Ridgewood officials report road signs are disappearing
September 13, 2013, 2:21 PM
the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, According to Acting Village Manager Heather Mailander road signs in the Village are disappearing  at an alarming  rate  telling the Ridgewood News on Wednesday that about 75 signs have gone missing in the last month. ( https://www.northjersey.com/news/223653511_Ridgewood_officials_report_road_signs_are_disappearing.html )

This is not only a financial burden for tax payers but can create dangerous road conditions, for both motorists and pedestrians.

The village is urging residents to notify officials at Village Hall if they observe road signs knocked from poles. Resident who witness anyone illegally removing signs should call the Ridgewood Police Department at 201-652-3900.

sourced : https://www.northjersey.com/news/223653511_Ridgewood_officials_report_road_signs_are_disappearing.html#sthash.RYODM8Yu.dpuf

Photo is courtesy of Ridgewood Tax Assessor’s Offfice

Ridgewood Chamber’s plan back out to bid
Friday September 13, 2013, 2:12 PM
BY  DARIUS AMOS
STAFF WRITER
The Ridgewood News

The Ridgewood Chamber of Commerce’s large-scale plan to introduce a new retail building and at least one parking garage to the Central Business District has hit a snag: The village did not receive any response to its recent request for proposals (RFP) before last week’s deadline.

A RFP advertised earlier this summer sought developers to convert Lot 12, Block 3703 into a “first-class two-story facility” that would ultimately attract new retailers. The site, located next to The Gap on East Ridgewood Avenue, is currently used as a municipal parking lot.

Though two separate entities expressed preliminary interest in potential development, none responded by the Sept. 5 bid opening date, according to Heather Mailander, Ridgewood’s acting village manager. Mailander said the village will likely re-advertise the RFP, as one of the interested parties intended to respond to the original request but could not do so by the deadline.

The lack of responses surprised some Village Council members, who subsequently raised a number of questions. Mayor Paul Aronsohn brought up two points, wondering if the original RFP was adequately advertised and whether its wording was restrictive or too specific.

– See more at: https://www.northjersey.com/news/223652031_Ridgewood_Chamber_s_plan_back_out_to_bid.html#sthash.DghOKu94.dpuf

Senator Rand Paul rallies the crowd — with J.d. Bryden and Steven Lonegan at Gran Centurions Clubhouse.

Lonegan: Booker is Obama’s Hollywood stand-in
By Max Pizarro | September 13th, 2013 – 2:19pm
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CLARK – Steve Lonegan said he looks forward to joining U.S. Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) in Washington, D.C., to fight for civil liberties, the Constitutional use of war powers and small business owners.

“Cory Booker is the Hollywood stand-in for Barack Obama,” said Lonegan, the GOP nominee for U.S. Senate who’s running against Democrat Booker.

Loengan called Obama an embarrassment in the Middle East, and a failed steward of the national economy.

“Barack Obama and Cory Booker think government is going to create jobs,” said the former mayor of Bogota. “Give us our freedom and we’ll create all the jobs we need.”

Fellow movement conservative Paul stood on the outdoor platform with Lonegan while the nominee spoke.

Read more at https://www.politickernj.com/68256/lonegan-booker-obamas-hollywood-stand#ixzz2er8nQah4

Twitter announces, via tweet, that it has filed for an IPO
By Andrea Chang
September 12, 2013, 2:44 p.m.

Twitter has filed for an initial public offering of stock, months earlier than expected.

The 7-year-old microblogging site announced the news — via tweet, of course — on Thursday afternoon: “We’ve confidentially submitted an S-1 to the SEC for a planned IPO. This Tweet does not constitute an offer of any securities for sale.”

A minute later, Twitter followed up its IPO tweet with a new message: “Now, back to work” along with a photo of employees in the company’s San Francisco offices.

https://www.latimes.com/business/technology/la-fi-tn-twitter-ipo-20130912,0,6439890.story

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September 15 at 4 pm at Ridgewood Christian Reformed Church  

Birmingham 1963 Remembered

On September 15, 1963, a bomb exploded outside the 16th St. Baptist Church in Birmingham and killed four young girls who had just finished Sunday School. You are invited to gather as we commemorate the 50th anniversary of that tragedy.  Paul Beverly spent a week at the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute this past summer. He will be talking about the church bombing and putting it into the larger context of the civil rights movement in Birmingham.  Join the discussion of how the murders of four innocent people brought the message of the civil rights movement into our living rooms in a very real way and began to make an impact on the larger population who may have been previously uninvolved and aloof.

The program will begin at 4:00 PM on Sunday, September 15 at the Ridgewood Christian Reformed Church, 271 Lincoln Ave, Ridgewood, NJ.  For more information email corneroffice@rcrcnj.org or call the church office at 201-445-1832.

file photo

Engines rev as Ridgewood Car Show hits 20 years
Thursday September 12, 2013, 4:18 PM
BY  LAURA HERZOG
STAFF WRITER
The Ridgewood News

The 20th anniversary of the Ridgewood Chamber of Commerce Car Show attracted more vehicles and visitors than ever before, as well as a group of collectors whose devotion to their vehicles was an attraction in itself.

