies purchased: $35

August 27-Aug 31
2:30-4:30pm
Joel Popadics
joel@watercolorpop.com
(973) 851-0366

Learn How to Draw-People, Landscapes & Still Life -ages 9 to 17 (East Studio)

All levels will discover the basics of drawing with exercises that are designed to be fun and easy to comprehend. Each session will focus on a different subject – everyday objects, people, landscapes and perspective while working in pencil, charcoal and pen & ink. Fee: $185 supplies purchased: $35

Painting
July 30-August 3
2:30-4:30pm
Sue Barrasi
suebarrasi@gmail.com
(845) 548-2305

Oil Painting for Young People – ages 8 to 17 (West Studio)

Students will learn and explore the world of classical painting. Emphasis will be on painting directly from life as students will learn to “see” the beauty of the prismatic flow of light. Students who wish to paint landscapes will be given the opportunity to paint from plein air color studies in order to observe effects of the atmosphere and learn basic principles of landscape painting. Beginner to serious young artists. Fee: $185 supplies for the week: $25

August 6 -August 10
2:30-4:30pm
Diana Gibson
dianakgibson@yahoo.com
(973) 962-6436

Oil Painting for Young People – ages 8 to 17 (West Studio)

Great for beginner and serious young artists. High School students, create a piece for your college admissions art portfolio. Traditional art instruction in a fun encouraging environment. New & returning students welcome! Fee: $185 supplies for the week: $25

August 13-17
2:30-4:30pm
Laura Paray
laura@paray.com
(201) 281-6940

Oil Painting for Young People – ages 8 to 17 (East Studio)

Your child will learn the basic techniques of oil painting and will create still life and landscape paintings to completion. They will learn concepts such as massing in, color and value.
Fee: $185 supplies for the week: $25

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The Ridgewood Fourth of July Celebration ,Support the tradition: PLEASE HELP

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June 26,2018

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, The Village Council is in need of several convertible vehicles for the 4th of July Parade – please email me directly if you are willing to loan your convertible for a few hours! sknudsen@ridgewoodnj.com
The Ridgewood Fourth of July Celebration is an ALL VOLUNTEER, community funded event that receives no direct funding from the Village of Ridgewood. In addition to our generous sponsors and to ensure our tradition continues we need your support!! Donate today by visiting https://ridgewoodjuly4.net/

Don’t miss out on our 2nd annual 50/50! Only 600 tickets will be sold with the winner receiving up to $25,000 and 10 additional winners receiving up to $500 each. Tickets are $100.00 each and can be purchased at Park Wood Delicatessen on Saturdays in June from 11am to 2pm or at the Ridgewood Public Library from June 25 to June 30 from 9am to 3pm. Can’t make it there? E-mail us at ridgewoodfourthofjuly@gmail.com or post a comment to this thread!

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Reader says I applied for a brief and temporary watering exception due to new planting and was denied

B3HXXR

I applied for a brief and temporary watering exception due to new planting and was denied, even though #1 of the ordinance states watering for the first 21 days of new planting is allowed. Apparently watering exemptions are not allowed from June to September (when else would people apply?) and management reserves the right to change policy without notice, which they did in rejecting my application. I understand there are problems with crumbling infrastructure affecting supply and delivery but I have heard this excuse since moving here nearly 30 years ago. Smart Controllers are costly and seem unnecessary when we are only watering 2 days a week, My system is equipped with a weather sensor which should be sufficient. I’m all for conservation and probably use a fraction of water compared to others, but if we cannot accommodate moderate consumer demand during a non-drought period, then something has to give. We have become so complacent about poor service that it’s becoming business as usual in Ridgewood. We should outsource our water to professionals, rather than have a council of volunteers making decisions on a complicated subject they know nothing about.

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Fallen Tree Leaves Several Ridgewood Homes in the Dark

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photos courtesy of Boyd Loving’s Facebook page

June 26,2018

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, High winds caused a dead tree trunk to fall on a large grouping of primary electric wires and communications trunk cables at the intersection of Hillcrest Road and Norman Drive, Ridgewood on Monday morning, 06/25. Ridgewood Police, Ridgewood Fire Department, and Ridgewood Emergency Services personnel responded to the incident. Several homes in the area were without electric power until it was restored by PSE&G. A PSE&G contracted tree service removed and disposed of the tree.

