Ridgewood NJ, got an interesting email/txt yesterday from the Village Mayor Susan Knudsen asking the blog to change the photo in the , ” Harwin Wrong on the Issues ” https://theridgewoodblog.net/harwin-wrong-on-the-issues/. She stated that she preferred to take the “high road” her words ,since they have taken such a very low road , those are my words. .
While the Harwin campaign has spent the last several months undermining the Ridgewood Police and Fire departments , attacking anyone who disagrees with them as the “mayors stooges ” . Leveling charges of racism, homophobia and anti Semitism . Even going as far as to send out a mailer outlining a series of lies in black and white including what can only be considered flaming anti catholic rhetoric penned by a guy named Hans Jurgen Lehmann ,surprisingly enough Chairmen of the Board of adjustment and married to “minister” Jan Phillips aka Ms. Civility .
Are we the only ones who think someone with such and obvious dislike for Catholics should represent Ridgewood on the Public Body?
Yes folks Ridgewood has truly hit a new low . A campaign that attacks Police ,Fire ,Our lady of Mount Carmel and its 5000 or so parishioners along with the Knights of Columbus ,all the mayors supporters , just to name a few .
When the out right lies and bigotry of the mailer were pointed out and every last line was refuted over and over Harwin did nothing but left the erroneous and unsubstantiated allegations stand.
Sorry Mayor these people do not deserve the benefit of the doubt or even the time of day , photo stays.
If you vote for Aronson’s people–who are the only ones running in opposition– You are voting for more massive building, a Garagezilla, and any other major commercial endeavor they can find to have us buy and pay for. I know you’re not happy with our present candidates but throwing them out can lead to many more Health Barn type places in inappropriate places. Susan and Michael have been working for laws that won’t allow that to happen again. Please, be patient and comb the woods for suitable candidates next time. Voting for the opposition is not just voting Susan and Mike out, it is voting disaster in to Ridgewood by letting more of Aronson’s clones in to continue destroying our Village.
I grew up in Ridgewood and we always took pride in this being a “non-political party” place. Not since Paul Aronson saw this as a stepping stone to reverse his previous two failed attempts at running for Congress. He put a voting bloc together of three and basically ignored Susan Knudsen and Mike Sedon until the Village got fed up with the political games and tossed them out. Looking at Ms. Harwin’s campaign piece that arrived in the mail yesterday obviously same inaccurate smear campaign tactics as was the case before. So lets answer some of her charges:
1. Higher taxes – as we all have always knows, the Council has little control over Village spending – this is a school cost issue.
2. Nepotism – hiring by the police and fire department is by state law subject to exam and qualifications. The Mayor can’t do anything to influence this.
3. Fines to residents for leaves – this is a close one to my heart, as last fall we received a summons, as did everyone else on our end of the street. The leaf ordinance was passed by the previous Aronson team, not by Susan Knudsen’s administration. We contracted the Mayor and she could bnot have been more helpful researching the issue for us, talking to the contractor hired by the previous administration, and ultimately telling us what we needed to present to the Court – she told us we needed proof, what kind of proof and how to present it – when we went to Court all charges dropped.
4. The charge is made that Susan Knudsen is somehow responsible for storefronts not being filled. Funny how same problem at malls all over the country. Yet I see Amazon Prime trucks everywhere. We used to have TWO hardware stores in Ridgewood – now we go to Home Depot. The economy is changing from brick and mortar across the country and this means change for the Village too. Hard for me to fault the Mayor for a national trend, and did-honest for Ms. Harwin to do so.
5. My Dad was on the Planning Board in the 70’s and a parking garage was on the agenda then. The Aronson administration was in favor of a garage that would include retail space on the first floor to pay for it – how would more competition for Village merchants help them – so this was dropped. Next a mega-garage was proposed for the Hidson lot, over-hanging the sidewalk – an eye sore as well as an impediment for parking that was not paid for at the garage for church goers (not just Mt. Carmel as some have said but also the United Methodist Church also across the street. In the face of overwhelming upset the Aronson administration backed off on this as well. If we are going to build a garage (*which we need to do) this will involve a bond issue that will cost tax payers for 20+ years – so we want to do it right. Susan Knudsen has been working with the current Council to do it right, and attacking her for not just doing what previous administrations had been unable to do is again not honest.
6. The Harwin mailing also mentions a “failed valet parking experiment” – hard for me to blame the current Council when this was initiated by the Aronson administration.
