The Ridgewood Blog Brings a Free Market Laissez-faire Point of View to Local, New Jersey State and National Issues.
photos courtesy of Olive R Twist Olive Oil Co
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, Olive R Twist Olive Oil Co. we offer a broad selection of the finest and freshest extra virgin olive oils produced in the Northern and Southern Hemispheres, full-bodied 12-18 year aged balsamic vinegars from Modena, Italy, delicious specialty foods, and beautiful gifts.
Continue reading Join Olive R Twist Olive Oil Co for a Unique Culinary Experience!
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Ridgewood NJ, the Ridgewood street revitalization project is well on the way. The Village of Ridgewood is replacing trees in the wells along East Ridgewood Avenue to Wilsey Square with new trees chosen to thrive in the Central Business District .
Continue reading A Tree Grows In Ridgewood Street Revitalization Project
photo courtesy of the Ridgewood Police Department
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, the Ridgewood Chamber of Commerce and the Ridgewood Police Department along with the Ridgewood Fire Department and Ridgewood Emergency Services hosted a “Touch a Truck” event at two locations Van Nest Square Park and Wilsey Square. The family friendly event featured all the different Village vehicles and equipment from from 10:00 to 2:00.
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, the theme of this year’s celebration is: “Let Freedom Ring” . This year as we celebrate the history of our great nation, we want to highlight the importance of freedom for all. “Let Freedom Ring” is defined as “A statement that the ideals of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness should be spread across the Earth and allowed to flourish.”
Continue reading 112th annual Ridgewood Fourth of July Celebration Monday, July 4, 2022
photos courtesy of Boyd Loving’s Facebook page
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Ridgewood NJ, a Bergen County Sheriff’s Office K9 Patrol Unit and Paramus Police officers assisted a Ridgewood Police Patrol Division supervisor in the search for a burglary suspect near 32 Wilsey Square, Ridgewood on Tuesday morning, 02/15. The Bergen County Sheriff’s Office Bureau of Criminal Identification also responded to the incident. The suspect was able to elude capture despite a heavy police presence in the area.
Continue reading Burglary Suspect Eludes Capture Near Wilsey Square in Ridgewood
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Ridgewood NJ, 111th annual Ridgewood Fourth of July Celebration Monday, July 5, 2021 . Please join us for our annual flag raising ceremony in Wilsey Square at 9am on July 5th. Please follow all local and state social distancing guidelines when attending this event. We will also being streaming the ceremony live on our Facebook page.
Check back soon for more details regarding the 2021 Celebration . Please consider making a donation to keep our great tradition alive! https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=GVYWEVF3BAGPJ
THANKS TO ALL WHO SUPPORT, VOLUNTEER, DONATE AND WORK TO MAKE OUR CELEBRATION A GREAT SUCCESS YEAR AFTER YEAR!
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Ridgewood NJ, The Central Business District will has several 15-minute complimentary parking spaces on Oak Street, Chestnut Street, North Broad Street, off of East Ridgewood Avenue, and Wilsey Square on the west side. These parking spaces are limited to 15 minutes only, are free of charge to everyone, and are to be used to do a quick errand or pick up food or visit a business. Please be advised that if you are parked in these spaces longer than 15 minutes, you may receive a parking summons. These spaces have been generously sponsored by several local businesses, which are acknowledged on the 15-minute parking signs. We encourage you to stay longer in the Central Business District by parking in one of our many lots or the Hudson Street parking garage (at $1/hour), and there is also on-street parking available (at $1.25/hour).
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, Beginning on November 9th, the Central Business District will have several 15-minute complimentary parking spaces on Oak Street, Chestnut Street, North Broad Street, off of East Ridgewood Avenue, and Wilsey Square on the west side. These parking spaces are limited to 15 minutes only, are free of charge to everyone, and are to be used to do a quick errand or pick up food or visit a business. These spaces have been generously sponsored by several local businesses and Ridgewood residents, which are acknowledged on the 15-minute parking signs. Please be advised that if you are parked in these spaces longer than 15 minutes, you may receive a parking summons. We encourage you to stay longer in the Central Business District by parking in one of our many lots or the Hudson Street parking garage (at $1/hour), and there is also on-street parking available (at $1.25/hour).
March 24,2017
Boyd A. Loving
Ridgewood NJ, During Wednesday evening’s Village Council Work Session, Village Engineer Christopher Rutishauser was asked to ascertain the feasibility of adding approximately 40 additional parking spaces at the Ridgewood train station. Mayor Susan Knudsen suggested that additional parking spaces might be added by removing the large, grass & tree covered center island in the current parking lot.
Rutishauser was also tasked with determining the possibility of creating more parking spaces along the east side of Wilsey Square, just south of the train station’s parking lot. Grass & trees currently occupy this area as well.
No date was given as to when the results of the Village Engineer’s study would be available for Village Council review.
And thank you for overturning the stupid videotaping rule.
And thank you for extending the public comments.
And thank you for being polite to everyone, even those who spit at you. Aronsohn and Roberta and Albert and Gwenn never ever tolerated those who disagreed with them.
And thank you for saving Schedler.
