THE RIDGEWOOD BLOG. - Page 246 of 4270 - The Ridgewood Blog Brings a Free Market Laissez-faire Point of View to Local, New Jersey State and National Issues.

Posted on October 26, 2025October 26, 2025 by James — 1 Comment

Racketeering, Extortion, and Re-Election: Prospect Park Councilman Pleads Not Guilty in Illegal Gambling Case

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Elected Official Running for Re-Election Pleads NOT GUILTY to 18 Felonies in Mob-Tied Gambling Scandal

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

PROSPECT PARK, NJ – The political landscape in the small town of Prospect Park has been rocked by high-stakes drama as Council President Anand Shah formally entered pleas of “not guilty” to a sweeping 18-count indictment in state court.

The October 24 arraignment in Morristown, before Judge Ralph Amirata, confirmed the Democrat councilman’s intention to fight the serious allegations that link him to an illegal gambling syndicate with alleged ties to organized crime figures, including the Lucchese crime family.

Continue reading Racketeering, Extortion, and Re-Election: Prospect Park Councilman Pleads Not Guilty in Illegal Gambling Case

Posted on October 26, 2025October 26, 2025 by James — Leave a comment

How NJ TRANSIT’s AquaTrack Blasts Leaves to Save Your Commute

The Secret Weapon Against Train Delays: NJ TRANSIT Deploys High-Powered ‘AquaTrack’ to Clean Bergen County Rails

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

RIDGEWOOD, NJ — As the stunning autumn colors peak across New Jersey, they bring a hidden hazard to commuter rail lines like the Main/Bergen County Line: “slippery rail.”

To combat the notorious fall slowdowns and keep trains running on schedule, NJ TRANSIT has officially rolled out its two high-tech cleaning units known as AquaTrack. This seasonal deployment is a crucial effort to eliminate the single biggest cause of traction problems in the Northeast during the fall months.

Continue reading How NJ TRANSIT’s AquaTrack Blasts Leaves to Save Your Commute

Posted on October 26, 2025October 26, 2025 by James — 6 Comments

Run, Honor, and Give Back: Ho-Ho-Kus Celebrates 20 Years of Richard’s Run 5K!

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20th Annual Richard’s Run Unites Ho-Ho-Kus: See Who Took 1st Place and How the Race is Fighting Pediatric Cancer

Photos By: Councilman Dane Policastro

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

HO-HO-KUS, NJ — A proud tradition of fitness, community, and philanthropy continued on October 5th as the 20th Annual Ho-Ho-Kus Richard’s Run 5K successfully brought together the town for a powerful cause. The event, which has become a beloved fixture on the fall calendar, celebrates a lasting legacy while directly supporting pediatric cancer initiatives and local education.

With a field of 253 enthusiastic participants, the race saw children, families, and seasoned athletes hit the pavement in a display of community spirit.

Continue reading Run, Honor, and Give Back: Ho-Ho-Kus Celebrates 20 Years of Richard’s Run 5K!

Posted on October 26, 2025October 26, 2025 by James — 4 Comments

New Chapter in Saddle River: Ribbon Cutting Celebrates Arrival of Choctaw Affordable Housing Community!

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A First for Saddle River! Mayor and Community Officially Welcome New Residents to the 112-Unit Choctaw Affordable Housing Complex

photos courtesy of the Borough of Saddle River

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

SADDLE RIVER, NJ — A major milestone in community development and inclusion was celebrated yesterday, October 24th, as the Borough of Saddle River hosted a warm and wonderful ribbon-cutting ceremony for The Residences at Choctaw. This event marks the official grand opening of the borough’s first-ever affordable family housing community.

Continue reading New Chapter in Saddle River: Ribbon Cutting Celebrates Arrival of Choctaw Affordable Housing Community!

Posted on October 26, 2025October 26, 2025 by James — Leave a comment

Senator Issues National Alarm: Is a ‘Pro-Terrorist’ Group Infiltrating Your Child’s School?

