Trenton NJ, Governor Phil Murphy today declared that New Jersey will enter a state of emergency at 8 p.m. on Tuesday ahead of tomorrow’s anticipated nor’easter, authorizing the State Director of Emergency Management to activate and coordinate response and recovery efforts. Executive Order No. 14 declares the state emergency across all 21 counties in the state, and allows for the extension of resources into other parts of the state as the storm continues to impact New Jersey.
“Following last weekend’s nor’easter and with another destructive winter storm approaching, I am declaring a state of emergency across all 21 counties in the State,” Governor Murphy said. “We are taking every precaution necessary and will continue to monitor and assess the storm throughout the night to ensure all residents are safe and secure.”
The impending storm is expected to produce as many as 4 to 13 inches of snow beginning Tuesday evening and lasting until late Wednesday night. Winds are expected to reach 30 mph causing power outages throughout the State. Roughly 41,000 households remain without power from last weekend’s storm.
In preparation for the winter storm, the New Jersey State Police has activated the State Emergency Operations Center for round-the-clock operations. This activation pulls together multiple departments to ensure the situation is constantly being monitored and assessed from critical angles.
Additionally, the Department of Transportation is prepared to activate more than 2,500 pieces of snow-clearing equipment, including plows, spreaders, and loaders, and the New Jersey National Guard is prepared to respond to requests for assistance from the Office of Emergency Management, and will be positioning vehicles at select armories.
Ridgewood NJ, Village offices are closed March 7th, 2018 due to inclement weather.
All Village offices will be closed on March 7th, 2018 due to inclement weather. As always, the Police Department, on the second floor of Village Hall, will be open.
VILLAGE COUNCIL – MARCH 7TH Work Session is CANCELLED
The Village Council Work Session scheduled for March 7th is cancelled. It is rescheduled to March 13th at 8PM.
CURBSIDE BULK PICK UP AND GARBAGE COLLECTION – MARCH 7, 8, 9
EAST SIDE CURBSIDE BULK PICK UP – MARCH 7, 2018 – After reviewing weather forecasts, curbside bulk pick up will be collected on Wednesday, March 7th. Our crews will begin collection earlier than usual, so please have your bulk placed curbside on Tuesday night, for an early morning pick up. We will make every effort to complete the collection, weather permitting. If you are able to wait until the next scheduled East side bulk pick up, scheduled for March 21st, it would be greatly appreciated.
GARBAGE COLLECTION – MARCH 8 AND 9, 2018 – To ensure the safety of sanitation staff, with the forecast of a heavy snow predicted for Wednesday and the early morning hours of Thursday, all garbage cans must be placed at the end of your driveway on March 8th and 9th. Rear yard garbage collection will resume next week, and we remind you that you must have a clear path shoveled to your garbage containers. Thank you for your continued cooperation in keeping our Village employees safe.
All Ridgewood Public Schools will be closed tomorrow 3/7/18. All afterschool activities will be cancelled as well.
Ridgewood NJ, Curbside Bulk Pick Up and Garbage Collection – March 7, 8, 9 .
EAST SIDE CURBSIDE BULK PICK UP – MARCH 7, 2018 – After reviewing weather forecasts, curbside bulk pick up will be collected on Wednesday, March 7th. Our crews will begin collection earlier than usual, so please have your bulk placed curbside on Tuesday night, for an early morning pick up. We will make every effort to complete the collection, weather permitting. If you are able to wait until the next scheduled East side bulk pick up, scheduled for March 21st, it would be greatly appreciated.
GARBAGE COLLECTION – MARCH 8 AND 9, 2018 – To ensure the safety of sanitation staff, with the forecast of a heavy snow predicted for Wednesday and the early morning hours of Thursday, all garbage cans must be placed at the end of your driveway on March 8th and 9th. Rear yard garbage collection will resume next week, and we remind you that you must have a clear path shoveled to your garbage containers. Thank you for your continued cooperation in keeping our Village employees safe.
Ridgewood NJ, NJ TRANSIT is implementing its Severe Weather Schedule Level 1 on its rail system for Wednesday, March 7, as heavy, wet snow is forecasted in the area. Cross-honoring is in effect for rail, bus and private carriers and light rail service for Wednesday, March 7. Customers should check njtransit.com for updates.
A “Severe Weather Rail Schedule’’ is a limited weekday rail schedule utilized during weather events or other emergency situations. The “Severe Weather Schedules’’ were created last year for customers to clearly identify their travel options. These schedules can be found online and are also available in our printed timetables.
