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Mysterious Absence: Ramapo High School Principal Travis Smith Missing from Latest District Update

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Leadership Shakeup at Ramapo High School: Principal Travis Smith “Missing” from School Announcement

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

FRANKLIN LAKES, NJ — Parents and students at Ramapo High School (RHS) were left with more questions than answers this week following a cryptic message from the district office.

On Wednesday, January 14, 2026, a text notification informed the community that Assistant Principal Claudia Dargento is “presently in charge” of the high school. However, the message notably failed to mention the school’s long-standing leader, Principal Travis Smith, or explain his sudden absence.

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Decades of Silence? New Allegations Emerge Against Former Paramus Catholic Hockey Coach

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Paramus Catholic Faces New Lawsuit: Former Coach Accused in Decades-Long Abuse Scandal

the staff mof the Ridgewood blog

Paramus NJ, The legal firestorm surrounding Paramus Catholic High School continues to grow. On January 14, 2026, a new sexual assault lawsuit was filed against the school, the Archdiocese of Newark, and the Christian Brothers, centering on the alleged actions of former teacher and hockey coach Bernard Garris.

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No More Hidden Prices: Apple Forced to Overhaul NJ Stores After Landmark Settlement

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Apple Fined Again: New Jersey Cracks Down on Tech Giant for “Invisible” Price Tags

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Paramus NJ, In a major win for consumer transparency, Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin announced that Apple Inc. has been hit with its largest-ever penalty for violating New Jersey’s Merchandise Pricing Act. The tech giant has agreed to pay $150,000 and overhaul its in-store operations after state investigators discovered widespread pricing violations across every Apple Store location in New Jersey.

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Ridgewood’s “From Scratch” Chef Reveals Secret New Roman Pizza Spot Opening This Spring

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Forget Everything You Know About Pizza: Ridgewood’s “From Scratch” Team to Reveal New Roman-Style Concept

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, Ridgewood’s culinary scene is about to get a major upgrade. Chef Claudia Rovegno, the mastermind behind the beloved flagship restaurant From Scratch, has officially announced her next venture: Pizza by From Scratch.

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4 Arrested in Mahwah Dealership Burglary: Former Employee Allegedly Provided Safe Intel

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Inside Job: Former Employee and 3 Accomplices Charged in Mahwah Car Dealership Heist

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Mahwah NJ, A high-stakes plot to crack a safe at a prominent Route 17 car dealership has been foiled, and police say the call was coming from inside the house.

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6th Attack Since September: Saddle River Police Issue Emergency Coyote Alert for Pet Owners

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Saddle River Wildlife Alert: Small Dog Dragged into Woods as Coyote Attacks Surge in Bergen County

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Saddle River NJ, Bergen County residents are on high alert after a terrifying incident in Saddle River this week. On Wednesday, January 14, 2026, a resident in the Burning Hollow section reported that their small dog was attacked and dragged into the woods by a coyote.

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NJ Commuter Alert: Massive Portal North Bridge Work to Disrupt Rail Service for 4 Weeks

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The Gateway Switch: Portal North Bridge “Cutover” to Spark Month-Long Rail Disruptions

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, the wait for a more reliable Northeast Corridor is almost over, but New Jersey commuters will have to endure one final “patience test” first.

Starting February 13, 2026, Amtrak and NJ TRANSIT will begin the critical “cutover” process to transfer rail service from the 114-year-old, failure-prone Portal Bridge to the brand-new Portal North Bridge. While this marks a historic milestone for the $1.5 billion Gateway Program, it comes with a catch: four weeks of significant service changes affecting nearly every rail line in the state.

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NFL Star’s Wife Jumps into NJ Politics: Can Tiffany Burress Flip This Democratic Stronghold?

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From the Courtroom to Congress: Why Attorney Tiffany Burress is Running to Make History in NJ

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Passaic NJ, The political landscape in North Jersey just got a major jolt of star power and legal muscle. Tiffany Burress, a seasoned Passaic County attorney and wife of former New York Giants Super Bowl hero Plaxico Burress, has officially launched her campaign for New Jersey’s 9th Congressional District.