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Secret Curriculum? Nonprofit with Alleged Hamas Ties Pushes ‘Inclusivity’ Guides into Public School Classrooms

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Washington DC, Corruption Chronicles Alert – A major controversy is erupting in the American education system as a prominent Muslim advocacy organization, the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), establishes partnerships with public schools in states like Pennsylvania and Delaware under the guise of promoting “inclusivity.”

Alarm bells are sounding from watchdogs and members of Congress who point to CAIR’s documented history, including its designation as an unindicted co-conspirator in the largest terrorism-financing case in U.S. history involving the Hamas front group Holy Land Foundation.

Continue reading Senator Issues National Alarm: Is a ‘Pro-Terrorist’ Group Infiltrating Your Child’s School?

Posted on October 25, 2025October 25, 2025 by James — 28 Comments

Outrage in Ridgewood: Engineer’s New Bike Lane BLOCKS Parking in Front of Homes on South Pleasant

From Bike Lane Dream to Parking Nightmare: Ridgewood Residents Furious After Grant Money Kills Street Parking on South Pleasant

screen shots from original presentation May 2024

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

RIDGEWOOD, NJ — The Village of Ridgewood is once again embroiled in controversy over a new bicycle infrastructure project, sparking outrage among residents of the Pleasant Avenue neighborhood. This time, the issue isn’t a “bike lane to nowhere,” but a newly implemented restriction on street parking on South Pleasant Avenue that residents were explicitly told would not happen.

The latest project, spearheaded by Village Engineer Christopher Rutishauser, utilized grant money to create a new bike lane—but in a major development, the project has now effectively banned residents from parking in front of their own homes.

Continue reading Outrage in Ridgewood: Engineer’s New Bike Lane BLOCKS Parking in Front of Homes on South Pleasant

Posted on October 25, 2025October 25, 2025 by James — Leave a comment

19 Year Old Hackensack Man Arrested on Child Porn Charges

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the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Hackensack NJ, Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella announced the arrest of 19-year-old JONATHAN D. VELOZ of Hackensack, NJ, on the charge of possession of child sexual abuse material. 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 19 Year Old Hackensack Man Arrested on Child Porn Charges

Posted on October 25, 2025October 25, 2025 by James — 3 Comments

From Flood Risk to Future-Proof: Bergen County Pumps $1.7M Into Saddle River Park Restoration!

Huge Win Against Flooding? Bergen County Restores Key Duck Pond Amid $7 Billion River Overflow Risk

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

PARAMUS, NJ — Saddle River County Park, a sprawling 577-acre oasis that connects six Bergen County towns, is well-known for its scenic trails—and unfortunately, its persistent flooding issues. However, the County of Bergen is tackling the problem head-on, celebrating a major ecological restoration project while simultaneously seeking further funding to mitigate the immense financial risks posed by river overflow.

Continue reading From Flood Risk to Future-Proof: Bergen County Pumps $1.7M Into Saddle River Park Restoration!

Posted on October 25, 2025October 25, 2025 by James — 12 Comments

The Battle of the Branch: Why Ridgewood is Both Planting and REFUSING Hundreds of Shade Trees

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Ridgewood’s Green Paradox: 79 Saplings Planted, But 40% of Homeowners in the West Saddle River Road area Said NO Trees!

photo courtesy of the Ridgewood Shade Tree Commission

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood, NJ, is famous for its beautiful, tree-lined streets, but the village is currently facing a surprising division over its canopy.

This past Saturday, an enthusiastic group of volunteers, organized by the Shade Tree Commission, successfully planted 79 new saplings in the Willard neighborhood as part of the Village’s “Adopt a Sapling” program, which launched in 2023. To date, the program has planted just shy of 200 young trees, showing a strong community effort to “re-tree” Ridgewood.

Continue reading The Battle of the Branch: Why Ridgewood is Both Planting and REFUSING Hundreds of Shade Trees

Posted on October 25, 2025October 25, 2025 by James — Leave a comment

Gridlock Alert! Why Ridgewood Traffic is Worse Than Usual This Fall

Why is Ridgewood Traffic a Nightmare Right Now? Unexpected Utility Work and Road Projects Clogging Maple Avenue

photo courtesy of the Village of Ridgewood

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, if your commute through Ridgewood, has felt particularly painful lately, you’re not alone. Residents and commuters are experiencing heavier than usual traffic congestion due to a confluence of ongoing utility projects and critical infrastructure work being performed both by Bergen County and PSE&G.