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Ridgewood Chamber of Commerce : All Invited to Happy Hour Networking

Ridgewood_Chamber_of_Commerce_theridgewoodblog

June 25,2018

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, All Invited to Happy Hour Networking .Convergence week , the only meeting is Wednesday, June 27th, 2018.
Park West Tavern in Ridgewood ,Wednesday June 27th ,Time: 5:30pm-7:00ish, Cash bar and light munchies, No Presenters-Just join the fun.

Networking “building relationships one at a time” . Over hundred business people meeting every week…networking at its best.

Non Chamber members are welcome to join us for 2 meetings, after which you’ll want to become a member.

For more information call the Ridgewood Chamber of Commerce
201-445-2600, info@ridgewoodchamber.com

 

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Reader says ,Make the Owners Clean Up the Town Garage

Town Garage Ridgewood

Ridgewood council members, Do not be suckered into now taking over the property until it is fully remediated. The LLC bought it assuming you would fall in line, buy it–unremediated–at their higher price. Let them be the suckers, not the Village of Ridgewood. They were so eager to steal it right from under you so now they should pay the price. Turn them in to whatever authority requires clean up and make them do it. They are just sitting on their heels confidently expecting you to buy it at the elevated price and do the clean up for them. It’s beginning to be a hazard with the bricks falling. Make them clean it up!!

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Reader says Ridgewood Conservancy for Public Lands is politically motivated and are definitely not inclusive of people and/or ideas

Toilet_garber -square

Ridgewood Conservancy for Public Lands: The key words here are Publc Lands. They pick and choose what they support and were so vocal about not supporting Schedler in any way and actually said at a council meeting as stated by Cynthia that they fully supported a 90 foot baseball diamond that would have meant the loss of acres of trees. I used to contribute but many in that group are not always nice, they are politically motivated and are definitely not inclusive of people and/or ideas.

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The Ridgewood Board of Education Regular Public Meeting Today !

BOE_theridgewoodblog

June 25,2018

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, the Ridgewood Board of Education will host its regular public meeting at 5pm  on Monday the 25th of June at the Education Center.

At all regular meetings, two opportunities are provided for citizens to make comments. The public comment periods will be scheduled after presentations and approximately 6:00 p.m. or just prior to the end of the meeting, whichever occurs first. The first opportunity may be limited by the presiding officer to conclude at about 5:30 p.m. in order for the Board to continue with its scheduled agenda. The second opportunity will occur at about 6:00 p.m. at the discretion of the presiding officer taking into consideration a break point in the agenda.

At every opportunity for public comment, citizens are invited to comment on subjects on the agenda or general topics.
At the discretion of the presiding officer, public comments may be permitted at other times. Persons wishing to speak must, upon being recognized, rise, sign in, and state their names and addresses. Each speaker shall be limited to four minutes. The Board Recorder will note the time. A speaker who has not finished in the allotted time will be directed by the presiding officer to summarize quickly and relinquish the floor within 30 seconds.

Comments shall be limited to issues. If personal remarks or discourteous statements are made, the presiding officer shall require the speaker to stop. No person will be recognized for a second time until all others asking to speak have been heard.

AGENDA: https://www.ridgewood.k12.nj.us/UserFiles/Servers/Server_207516/File/Our%20District/Board%20of%20Education/Board%20Business/06-25-18.pdf