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Why This Ridgewood EMT Says “Taking the Test” Was His Best Career Move

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Meet the Hero Next Door: How Ridgewood’s Newest Firefighter Stays Mission-Ready

photo courtesy of Ridgewood Professional Firefighters FMBA Local 47

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, the Ridgewood Professional Firefighters FMBA Local 47 is back with another edition of “Meet the Members Monday.” This week, we’re stepping inside the firehouse to introduce you to one of our newest faces on the front lines: Thomas Malone.

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Teresa Giudice is Back in the Kitchen: Everything We Know About Her New Restaurant in Westwood

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Teresa Giudice’s Next Chapter: Inside “Il Vero,” the New Rooftop Hotspot Coming to Westwood

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Westwolod NJ, Bergen County is about to get a major dose of “The Real Thing.” Teresa Giudice, the iconic star of The Real Housewives of New Jersey, and her daughter Gia Giudice have officially announced their newest venture: an upscale Italian restaurant named Il Vero.

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80 Years of RHS Jamboree: Ridgewood Proclaims “Jamboree Days” for 2026 Milestone Show

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Lights, Camera, Action! Ridgewood Proclaims Feb 5-7 “Jamboree Days” in Honor of 80th Anniversary

photo courtesy of the Village of Ridgewood

the saff of the Ridewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, The curtain is rising on a major milestone in Bergen County! On Wednesday, January 14, 2026, the Village of Ridgewood Council officially presented a Proclamation to the producers of RHS Jamboree, recognizing eight decades of community spirit, theatrical flair, and life-changing philanthropy.

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The Architect of High Density: Ridgewood Councilman Evan Weitz’s Selective Memory

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the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, during the January 14, 2026, Village Council meeting, Councilman Evan Weitz didn’t just defend the new affordable housing ordinances (4071–4075); he took aim at the residents concerned about them. In a series of pointed remarks around the 01:24:00 mark, Weitz cautioned the public against “social media misinformation” and made a definitive promise: “The village won’t look like the pictures that people keep sharing.”
To the casual observer, it sounded like a protective stance. But for those who remember the last decade of Ridgewood politics, the words rang hollow. Why? Because Evan Weitz has spent years building the very infrastructure that makes high-density “urban” development possible in our Village.

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Will Village of Ridgewood officials tell developers: “No on-site parking? No problem.”

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Just when we thought that we’d heard it all

the staff of The Ridgewood Blog
Ridgewood NJ, Ridgewood resident Boyd Loving may have let the cat out of the bag during Wednesday night’s Village Council meeting when he asked Council members about an alleged plan that would permit property developers to build/renovate in the Village’s Central Business District without providing the requisite number of on-site parking spaces. In lieu of providing on-site parking, a developer would supposedly contribute to a fund earmarked for the construction of a new parking structure(s).

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NCAA Betting Bombshell: 39 Players Charged in Massive 17-Team Point-Shaving Scandal

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The Bribe That Broke the Bracket: How a Gambling Ring Fixed 29 NCAA Games

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Philadelphia PA, the integrity of college basketball has been hit by a “seismic” blow. In a federal indictment unsealed on Thursday, January 15, 2026, authorities in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania exposed a sweeping international point-shaving conspiracy.

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President Trump Unveils “The Great Healthcare Plan”: A Bold Bid to Slash Drug Prices and Defund “Big Insurance” Middlemen

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Direct Payments to You? Inside Trump’s Bold Plan to Replace Insurance Subsidies

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Washington DC, In a major move aimed at reshaping the American medical landscape, President Donald J. Trump has officially called on Congress to enact “The Great Healthcare Plan.” Announced on January 15, 2026, the legislative framework targets four core pillars: lower drug costs, reduced insurance premiums, aggressive accountability for “Big Insurance,” and radical price transparency.

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