The Ridgewood Blog Brings a Free Market Laissez-faire Point of View to Local, New Jersey State and National Issues.
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Wyckoff NJ, in Wyckoff, NJ, school board elections are far from dull. The Wyckoff school board oversees the local district schools, while residents also elect representatives to the Ramapo-Indian Hills School District board, which governs the two high schools serving students from Wyckoff, Oakland, and Franklin Lakes.
Continue reading Wyckoff, NJ School Board Elections: A Spirited Contest
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Fair Lawn NJ, Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella announced the arrest of CLYDE JOHNSON, 26, of Fair Lawn, NJ on charges of false public alarm. The arrest is the result of an investigation conducted by the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office under the direction of Chief Matthew Finck.
Continue reading Fair Lawn Man Charged with Calling in Bomb Scares and False Active Shooter Alarms
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Ridgewood NJ, this is a reminder that Stage II water restrictions remain in effect. Restrictions apply to all Municipalities served by Ridgewood Water, including Ridgewood, Glen Rock, Midland Park and Wyckoff.
Continue reading RIDGEWOOD WATER : STAGE 2 WATER RESTRICTIONS ARE IN EFFECT
photos courtesy of the Waldwick Fire Department
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Waldwick NJ, the Waldwick Fire Department responded to a working fire in the attic of a home on Douglas Street around midnight this morning. Waldwick Fire Department units arrived on scene and put 2 hand lines into service and quickly extinguished the fire. The department reported that all occupants including several cats made it out safely. The Waldwick Fire Department thanked the assistance of the Allendale Fire, HoHoKus Fire, Wyckoff, Midland Park Fire and Mahwah Fire Department for their assistance.
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Hackensack NJ, Bergen County Executive Jim Tedesco announces that the final two locations for the Community Mobile Testing Program, which has hosted 39 locations over the last ten weeks, will take place next week with sites in Teaneck and Waldwick. The program has administered over 30,000 tests for COVID-19 and COVID-19 antibodies to county residents free of charge thanks to a partnership between the County of Bergen and Bergen New Bridge Medical Center.
Continue reading Mobile COVID-19 Testing To End in Bergen County
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Ridgewood NJ, Ridgewood Water is reminding that Stage 2 water restrictions are still in effect.
Speaking of water there have been several complaints from customers of Ridgewood Water, water quality and drink-ability . The issue should become even larger as the high density housing comes on line.
Continue reading Ridgewood Water Stage 2 water restrictions are still in effect
photos courtesy of Glen Rock Fire Department
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Glen Rock NJ, At 1834 hours on Monday, the Glen Rock Fire Department was dispatched to a report of smoke on the second floor of a residence on the Boulevard. A second alarm was transmitted in route by 830 upon reports by GRPD of a heavy smoke condition. The main fire area was in the attic space of the home. Crews used a combination of interior and exterior attacks to bring the fire under control. Thanks to all mutual aid towns, including Hawthorne, Fair Lawn, Ridgewood, Midland Park, Paramus, Waldwick, Wyckoff and Elmwood Park. Also thanks to the GRVAC and Glen Rock Police for on scene assistance as well as Northwest and Central Bergen Mutual Aid coordinators and safety officers.
Continue reading Glen Rock Fire Brings In Multiple Towns to Assist
13 Mutual Aid Companies also respond
Photo Credit: Waldwick, NJ Volunteer Fire Department
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Mahwah NJ, This morning around 4am Mahwah Fire, Police, and EMS were dispatched to a home who’s residents awoke to smoke in the house. First arriving units confirmed thick black smoke coming from the home. Thankfully all residents were able to exit the home on their own with the assistance of Mahwah Police and fire units quickly began locating and extinguishing the blaze. Unfortunately the deep seated fire in the basement ravaged the home and made its way throughout almost every room and into the attic. All 5 Mahwah fire companies worked together to extinguish bulk of the fire, subsequent hot spots and the fire was placed under control around 7am.
Continue reading 5 Mahwah Fire Companies Respond to an Early Morning House Fire
photos by AGT
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Ridgewood NJ, the school supply drive on behalf of Social Service Association (SSA) was a huge success this year. The donations were more than generous . The Social Service Association (SSA) would especially like to thank Fr. Ron and OLMC for supporting this important cause.
Because of all of the donation, many children who live in Glen Rock, HoHoKus, Midland Park, Ridgewood, Waldwick and Wyckoff will be able to start the school year with supplies.
“Look for our school supply drive next year. Thanks again!”, Alex and Donovan.
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Ridgewood NJ, Social Service Association fall kick off event! A casual, fun party to benefit Social Service Association featuring the Declan Power band. www.ssaridgewood.org
SSA is a Ridgewood based organization that currently assists approx 125 families in Glen Rock, HoHoKus, Midland Park, Ridgewood, Waldwick and Wyckoff with food vouchers, small financial help, weekly pantry visits, Thanksgiving meals, Holiday gifts, camperships and much more! #neighborshelpingneighbors
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Ridgewood NJ, Glen Rock, Wyckoff and Midland Park have been stepping up their calls for a multi-town water commission to set water rates.