All the owners suffer from the “same illness,” fellow car collector and Chamber President Tom Hillmann said at the event. “This is like our golf.”

Likely because of the good weather, last Friday’s show attracted about 4,000 visitors, in addition to nearly 400 vehicles, including motorcycles, sometimes quadruple-parked along the closed-off streets of the Central Business District. This year, the oldest car, Hillmann noted, was a 1913 Cadillac Phaeton.

The show has come a long way. When Hillmann started the event with Paul Wilson, formerly of Ridgewood’s Brogan Cadillac, there were 15 cars.

Besides the shiny, often nostalgia-inducing vehicles, several visitors said they were also interested in – and sometimes envious – of the collectors themselves.

“These people have a lot in common naturally. It’s like a brotherhood,” said Glen Rock resident Dieter Wachter, a longtime show attendee.

Wachter said he believes that people who own these cars are just “a little bit more interesting in general.”

– See more at: https://www.northjersey.com/community/223519621_Engines_rev_as_Ridgewood_Car_Show_hits_20_years.html#sthash.JFEcSBqE.dpuf

It really is hands free! Self-driving Mercedes-Benz is unveiled – and it should be available within seven years

Car will be able to hand control back to the driver in difficult situations
Group recently demonstrated autonomous driving on a 100km road
Volvo,General Motors, and Volkswagen are working on similar technology

By Ellie Zolfagharifard

PUBLISHED: 07:02 EST, 12 September 2013 | UPDATED: 14:26 EST, 12 September 2013

Daimler, the maker of Mercedes-Benz and Smart cars, has announced that it will start selling a self-driving car by 2020.

It is thought the car will be able to drive on its own in most situations but will still hand control back to the driver during difficult situations such as dealing with traffic lights.

The move could help Daimler regain its position as the leading luxury car market from its rival BMW

Read more: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2418526/Self-driving-Mercedes-Benz-sale-2020-unveiled.html#ixzz2elKVtdBB

Study: Bi-state toll agencies like Port Authority operate nearly unchecked

$13 tolls No Sh$t

Friday September 13, 2013, 12:26 PM
BY  SHAWN BOBURG
STAFF WRITER
The Record

When it comes to raising tolls, the Port Authority has nearly unchecked power and little obligation to listen to the public.

Those were among the findings of a study released Friday by a federal watchdog group that found bi-state tolling agencies occupy a “third tier” of government–not state, not federal–allowing them to avoid transparency and accountability.

The report comes as drivers brace for the third of five toll hikes on Port Authority bridges and tunnels, to take effect the first Sunday in December. The .75 cent increase will push EZPass peak tolls to $11. The approval of the four-year toll hike plan in 2011 was criticized because it was done without much public notice and after one day of hearings held at times and locations that made it difficult for toll payers to attend. The report did not conclude whether the tolls were justifiable; instead, it looked at whether bi-state tolling agencies have enough oversight.

Federal law requires tolls to be “just and reasonable,” the report by the Government Accountability Office noted. But no federal agency has authority to enforce the standard, it found.

– See more at: https://www.northjersey.com/news/Study_Bi-state_toll_agencies_like_Port_Authority_operate_nearly_unchecked.html#sthash.dRmgS2zF.dpuf

Ridgewood Council endorses downtown menorah display
Thursday September 12, 2013, 4:24 PM
BY  DARIUS AMOS
STAFF WRITER
The Ridgewood News

The Ridgewood governing body offered its unanimous support for the addition of a menorah to the downtown winter holiday decorations, a decision that garnered approval and applause from the many residents attending this week’s council meeting.

Additional discussion regarding location and other details, including the size and the total duration of the display, is still required, as is a formal council resolution acknowledging the agreement between the village and sponsoring committee. Mayor Paul Aronsohn said Wednesday that further action will be expedited to ensure the menorah is in place by the start of Hanukkah, which this year begins the eve of Thanksgiving.

Members of the Ridgewood Menorah Committee pitched the idea last month to include a menorah, one of the most notable symbols of the Jewish celebration of Hanukkah, though the idea has been circulated in the community for nearly two years. According to committee member Nicole Cohen, the group researched ways other municipalities introduced menorahs into their respective towns. Nearly 30 towns in Bergen County incorporate the religious nine-branched lamp stand with their holiday displays.

The committee’s proposal stated, in part, that a privately funded menorah should be placed on the northern side of Van Neste Park, where it would be visible from East Ridgewood Avenue. At the time, members suggested that a menorah would further demonstrate Ridgewood as an inclusive and diverse community.

On Wednesday, nearly two dozen residents turned out in support of the idea, including several religious leaders from various faiths and communities.