I look at the two mailings we received yesterday – the Knudsen/Sedon piece noting issues being worked on and achieved, and the Harwin piece full of lies and blaming the current Council for things initiated by her patron, Paul Aronshon. Not much of a doubt in my mind that I am voting for the honest candidates trying to pull our Village back from the mess created by the Aronson team, instead of the one who is spreading lies and backed by the previous failed administration. Don’t be complacent as often happens in non-national elections – this is important, and whether you agree with my comments above or not, get out and vote.
Friends of Schedler is proud to endorse Mayor Susan Knudsen and Deputy Mayor Mike Sedon for reelection to the Village Council.
When selecting a candidate for council, experience matters. Mayor Knudsen and Deputy Mayor Sedon have a dedicated track record of service through their role on the Village Council, as well as the various committees and boards that they have served on over the years. Susan and Mike have made significant improvements to the Village, including controlling overdevelopment, achieving a positive outcome with Valley Hospital and working towards a compromise for building a garage and for developing the Schedler property.
Susan and Mike govern responsibly and are always respectful of the concerns of residents. All too often interest groups either ignore or fail to recognize the many different neighborhoods that comprise the Village of Ridgewood. Susan and Mike have demonstrated a government of inclusion, providing residents from all areas of Ridgewood the opportunity to be heard.
Susan and Mike have demonstrated their integrity by undertaking a positive campaign, focusing on their achievements and plans for the future. Friends of Schedler urges all residents to go to the polls on May 8 and cast your vote for Susan Knudsen and Mike Sedon.
Ridgewood NJ, according to the Ridgewood Historical Society the immense popularity of feathered hats for women were the subject of intense controversy in the late 19th and early 20th centuries? It began a popular movement in defense of the environment and to save birds. Read more about it here: www.npr.org/…/4228603…/hats-off-to-women-who-saved-the-birds
Eventually, the feathery fashion trend subsided, but photos abound. Here is one of a smartly-dressed woman in 1891, photographed by C.S. Roshon, who had a studio in Pennsylvania and a gallery in Morristown, New Jersey.
The beautiful amethyst hatpin is protected in our attic archives in the Schoolhouse Museum. Visit our current exhibit, “The Thread of Life” to take a journey through the centuries and life’s milestones that celebrate what we wore and why we wore it.
The Ridgewood Historical Society is housed in a one-room schoolhouse at 650 East Glen Avenue in Ridgewood, New Jersey. The schoolhouse was built in 1872 and was an operational school until 1905. It now serves as a museum of historic artifacts and is maintained by the Ridgewood Historical Society. Formerly District School No. 45, the Museum features exhibits that emphasize the historic Saddle River Valley area in the 18th and 19th centuries, an area that was primarily Dutch when first settled.
Please visit our website for more information and to donate:
Days/times open:
Thursday and Saturday.: 1pm to 3pm
Sunday: 2pm to 4pm
Ridgewood NJ, Sunday, April 22 from 11AM to 2PM in Memorial Park at Van Neste Square, the Village of Ridgewood Parks & Recreation and Ridgewood Recycling will host the Daffodil Festival and Earth Day Fair.
All are invited to attend this free event that provides valuable information on Recycling with educational displays, Games, Crafts, Petting Zoo – and Music by Blue Plate Special and the Daffy Dog Parade! Fun for all and great for families….Something for everyone!
THE SPRING SEASON IS ALMOST UPON US, SO LETS KICK IT OFF WITH THE…………
RBSA OPENING DAY PARADE & FAMILY FUN DAY
APRIL 21, 2018
9AM – 2PM
Parade begins at the Ridgewood Train Station in Wilsey Square and marches to Veterans’ Field for Opening Ceremony and activities
Sample fare from the Metro area’s best food trucks
Browse the Vendor Corner
Hangout at the Entertainment on Wheels Zone
Dance to the Live Deejay
Lots of Inflatables
Participate in Baseball & Softball Instructional Clinics
Sports Demonstrations
Carnival Games for all ages
Raffles
Ridgewood NJ, once again the “Bergen Record” pushes a dishonest one sided news coverage of Ridgewood Politics and tries to under mine the Deputy Mayor as a favor to form Mayor and Harwin string puller Paul Aronsohn.