Bus and light rail services are anticipated to operate regular weekday schedules as weather conditions permit.
IMPORTANT: Due to the projected rapid snow accumulation in conjunction with local and county travel bans in place, there is the potential for all North and Central Jersey bus service — including bus service to/from PABT — to be suspended before the afternoon peak travel period. Customers should closely monitor njtransit.com, My Transit alerts, social media and broadcast news reports for the latest status of the system.
For customers of Bus Route Nos. 196/197, on Wednesday, March 7, NJ TRANSIT rail will cross-honor bus passes and tickets on the Port Jervis Line trains to/from Harriman, Tuxedo and Sloatsburg. Bus service to/from Warwick, N.Y., will originate/terminate at West Milford Park & Ride due to weather conditions. Bus 196 will operate on a snow detour and will not operate on Skyline Drive. Additionally, Shortline Bus will not be operating in Orange County, N.Y.
Access Link Regions 2 (Burlington, Camden, Gloucester, Salem) and 3 (Atlantic, Cape May, Cumberland , S. Ocean) will operate on a regular schedule as long as weather conditions allow. Access Link Regions 4 (Mercer, Middlesex, North Ocean), 5 (Essex, Morris, Somerset, Union), 6(Bergen, Passaic, Hudson) are canceled.
NJ TRANSIT will have personnel and assets in position to address any issues that may arise during or after the storm, which is expected to bring snow totals as high as 12 inches to certain counties in northern New Jersey.
NJ TRANSIT’s Emergency Operations Center (EOC) will open during the early morning hours tomorrow and remain open throughout the day as key personnel monitor any impacts on the system throughout the storm’s duration.
Customers are strongly advised to monitor the status of the system by checking njtransit.com frequently. Customers are also encouraged to sign up for My Transit Alerts, which provide customized notifications via email or text message based on a customer’s preferred mode of travel. My Transit alerts can be accessed by creating a free account on njtransit.com. In addition, customers are advised to monitor NJ TRANSIT’s social media feeds on Twitter and Facebook, as well as tune in to broadcast traffic reports for the latest information.
Important Notes:
Cross-honoring will be in effect for Wednesday, March 7 on NJ TRANSIT bus and private carriers, rail and light rail services. At this time, it is not anticipated that there will be cross-honoring on PATH or NY Waterway ferries.
Regular weekday service for bus, light rail and Access Link will operate as long as conditions allow.
Stay connected during your commute through Facebook and Twitter. Search for rail, bus or light rail-specific Twitter accounts for the best information. While we make every effort to respond to comments posted on our social media channels, we recommend that you contact our Customer Service team directly with critical or time-sensitive issues.
Before starting your trip, visit the Travel Alerts page at njtransit.com for up-to-the-minute service information. This information is also available by calling (973) 275-5555 or from broadcast traffic reports.
Customers are encouraged to sign up for the My Transit alert system on njtransit.com, which delivers travel advisories for your specific trip to your cell phone.
Allow extra time getting to and from your destination. Use extreme caution when walking on exposed sidewalks or station platforms and when boarding trains and buses.
Listen closely to public address announcements at stations for late-breaking service information.
Ridgewood NJ, According to the American Community Survey, telecommuting doubled from 2005 to 2014 and employers in 2017 were more likely to be looking for live-work-play communities that offer affordability as well as lifestyle benefits for their employees.
The American Community Survey (ACS) is an ongoing statistical survey by the U.S. Census Bureau. It regularly gathers information previously contained only in the long form of the decennial census, such as ancestry, educational attainment, income, language proficiency, migration, disability, employment, and housing characteristics.
PlanSmart NJ, says New Jersey is the most exited state in the nation, with owner-occupied home ownership down by 100,000 in the years since the Great Recession. We need a new policy approach, one prepared to grapple with the following realities: New Jersey has five new renters for every three homeowners; New Jersey has 14 million square feet of empty office space; New Jersey has seven million square feet of empty retail. At our current rate, it will take more than 20 years to re-tenant these stranded assets.
PlanSmart NJ is an independent, non-profit planning and research organization committed to improving the quality of community life through the advancement of sound land use planning and regional cooperation.
Jim Hughes, the dean at Rutgers University’s Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy, and co-author Joseph Seneca put it most succinctly in their recent work on New Jersey’s postsuburban economy: “New Jersey’s core advantage in the late 20th century – a suburban-dominated, automobile-dependent economy and lifestyle – is (now) regarded as a disadvantage.”