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VILLAGE COUNCIL SPECIAL PUBLIC MEETING : WATER RATES AND FEES

Ridgewood Water

VILLAGE COUNCIL SPECIAL PUBLIC MEETING

AGENDA VILLAGE COUNCIL SPECIAL PUBLIC MEETING
SYDNEY V. STOLDT, JR. COURT ROOM
JUNE 25, 2018  7:00 P.M.
1. Call to Order
2. Statement of Compliance with the Open Public Meeting Act
MAYOR: “Adequate notice of this meeting has been provided by a posting on the bulletin board in Village hall, by mail to the Ridgewood News, The Record, and by submission to all persons entitled to same as provided by law of a schedule including the date and time of this meeting.”
3. Roll Call – Village Clerk
4. Flag Salute and Moment of Silence
5. Mayor’s Comments
6. Public Comments (Not to exceed 3 minutes per person, 40  minutes in total)
7. Rules of Procedure – Matthew Rogers, Village Attorney
8. ORDINANCES – CONTINUED PUBLIC HEARING
a. Ordinance #3636 – Re-establish Water Rates and Fees –         2010-2017
b. Presentation by Plaintiff’s Expert, Exeter Associates,  on their report
c. Questions for Exeter Associates about their report by  Sills, Cummis & Gross
d. Questions for Exeter Associates about their report by  William Northgrave, Esq. of McManimon, Scotland, and  Baumann
e. Questions/Comments from the Public about Exeter  Associates’ report (not to exceed 5 minutes per  person)
f. Questions/Comments from the Village Council about  Exeter Associates’ report
g. Comments from Howard Woods
h. Questions about Howard Woods’ Water Rate Study by  Sills, Cummis & Gross (if necessary)
i. Questions about Howard Woods’ Water Rate Study by  William Northgrave, Esq. of McManimon, Scotland, and  Baumann (if necessary)
j. Final Questions/Comments by the Village Council
k. Ordinance #3637 – Amend Water Rates and Fees – 2018
9. Public Comments (Not to exceed 5 minutes per person)

10. Adjournment

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Judge green-lights parent’s lawsuit against New Jersey public school teaching ‘Islam is the true faith’

th6

June 24,2018

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Chatham NJ, If it were not for these two moms, Nancy Gayer and Libby Hilsenrath, the Islamic propaganda videos would still be rolling inside the Chatham Middle School.
A federal judge has refused to toss out a lawsuit brought by a parent against the Chatham, New Jersey, school district, which showed seventh-graders a pro-Muslim video that included an invitation to convert to the “true faith.”
In denying the school district’s motion to dismiss the case, U.S. District Court Judge Kevin McNulty said the motion was worth only “minimal discussion.”

Kate Oliveri, an attorney with Thomas More Law Center, is representing Libby Hilsenrath, whose 12-year-old son attends Chatham Middle School. Oliveri said the decision to let the lawsuit proceed came as no surprise.
“The motion to dismiss was a further attempt by the school district to bully and silence Mrs. Hilsenrath,” she said. “The school district ignored the legal standard and ignored the facts, attempting instead to fool the judge with a poor attempt at sophistry.”

The lawsuit claims that seventh-grade students at the Chatham Middle School were forced to watch a set of videos in their World Cultures and Geography class that sought to convert them to Islam. Here is a sampling of what the students learned by watching just one of the 5-minute videos:
God gave Muhammed the noble Quran
The Quran is a Perfect guide for Humanity
The Quran is divine revelation
Islam is a shining beacon against the darkness of repression, segregation, intolerance and racism​
The Beautiful Quran is Guidance for the wise & sensible.
Then came the topper. The video ends with this: “May God help us all to find the true faith, Islam.”

A musical version of an Arabic poem plays in the background throughout the video. The lyrics describe Christians and Jews as infidels and praises Muhammed for slaughtering them: . . . “their white shining swords red with the blood of infidels
. . . until they looked like meat on the butcher’s block.”

When Libby Hilsenrath first brought her concerns to the school board’s attention, on Feb. 6, 2017, they were dismissed out of hand.
And, when she and fellow parent Nancy Gayer appeared on Fox News’ Tucker Carlson Show a week later to express her concerns to the nation, she was roundly condemned by the school community. [See interview with Tucker Carlson below]

Because of Hilsenrath’s attempts to persuade school officials to remove the videos and stop the Islamic indoctrination of her son and the other seventh-grade students, she has been subjected to a barrage of vicious personal attacks on social media and in public venues across her community.
Oliveri said the Chatham Board of Education and certain school-district teachers are “waging a war” against the religious protections afforded by the First Amendment.
“They attack religious liberty by enticing young school children with a direct call to convert to Islam and providing a step-by-step guide on how to effect that conversion,” Oliveri said. And then when two parents complained, the school district embarked on a concerted effort to smear their character.