– See more at: https://www.northjersey.com/news/223520701_Ridgewood_Council_endorses_downtown_menorah_display.html#sthash.cooYq1vB.dpuf

Photo By Boyd Loving

RIDGEWOOD POLICE WHAT TO DO IF YOU LOSE POWER

If you lose power, first check your fuse and/or circuit breaker box and main breaker if appropriate. If that is not the problem, and your neighbors also have no power, call PSE&G at 1-800-436 7734.

If your fuse or breakers are in a flooded area, do not go near them until the water recedes or is removed.

Always stay away from fallen power lines, and always assume they are energized. Notify us at 1-800-436-7734 if you notice wires are down in your area.
Know how to open your garage door without the electric opener.
Remember, electric well and sump pumps will not operate.

Unplug all motor-driven appliances like refrigerators and freezers and sensitive electronic equipment (like TVs, microwaves and computers) to prevent a possible electrical overload when power is restored.

Leave one light switch on to indicate when power is restored.
Have a battery-operated radio and flashlight handy.

Tips to prevent food spoilage:
Keep the refrigerator and freezer doors closed. An unopened refrigerator will keep foods cold enough for a few hours. A freezer that is half full will hold food safely for up to 24 hours and a full freezer, between 36 and 48 hours.
Throw a blanket over appliances for added insulation.
You can also extend food storage by packing refrigerated milk, dairy products, meats, fish poultry, eggs, and other foods in a cooler surrounded by ice.
Specific advice on food spoilage is available from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and from the American Red Cross.

https://icareridgewood.org/

Debate over utility poles in Ridgewood reaches state agency
Thursday September 12, 2013, 5:36 PM
BY  LAURA HERZOG
STAFF WRITER
The Ridgewood News

At a crowded five-hour hearing that could have historic implications for the relationship between municipalities and utilities, Ridgewood residents and village officials aired concerns over PSE&G’s regional transmission upgrade project before a New Jersey regulatory agency.

The hearing before the state Board of Public Utilities (BPU) on Monday in Hackensack examined PSE&G’s right to begin new infrastructure projects without consulting municipalities in the planning process. If the BPU ultimately decides that PSE&G should proceed differently in Ridgewood, the village and other municipalities could potentially gain a voice in the future planning of PSE&G projects.

PSE&G is required to inform municipalities about its projects before work begins, which PSE&G did in Ridgewood with the project currently being contested. At a private meeting in March, utility representatives told the village engineer about the installation route and new 69-KV voltage on new, taller utility poles, which have since attracted residents’ ire.

– See more at: https://www.northjersey.com/news/223520311_Debate_over_utility_poles_reaches_state_agency.html#sthash.Nza2FS3J.dpuf

Ridgewood school district delays Collaboration Days
Thursday September 12, 2013, 4:06 PM
BY  LAURA HERZOG
STAFF WRITER
The Ridgewood News

The district is putting the brakes on an earlier plan to have delayed openings at every Ridgewood school once a month for teacher collaboration time.

THE RIDGEWOOD NEWS FILE PHOTO
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The implementation of “Collaboration Days” for teachers in grades K-8 will not start until the 2014-15 school year, said Superintendent Daniel Fishbein in a letter sent to parents this week.

The decision to postpone the district-wide installment of Collaboration Days – which have taken place at Ridgewood High School (RHS) since the end of the 2011-2012 school year and will continue this year – was made to give parents more time to prepare for the change, the superintendent said.

Fishbein noted that he intended to get parents the information before they found out through other means.

– See more at: https://www.northjersey.com/news/223518231_Ridgewood_school_district_delays_Collaboration_Days.html#sthash.JsNBmWNQ.dpuf

Lois Lerner, head of the Internal Revenue Service

Emails show IRS’ Lois Lerner specifically targeted tea party
By Stephen Dinan and Seth McLaughlin

-The Washington Times Thursday, September 12, 2013

Lois G. Lerner, the woman at the center of the Internal Revenue Service scandal over special scrutiny of conservative groups, specifically targeted tea party applications and directed that they be held up in 2011 in order to come up with an agency policy, according to several of Ms. Lerner’s emails released by a House committee Thursday.

In one 2011 email, Ms. Lerner specifically calls the tea party applications for tax-exempt status problematic, which seems to counter Democrats’ arguments that tea party groups weren’t targeted.

“Tea Party Matter very dangerous,” Ms. Lerner wrote in the 2011 email, saying that those applications could end up being the “vehicle to go to court” to get more clarity on a 2010 Supreme Court ruling on campaign finance rules.

In another email, from 2012, Ms. Lerner acknowledges that the agency’s handling of the tax-exempt applications had been bungled at the beginning, though she said steps had been taken to correct problems.

“It is what it is,” she wrote in the email, released Thursday by the Ways and Means Committee. “Although the original story isn’t as pretty as we’d like, once we learned [that we were] off track, we have done what we can to change the process, better educate our staff and move the cases. So, we will get dinged, but we took steps before the ‘dinging’ to make things better and we have written procedures.”

https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2013/sep/12/emails-ois-lerner-specifically-targeted-tea-party/