April 13,2018
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Ridgewood NJ, at Wednesday nights Village Council Meeting the Village council was expected to leave unchanged water rates going back to 2010 that were invalidated by a Superior Court judge last year in response to a lawsuit by the three neighboring towns. The towns, which are customers of village-owned Ridgewood Water, allege they were being overcharged.
In July, Superior Court Judge Lisa Perez Friscia ruled in favor of Wyckoff, Midland Park and Glen Rock, which are served by Ridgewood Water and had sued the village over rate increases between 2010 and 2012. The three municipalities argued that Ridgewood Water was using the excess fees to cover unrelated operating costs for the village. The judge, in her ruling, called Ridgewood Water’s rate hikes arbitrary, and told the village to recalculate the charges.
Ridgewood complied an in December Howard Woods, a consultant hired by the Village to recalculate the correct rates, released a 247-page “initial report” , stating that customers were instead undercharged for their water usage during the first two years covered in the lawsuit. An appeal by Glen Rock, Midland Park and Wyckoff of the July decision is pending. Beyond a recalculation of rates, the towns seek $13.4 million in refunds and $3.6 million in damages.
At Wednesday nights council meeting , there was a decision to delay action on the two ordinances by the Village Council . Representatives from the other three towns took to the lectern to lecture and attempt to pressure the Village Council for what they felt was a bold disregard for justice. The ugly reality for Glen Rock, Midland Park and Wyckoff is that the Judges ruling stuck the three towns with huge court costs .
file photo
December 19,2017
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Ridgewood NJ, in a new twist on the long standing lawsuit again Ridgewood Water a consultant hired by the village says Ridgewood Water actually undercharged ratepayers in 2010 and 2011, a time when the utility was found by a Superior Court judge to have wrongly raised rates to cover village debt.
In July, Superior Court Judge Lisa Perez Friscia ruled in favor of the plaintiffs ;Wyckoff, Midland Park and Glen Rock, which are served by Ridgewood Water and had sued the village over rate increases between 2010 and 2012. The three municipalities argued that Ridgewood Water was using the excess fees to cover unrelated operating costs for the village of Ridgewood.
As previously reported Judge Friscia, called Ridgewood Water’s rate hikes arbitrary, and told the village to recalculate the charges.
An announcement Monday by Village Manager Heather Mailander said that Howard Woods, the consultant hired to recalculate the correct rates, released a 247-page “initial report” to Judge Friscia on Monday, stating that customers were actually undercharged for their water usage during the first two years covered in the lawsuit.
Mailander’s announcement went on to say that despite the increase there was still an overall “shortfall” of over $400,000 for the span of all three years.
Glen Rock, Midland Park and Wyckoff are currently appealing the July decision and are asking for not only a recalculation of rates, but are seeking $13.4 million in refunds and $3.6 million in damages.
Paul Vagianos (D) A Democrat running mate for State Assemble in the 40th District that’s who Paul is refereed to in the article….
So this is the type of candidate that wants to run local Government, A individual who can not follow Building dept, Codes, Village Zoning/Planing Codes, Village Ordinances and State laws of set back. HE Feels “HE” is above the LAW.
This is Who has a Mayor and Counsel scared of him! Because of POWER! What about the residence and other Proprietors that are in the Village, they have to follow Zoning/Planing and local building codes! State and county ordinances and set back laws.
I just spoke with the Building inspector Carlos this morning and he stated there was never a permit issued for this wall or nor was there ever any inspections and refereed me to the Zoning/Planing office. I spoke to a nice women who answered the phone, I had asked for the Zoning officer but she stated she could help me she was very knowledgeable about the whole chain of events of this wall. It was a wood wall prior and they removed the wood and built what is there today not sure as to the date, No prior approvals and the Owner was sued by the Village of Ridgewood. They eventually applied to the Planing/Zoning board and was passed by the board (quote from Women in Planing/Zoning dept., I don’t quite know how that was approved).
So there have never been any required permits or inspections and they were never asked to remove the wall. Why is this!
If someone were to be hurt by the wall coming down or a car were to hit it I SEE A MAJOR LAWSUIT HERE, an unsafe non permitted structure!
You be the JUDGE……I see unfair politics at its worst,,,,people afraid of people with power.
October 23,2017
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Ridgewood NJ, don’t forget tonight Monday, October 23 at 7:30 PM – 9:30 PM the Village of Ridgewood will host a District 40 candidate forum at the Village Hall in Ridgewood . The 40th Legislative District includes portions of Bergen, Essex, Morris and Passaic counties, including Allendale, Cedar Grove, Franklin Lakes, Ho-Ho-Kus, Little Falls, Midland Park, Pequannock, Pompton Lakes, Ridgewood, Riverdale, Totowa, Waldwick, Wayne, Woodland Park, and Wyckoff .
Senate candidates Republican Kristin M. Corrado, the Passaic County clerk, and Democrat Thomas Duch will debate, as will Republican Assembly candidates Christopher P. DePhillips and incumbent appointee Kevin J. Rooney and Democrats Christine Ordway and Paul Vagianos.