In its recent article , “Ridgewood election candidates talk issues, online vitriol ” the author Nicholas Katzban, North Jersey Media Staff Writer, goes as far as to make up a ridiculous story ,”Sedon, who also supports an expansion of shared services, referenced a plan he had been spearheading to use Bergen County’s central 911 dispatch. He dropped the plan after residents took issue with the fact that Frank DelVecchio, director of the county Public Safety Operations Center, had served as his campaign manager. They hinted at a quid pro quo.”That is simply a lie,” Sedon stated, arguing that his filings with the New Jersey Election Law Enforcement Commission would show that was not the case.
Once again the use of “FAKE NEWS” to cast dispersions of Sedon and Knudsen , like the debunked “nepotism” charge ,the reality is far different ,first of all Frank was not Mike’s campaign chairman. He gave Mike some advice but he was not his chairman. Second of all Frank does not have any personal gain if they go to central dispatch. Frankly it is so stupid that somebody suggested that.
Frank is on salary he does not get more money if other towns are brought in. Mike came up with the idea as a possible way to save money. Shared services often saves money. Some are opposed to central dispatch. But that’s a personal opinion one way or the other. There’s no quid pro quo involved as far as I know. Frank would gain nothing and Mike would gain nothing.
Paul Aronsohn was present at Alexandra Harwin’s campaign launch party at the tennis club earlier this year and has literally sat by her side at campaign coffees to answer residents’ questions for her because she is clueless and seems to have no interest in learning. Her lawn signs are on his lawn. Wake up is right. If you have friends who remain “on the fence” or think “she seems nice” or “are looking for a change,” please wake THEM up and make sure they vote to re-elect Susan Knudsen and Mike Sedon on May 8. We must not elect either of his picks, but vote them out as we did two years ago and two years before that, or we are dead meat. If you would like to display lawn signs, write to [email protected] with your address in the subject line and they will be installed in your front yard promptly.
Ridgewood NJ, Harwin is wrong on the garage. It is a money loser no matter how far she wants to build it up and out. Simple math.
Harwin is wrong on the flag. Harwin can’t stop lying about what happened.
Harwin is wrong about the mayor’s voting record. Harwin can’t stop lying about it.
Harwin is surrounded by unethical people with a record of higher taxes, higher density housing, and higher fees. They all have hurt Ridgewood families. Harwin’s divisive, partisan politics have no place in Ridgewood.
Ridgewood NJ, During Alcohol Awareness Month in April, Mothers Against Drunk Driving® (MADD) and national presenting sponsor Nationwide are encouraging parents of teen athletes to be “all stars” by talking openly with their kids about the dangers of underage drinking using MADD’s Power of Parents program. MADD and Nationwide agents from across the country will host presentations and workshops in cities across the country to help equip parents with the tools necessary to talk to their kids about this important topic.
Research shows that team sports are protective when children are young and risks influencing them to use alcohol and other drugs are minimal. However, as children age and the risks increase, team sports do not offer the same protective benefits. In fact, research shows that team sports can be a risk factor for substance abuse at times. Parental communication can help lower these risks to student athletes so that they can reach their full potential, in all areas.
“Everyone can be an all-star in the lives of our youth by talking honestly about the very real consequences of underage drinking,” said Colleen Sheehey-Church, MADD National President, whose son Dustin was killed at age 18 while riding in the car with a teen driver who had been drinking and using drugs during summer break. “I am grateful to Nationwide for supporting MADD’s Power of Parents program and helping prevent underage drinking, which is a serious concern in our country today.”
This year, MADD’s focus is on parents of student athletes because studies show:
Team sports act as a protective factor for younger children, but participation in team sports is not as protective for youth as they age. The impact of parents is more important as children age.
There is no scientific or medical benefits of alcohol use for youth who participate in sports. In fact, alcohol use for youth increases the likelihood of suffering from a sport-related injury, sleep-deprivation, slow recovery from injuries and stunted production of muscular growth hormones
Parents who take time to talk to their student athletes about alcohol and intervene when they notice a problem are less likely to engage in underage alcohol usage.
Teen athletes who view alcohol as dangerous are less likely to use, and therefore more likely to excel in sports and be safe and healthy
Bottom line: When student athletes understand the dangers of underage drinking, they are more motivated to engage in health-promoting behaviors and avoid unhealthy behaviors, like underage drinking.
“Many times parents wonder whether their kids listen to them”, said Bill Windsor, Nationwide Associate Vice President of Consumer Safety, “but with alcohol parents really can make a significant difference.”