TMLC attorney Kate Oliveri
If anything remotely this aggressively Christian were presented to public-school children in any corner of the United States, the ACLU would be ready to pounce with a lawsuit. But the ACLU is curiously silent in the New Jersey case.
Thank God for the Thomas More Law Center, said James Komaniecki, president of RestoreAmericanLiberty.com.
“Thank Almighty God that TMLC is taking these people to the mat on this,” said Komaniecki. “If we don’t stand up to radical Islam in our own nation, we will be undermined from within until nothing remains of our own culture and Christian faith.”
The federal lawsuit was filed Jan. 23 in the New Jersey District Court against several officials and teachers of the Chatham Middle School and the school district.
Richard Thompson, president of TMLC, said the absurdities introduced to students at Chatham Middle School are the same ones being introduced to students at schools across the U.S.
“Witless school officials have converted classrooms across America into Islamic indoctrination centers,” he said. “These schools do not educate, they propagandize. Under the guise of teaching social studies courses, teachers promote the religion of Islam in ways that would never be legally allowable for Christianity or any other religion.
“Because the explicitly stated goal of Muslim leaders and organizations is to dominate America by a ‘civilization jihad,’ these schools collude with them to jeopardize our national security.”
The Thomas More Law Center is a national public interest law firm based in Ann Arbor, Michigan.
“To protect our children and our nation from the insidious Islamic propagandizing going on in our public schools, courageous parents like Libby Hilsenrath must take the time to know exactly what their children are being taught,” Thompson said. “And if it’s Islamic propaganda, take action to stop it.

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Readers say there is Zero Enforcement of Water Restrictions

Sprinkler watering the lawn

Zero enforcement. On Friday I saw watering during the day, even on busy Glen Ave by Travell.

Either enforce it or scrap it.And  I agree with you it taste like shit and smells like chlorine , apparently management has let our clean deep wells fall into disrepair and chooses to buy surface water to supplant the deficiency so it must be treated with chlorine . Which brings up the question. So we buy all want then why both to restrict ? Just allow irrigation at 3-6am so the inadequate storage tanks don’t get depleted.

Since we must water only during dark hours and only certain days, hire some students to drive around town at 6AM and see all the wet streets (they dry pretty quickly but often are there until 8.) Another good clue is a green lawn–those are the houses that need checking. make a list and have those houses have an early morning check. The town could make a fortune on the fines.

 

 

 

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Reader says Looks good but did Parks & Rec add much needing lighting to the parking lot?

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Looks good but did Parks & rec add much needing lighting to the parking lot? After all Habernickle Park has had lights in the parking lot for 3 years. This field gets used a lot past dusk and could benefit from lights after all Tim said ALL Parks will be getting parking lot lights So either take them down at Habernickle or put them up at ALL Parks!!!!! Let’s face it our kids safety is way more important then the business at the gatehouse in Habernickle Park.

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US Supreme Court Rules States Can Collect Sales Tax For Online Purchases

Whole Foods installs Amazon E lockers in Ridgewood

June 24,2018

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Washington DC, US Supreme Court rules states can collect sales tax for online purchases nationwide . Online shoppers could find costs going up after the Supreme Court did away Thursday with a decades-old precedent limiting the ability of states to collect sales tax on certain out-of-state Internet purchases.

The 5-4 ruling called the current rules “unsound and incorrect.” The Court shot down the “physical presence” required .Currently, businesses shipping a product to another state where it does not have a “physical presence” — a store, office or warehouse — are not forced to collect that state’s sales tax.

The high court said that rule is outdated, “When the day-to-day functions of marketing and distribution in the modern economy are considered, it is all the more evident that the physical presence rule is artificial in its entirety,” Justice Anthony Kennedy wrote.

The current regulation “allows remote sellers to escape an obligation to remit a lawful state tax is unfair and unjust,” added Kennedy. “It is unfair and unjust to those competitors, both local and out of state, who must remit the tax; to the consumers who pay the tax; and to the states that seek fair enforcement of the sales tax.”

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Coyote Sighting in Ridgewood

Wile_E_Coyote

June 24,2018

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewod NJ, we have received reports of what appeared to be a coyote making the rounds near the corner of Heights and Madison, next to the apartments.

The coyote is a wild member of the dog family and closely resembles a small German shepherd with the exception of its long snout and bushy, black-tipped tail. Another key difference from a domestic dog is readily noticeable even from a distance: The coyote has a habit of holding its tail below a horizontal position while standing, walking and running.