Understanding what’s happening beneath the asphalt can help you plan your routes and ease some of the frustration.

Continue reading Gridlock Alert! Why Ridgewood Traffic is Worse Than Usual This Fall

Posted on October 25, 2025October 25, 2025 by James — 11 Comments

Ridgewood Honors Its Own: 9/11 Memorial Trees to be Replaced Using Open Space Fund

Sacred Ground Preserved: Ridgewood Village Council Approves Funds to Restore 9/11 Memorial Trees Honoring 12 Lost Residents

photo courtesy of the Village of Ridgewood

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, with the November election right around the corner and an open space ballot question hanging on the line .The Village of Ridgewood, NJ, is taking action to ensure its solemn tribute to the heroes and victims of September 11, 2001, remains a strong and vibrant symbol of remembrance. While we believe the Village has failed in its remembrance of 9/11, using 9/11 to promote the open space ballot question is extremely bad taste.

Continue reading Ridgewood Honors Its Own: 9/11 Memorial Trees to be Replaced Using Open Space Fund

Posted on October 25, 2025October 25, 2025 by James — Leave a comment

20 Years of Activism: Teaneck International Film Festival Unveils Explosive Lineup!

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20th Anniversary TIFF Lineup Revealed! Get Ready for 8 Days of Activism, Drama, and Can’t-Miss Films in Teaneck, NJ.

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Teaneck NJ, the Teaneck International Film Festival (TIFF) is ready to roll the credits on its monumental 20th anniversary with a powerhouse lineup that’s more relevant and urgent than ever. Dubbed “Activism: Making Change,” this year’s festival will run from November 6 – 13, 2025, transforming Teaneck, NJ, into a hub for social conscience, compelling cinema, and thought-provoking discussion.

Continue reading 20 Years of Activism: Teaneck International Film Festival Unveils Explosive Lineup!

Posted on October 25, 2025October 25, 2025 by James — Leave a comment

Pink Power Play: How Ridgewood High Cheerleaders are Tackling Breast Cancer!

Ridgewood High Cheer Squad Jumps Into Action: Selling T-Shirts to Tackle Breast Cancer!

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, The Ridgewood High School (RHS) Varsity Cheer Squad is flipping the script on community service this month, turning their team spirit into a powerful force for breast cancer awareness and fundraising.

Under the direction of dedicated Coach Erica Cassler and the leadership of Captains Molly Hanrahan, Emily Kaufman, Keelin Sullivan, Mia Lake, and Erianna Gonzalez-McCutcheon, the squad has launched an inspiring campaign centered around a simple, yet meaningful item: breast cancer awareness T-shirts.

Continue reading Pink Power Play: How Ridgewood High Cheerleaders are Tackling Breast Cancer!

Posted on October 25, 2025October 25, 2025 by James — 2 Comments

880 Rabbis Condemn Anti-Zionism Following Mamdani Interview: A National Call to Action

Mamdani posts smiling photo with NYC imam tied to 1993 terror bombing

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

New York NY, nearly 900 rabbis from across America—specifically 880 as of 10 a.m. on October 23rd—have publicly signed an open letter titled “A Rabbinic Call to Action: Defending the Jewish Future,” condemning what they term the “political normalization of anti-Zionism.”

The letter, published by JewishMajority.org, was issued in direct response to comments made by New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani, the Democratic nominee, during a Fox News interview where he appeared to dodge questions regarding Hamas.

Continue reading 880 Rabbis Condemn Anti-Zionism Following Mamdani Interview: A National Call to Action

Ridgewood High Cheer Squad Jumps Into Action: Selling T-Shirts to Tackle Breast Cancer!

Mamdani posts smiling photo with NYC imam tied to 1993 terror bombing

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