MADD’s Power of Parents program centers on parents because 74 percent of teens say their parents are the biggest influence on their decisions to drink underage. New to the program this year, MADD and National Supporting Partner National Alcohol Beverage Control Association (NABCA) will release five videos with powerful messages for parents about the dangers of underage drinking and how to play a role in prevention. The videos feature Dr. Robert Turrisi, PhD, Penn State professor of Biobehavioral Health and Prevention Research Center, whose research is the basis of MADD’s Power of Parents program. The videos will be posted on madd.org/powerofparents April 1, 2018.
“This is an exciting opportunity to celebrate All-Star Parents. All-Star Parents are the ones who help their kids on and off the field. Communicating with your kids to help lower their risks of abusing alcohol and using other drugs is one way to be an All-Star Parent.” says Dr. Robert Turrisi.
The month’s activities will culminate with an event with Major League Soccer’s LA Galaxy to commemorate PowerTalk 21® day – the national day for parents and teens to talk about underage drinking. This year, MADD, Nationwide and the Galaxy will host an event at 4:30 p.m. PST on April 21 before the team takes on Atlanta United at the Galaxy’s home field, Stub Hub Center in Carson, California: www.lagalaxy.com/tickets/madd. The event also will be broadcast live on MADD’s Facebook page. At the event, parents, teens, and role models of underage youth will get to meet a former Galaxy player and learn from experts about how parents and teens can tackle the uncomfortable subject of underage drinking.
PowerTalk 21 is a part of MADD’s Power of Parents program that empowers parents of middle school and high school students to have ongoing, intentional conversations about the dangers and consequences of underage drinking. Parents can download free Power of Parents handbooks for parents of middle school and high school students at www.madd.org/powerofparents.
Ridgewood NJ, just a short reminder purchase Graydon Pool memberships online beginning April 1st. Resident adult and child memberships are discounted 10% when you purchase early between April 1 and April 30 .
Early bird discount ends April 30th !
GRAYDON MEMBERSHIP RATES
RESIDENT GRAYDON POOL MEMBERSHIPS
Village priced memberships are available to Ridgewood residents, non-residents who pay local property taxes to the Village of Ridgewood, and employees of the Village of Ridgewood and Board of Education. Proof is required.
***Purchase resident adult and child badges between April 1 and April 30 to receive a 10% discount.***
ADULT – $120.00
CHILD – (ages 2-15, under 2 free) $110.00
SENIOR – $30.00 (62 and older)
PERMANENT DISABLED – $30.00
LATE SEASON ADULT MEMBERSHIP – $60.00 (available August 1st)
LATE SEASON CHILD MEMBERSHIP – $55.00 (available August 1st)
DAILY PASS – $10.00
BADGE REPLACEMENT – $5.00
NON-RESIDENT GRAYDON POOL MEMBERSHIPS
The Village Council and the Ridgewood Department of Parks and Recreation are pleased to invite all families in the surrounding area to join the Graydon Pool facility for the summer season.
ADULT (ages 16 and up) – $200.00
CHILD (ages 2-15) – $175.00
GUEST PASSES (must be accompanied by a current season member)- $10.00
BADGE REPLACEMENT – $5.00
TENNIS BADGES
RESIDENT ADULT – $35.00
RESIDENT CHILD – $30.00
NON-RESIDENT ADULT – $45.00
NON-RESIDENT CHILD – $40.00
DAILY PASS – $5.00
BADGE REPLACEMENT – $5.00
Tennis Rules/Regulations and Badge Memberships
Purchase all badges from the comfort of home via CommunityPass (Visa and Mastercard accepted). In person assistance is available daily at the Graydon Badge Office, on site at the pool facility. Hours vary by season dates.
GRAYDON POOL AMENITIES
Pool features include a shaded playground, water play fountains, shade kites, Adirondack chairs, a picnic area with charcoal grills, a sheltered pavilion, and the Water’s Edge Cafe. Additional amenities include volleyball, basketball, ping-pong, shuffleboard, four-squares, hop-scotch, backgammon, a lending library and for the little ones, “Storytime” under the Graydon pavilion.
SEASONAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES
Applications are being sought for the many summer positions available with the Parks and Recreation Department including Day Camp Administrators and Counselors, Graydon Pool Lifeguards, Security Attendants, and Badge Sale Attendants. Concession Attendant applications will be shared with the Water’s Edge vendor.