Eastern coyotes differ from their western counterparts with a larger average size and various color phases, including blonde, red and black. Past interbreeding between wolves and coyotes may be responsible for the larger size and color variations in our eastern coyote. In New Jersey, adult coyotes range in weight from 20-50 lbs. and exceptionally large ones may be up to 55 lbs. Coyotes adjust well to their surroundings and can survive on whatever food is available. They prey on rabbits, mice, birds and other small animals, as well as young and weakened deer. They also consume carrion (decaying tissue). They are tolerant of human activities and rapidly adapt to changes in their environment.

Eastern coyotes differ from their western counterparts with a larger average size and various color phases, including blonde and black.

Coyotes bear litters during April and May, with females delivering between three and nine pups. Conflicts between coyotes and humans are most likely to develop as adults forage for food for the pups in the spring and summer.

Coyotes primarily hunt rodents and rabbits for food, but will take advantage of whatever is available, including garbage, pet food and domestic animals that are left unattended. Allowing coyotes access to human food and garbage is irresponsible and can lead to problems.

Coyotes, along with foxes, are sometimes afflicted with mange which can result in significant hair loss. The loss of fur can result in making identification of a coyote difficult, resulting in reports of a “mystery” animal, or even a cougar.

In suburban and urban areas, coyotes have occasionally attacked small pets. Although attacks on humans are extremely rare in eastern states, as with any predatory animal they can occur.

Coyotes play an important role in the ecosystem, helping to keep rodent populations under control. They are by nature wary of humans. However, coyote behavior changes if given access to human food and garbage. They lose caution and fear. They may cause property damage and threaten human safety, requiring euthanasia. Relocating a problem coyote is not an option because it only moves the problem to someone else’s neighborhood.

Coyote Precautions

The following guidelines can help reduce the likelihood of conflicts with coyotes:

  • Never feed a coyote. Deliberately feeding coyotes puts pets and other residents in the neighborhood at risk.
  • Feeding pet cats and/or feral (wild) cats outdoors can attract coyotes. The coyotes feed on the pet food and also prey upon the cats.
  • Put garbage in tightly closed containers that cannot be tipped over.
  • Remove sources of water, especially in dry climates.
  • Bring pets in at night.
  • Put away bird feeders at night to avoid attracting rodents and other coyote prey.
  • Provide secure enclosures for rabbits, poultry, and other farm animals.
  • Pick up fallen fruit and cover compost piles.
  • Although extremely rare, coyotes have been known to attack humans. Parents should monitor their children, even in familiar surroundings, such as backyards.
  • Install motion-sensitive lighting around the house.
  • Clear brush and dense weeds from around dwellings – this reduces protective cover for coyotes and makes the area less attractive to rodents and rabbits. Coyotes, as well as other predators, are attracted to areas where rodents are concentrated like woodpiles.
  • If coyotes are present, make sure they know they’re not welcome. Make loud noises, blast a canned air siren, throw rocks, or spray them with a garden hose.

If you observe coyotes in the daytime that show no fear of humans or if a coyote attacks a person, immediately contact your local police and the Division of Fish and Wildlife at 908-735-8793; outside of normal business hours call the DEP Hotline at 877-WARN-DEP.

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Sore election losers, and we do mean losers, strike again

Jeff Voigt Ridgewood Council

June 24,2018

by the staff of The Ridgewood Blog

Ridgewood NJ, We just received a text from a reader that included photos taken off of Jeff Voigt’s Facebook page of theConservancy for Ridgewood Public Lands’ Butterfly Garden grand opening event. The event was held at The Stable (taxpayer owned property) on Thursday, 06/21.

NO VILLAGE COUNCIL MEMBERS OTHER THAN JEFF VOIGT WERE LISTED AS HAVING ATTENDED THE EVENT. THE STAFF OF THE RIDGEWOOD BLOG WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF ANY VILLAGE COUNCIL MEMBERS OTHER THAN COUNCILMAN VOIGT INVITED TO ATTEND.  WHAT SAY YOU MRS. HALABY?

In attendance were, among others – Nancy Bigos, Heather Mailander, Tony Daminao, Janice Willett, Siobhan Winograd, Roberta Sonenfeld, Cynthia Halaby, Lauren Saraceno, Chris Raimondi, and Jeffrey Voigt.

Some losers just don’t know when to give it up.