And thank you for reducing the lights at Habernickel.
And oh….thank you for accepting the RESIGNATION of Roberta.
Now maybe you could fix that stupid Wilsey Square underpass bike lane mess?????
The Big Clean Up
Village Officials Continue to try to put lipstick on a pig for “Aronsohn’s Folly” resurfacing project
June 11,2014
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Ridgewood NJ, Yesterday commuters faced heavy delays in the area of Garber Square and all roads leading to the area due to construction.
Ridgewood PD had warned travelers to ,Avoid the area and plan an alternate route if possible.
The Village also issued a June 10 , Traffic Alert for Garber Square
Tuesday, June 10 AM -Traffic delays are being experienced at this location due to work going on around Garber Square this morning that will result in alternating one lane of traffic going each way; in other words police will close and open the one lane alternating between east and west bound traffic. This will probably cause delays throughout the morning and maybe into afternoon – this is NOT the Village’s Complete Streets Paving Project – this work is being done by Fletcher Creamer for a Verizon project. Fletcher Creamer has hired two Ridgewood police officers to address traffic flow and safety at Garber Square for this project.
Some readers claim they were stuck in bumper to bumper traffic from Monroe all the way to Whole Foods Market,When I left the parking lot I turned left to go back to Monroe. traffic was backed up past Lincoln.
The Village through Gwenn Hauck on the Ridgewood Police Facebook page were quick to play the blame game and point out “BECA– USE VERIZON is doing ROADWORK! “
Still not sure why no one though of any of this before the Village embarked the the Wilsey Square , Garber Square repaving project ,known as Aronsohn’s Folly .
I would say perhaps they relied on the same traffic engineers who continue to promise that that despite the doubling on the size of Valley Hospital ,10 years of construction, and 4 new large multi family housing developments slated for the Central Business district ,” the latest multifamily housing hearing said that their proposed use would result in less additional downtown traffic than other allowable uses” – See more at: https://www.northjersey.com/news/traffic-engineers-testify-on-ridgewood-housing-proposals-1.1030111#sthash.0QHzQPRn.dpuf
I have resided in Ridgewood for 35 years, and the first whiff I got of the drastic underpass plan was on May 23, 2014. David Shaw
Lane change an unpleasant surprise
David Shaw
Very few people appreciate unpleasant surprises. Fewer yet appreciate being blind sided.
The May 23 issue of The Ridgewood News supplied the citizens of the village an amplitude of both. I have yet to find anyone in my neighborhood who knew that one lane-each direction automobile traffic under the bridge was soon to be irrevocably in their long-term future, nor did they understand why such a thing would be contemplated.
The article stated that the plan had been fully vetted by the council and the DOT, the Ridgewood engineering and police departments, as well as the Citizens Safety Advisory Committee. Critically and significantly, there was no mention that the taxpaying residents of this community were in the vetting loop. Is it unreasonably inquisitive to ask why the people most affected by this decision weren’t included, or, for that matter, even aware of the plans? Could this be construed as government by fiat?
Councilwoman Bernadette Walsh was quoted as saying “the project and the Complete Streets program was formulated many years ago and is coming to fruition now.” It may have been formulated eons ago, but it surely was not communicated. I have resided in Ridgewood for 35 years, and the first whiff I got of the drastic underpass plan was on May 23, 2014.
photo by Ridgewood PD
Reader says I am all for the current construction change the current two-lane layout gets too crowded
I am all for the current construction change. The current two-lane layout gets too crowded . People currently switch lanes right now in a moments of indecision or to try and overtake. The new layout will lead to a more orderly flow of traffic, with one good lane in each direction, instead of the two narrow lanes that currently exist.
Through-town traffic can only flow as fast as its narrowest or most congested point. This short stretch, either as it was, or as it will be, is not that point. My conclusion is that this work will have a positive effect. Now, whether the work itself is being done cost-effectively, that’s an entirely separate debate. I suspect, being that public funds at being spent, there will be the usual waste and borderline corruption that always takes place.
Asking people to take alternative routes while the construction is going on, I put that down to Government in action. It’s the standard advice they give out in every road maintenance project. I do, however, think that once all the work is finished, the workers and the equipment is gone, the lanes are nice and smooth, etc., that flow will not really be the same as it is right now.
My only real concern here is the usual banditry that takes place with public works projects. Take for instance the recent paint job at the pedestrian underpass. I forget the sum, but I think it ran into the $200,000 level. It was nothing more than rolling paint over the surface. It is already peeling.
photo Ridgewood police
Readers Question the wisdom of reducing traffic lanes at Garber Square
Would be interested in knowing how much additional funds were needed to make Wilsey and Garber Squares into one lanes vs. repaving existing setup. Not completely sure what they are trying to achieve at this location with the narrow roadways — is speeding/pedestrian safety a major issue around that stretch?
Starting Wednesday, May 7th, paving construction work will begin on the West Side at Wilsey and Garber Squares from Godwin Avenue to under the train trestle on Franklin Avenue. Expect traffic congestion in this area for the next 3 months during construction. To avoid delays, we suggest the use of alternate streets to get across the train tracks – Ackerman Avenue or W. Glen Avenue.