NOTE: Day Camp staff attendance is mandatory for the full six week program, June 25 to August 3, 2018 as well as pre-camp trainings.
Applicants should be at least 16 years of age. All will be considered for experience, interests, and accomplishments. https://www.ridgewoodnj.net/images/resized/Seasonal_Employment_Application_-_2018.pdf
All hires require an approved Ridgewood Police Department criminal background check.
Mail completed applications to The Stable, 259 N. Maple Avenue, Ridgewood, NJ 07450. Accompanying resumes are suggested.
Ridgewood NJ, Gov. Phil Murphy today announced the appointment of former Ridgewood Mayor and ethically challenged Paul Aronsohn to head up the newly created Office of the Ombudsman for Individuals with Intellectual or Developmental Disabilities and Their Families, serving as the administration’s lead advocate and ally for New Jersey residents in need of critical services ranging from early childhood through adulthood.
Arosohn’s tenure as mayor was marred by ethics scandals, acrimony from the dais, insane over development of the central business district, suicide bike lanes , dangerous ,over budget and ill-advised ramps at Graydon Pool ,bad Village business decisions and fermenting a hostile environment, impinging on the quality of life in the Village of Ridgewood. Many residents consider his tenure an all time low in the history of the Village of Ridgewood.
The Office of the Ombudsman, which is in, but not of, the Department of the Treasury, was created by law in January, granting the governor appointment authority.
As the ombudsman, Aronsohn will organize and direct the work of the office with duties that include:
Serving as a source of information for individuals with intellectual or developmental disabilities and their families and interested members of the public, to help them better understand state and federal laws and regulations;
Coordinating with the State Council on Developmental Disabilities, to provide information and support on navigating and understanding the process for obtaining services from the state Division of Children’s System of Care and the Division of Developmental Disabilities, including information on transitioning between the two programs;
Providing information and communication strategies to individuals with intellectual or developmental disabilities and their families for resolving disagreements with various state agencies, as well as education on the available options for resolving such disputes;
Working with service recipients, families and the departments to facilitate the provision of services and supports;
Identifying common concerns for individuals and their families, and making recommendations to the Division of Children’s System of Care and the Division of Developmental Disabilities or the Department of Children and Families and the Department of Human Services; and
To assist the Division of Children’s System of Care and the Division of Developmental Disabilities in creating public information programs designed to inform individuals with intellectual or developmental disabilities, their families, and the public about the role of the ombudsman.
Under law, the ombudsman is also required to issue a written report annually to the commissioners of both the Department of Human Services and the Department of Children and Families, as well as the governor and the legislature.
Ridgewood NJ, To ensure the continued safety and reliability of gas services, PSE&G inspects natural gas meters to check for surface corrosion, leaks and other conditions that might require attention or repair.
If a customer has an inside meter, someone over the age of 18 will need to give our technicians access to the meter for a visual inspection. Meters that are located outside will also be inspected. Although technicians will be on your property, customers do not need to be home for outside meter inspections.
Important information about the inspection process:
The inspection is free and will take about 10 minutes.
Customers do not need to make an appointment at this time.
Unless a meter requires immediate repair, there will be no interruption to service.
Service will not be turned off during this inspection due to billing status.
Customers should always ask for identification when a utility worker comes to the door. Employees carry a PSE&G photo identification badge, wear PSE&G logo apparel and drive PSE&G cars or trucks. If you’re concerned in any way, please call PSE&G’s customer service line at 800-436-PSEG (7734) to verify the identity of our employee
I’ve heard about this picture taking incident from several credible sources. Why take these photos? And why would the husband of the candidate be the one to take the photos? Anyone could have taken those photos. Why him? If this was Aronson’s way of embarrassing a fellow Bergen County Committe member, and the husband of the candiate is doing the bidding, then this is further confirmation that the candidate herself is merely using Ridgewood as her political playing field. Or is there another endgame here? Is what we’re seeing exactly what we’re supposed to see (and feel)? Are the lies and malice (and the photos) supposed to build up this resentment for some other political purpose? Is The Record going to now swoop in and distort the facts to make some political point about all of this and paint Ridgewood leadership in yet another false light? Remember how The Record took up trumped up flag issue. And they just ran the false “nepotism” story. Is it Ridgewood Analytica??????