The report for all its gloom offers barely a mention of the elephant in the room , the oversized property taxes and very high taxes in general on residents which will continue to raise as the tax base disappears .
RIDGEWOOD, N.J.—Mayor Susan Knudsen and Deputy Mayor Michael Sedon are certified to run for both open seats on the Ridgewood Village Council in this May 8th municipal election.
Both incumbents share a view of the future that includes smart, organic development which fits into the character of the Village while maintaining that history and charm responsible for drawing so many current residents to our town.
“As we embark on a complete rewrite of our current, outdated Master Plan few councils have had the opportunity to impact the Village’s future development as we do right now,” Sedon said. “For too many years long-range planning has been conducted through a hodgepodge of mostly contested Master Plan amendments. Rewriting this document will allow us to memorialize what we have today in the Village, and it will guide growth and development for the next 50 years.”
Knudsen focuses on taxes, services and the future, “Village Council members are responsible stewards of taxpayer dollars; our charge is to ensure each and every tax dollar is used prudently and responsibly while delivering reliable and quality services,” Knudsen said. “Looking toward the future, we are working diligently to make certain Ridgewood remains a wonderful place to live, work, raise a family and age in place for generations to come.”
Long-time resident Knudsen was elected to the Ridgewood Village Council in 2014, serving as mayor since 2016. Knudsen is a member of the Ridgewood Planning Board, Site Plan Exemption Committee, Historic Preservation Commission and Master Plan Advisory Committee. Knudsen also serves on the Community Access Network supporting our special needs community, Project Pride, Community Relations Advisory Board, Fourth of July Committee, Village Interfaith Group and Special Projects Task Force. She is also a parishioner of Our Lady of Mount Carmel and is a long time member of the Ridgewood High School Jamboree Scholarship Program providing need-based scholarship opportunities to graduating seniors. Prior to being elected in 2014, Knudsen served as the Zoning Board of Adjustment Vice-chairman.
Currently Sedon is working as a freelance writer, and he is also a parishioner at Our Lady of Mount Carmel, member of the Ridgewood Knights of Columbus and serves on the Ridgewood Environmental Advisory Committee, Green Team, Shade Tree Commission, Community Center Advisory Board and the Special Projects Task Force. He has served on the Citizens Safety Advisory Committee and the Open Space Committee.
After settling most of the major issues of the past such as housing densities, the hospital expansion and critical infrastructure repair and attention, Knudsen and Sedon feel the time is right to guide the Village into the future with proven leadership and openness to listen to our residents providing a level of transparency in government that lets citizens become a meaningful part of the process.
Knudsen and Sedon have worked to keep taxes stable in their first four years serving the Village, while staying committed to modernizing Ridgewood Water, maintaining services and ending years of expensive litigation.
They have allocated $2 million each year toward paving our roads, oversaw a much improved leaf collection process, worked with all stakeholders to arrive at a compromise to develop new park lands, planted hundreds of new street trees and continue to support our Central Business District.
Proven leadership, a willingness to listen to and respect residents and a track record of accomplishment, Knudsen and Sedon remain energized and committed to moving Ridgewood forward while respecting and maintaining the history and character of the Village that makes Ridgewood special.
Bergenfield NJ, Bergenfield Mayor Norman Schmelz made it official on Sunday with his as promised announcement that he is running for Bergen County Executive. The announcement comes on the heels Steven Lonegan’s declaration of war with the Bergen GOP .
Over 150 people showed for event ,noticeable absent was embattle Bergen GOP Chair DiGaetano . In fact, no leaders from the current BCRO or Bergen County Republican Organization attended the event.
Only John McCann who is running for the GOP spot to face U.S. Rep. Josh Gottheimer put in an appearance. Steve Lonegan was at State Senator Gerald Cardinale’s birthday party , the Senator and his wife have endorsed Lonegan in his race against McCann to represent the GOP against Gotteimer.
(Photo above Jim Arakelian with Michael Homaychak, Norman Schmelz and Fernando Alonso.)
Fellow Republicans,
We have them on the run. The so-called “moderates” of the GOP’s Whitman-wing who run the Bergen County Republican Organization (BCRO) have shown us how weak they really are.
It’s now official. The BCRO has suspended their own rules, suspended the process of endorsing a candidate, and instead of a county convention the BCRO chairman will “give” the endorsement to the “moderate” of his choice.
The BCRO chairman is a figure from the Whitman-era who presided over the loss of Republican control in the Legislature nearly two decades ago and then came back to preside over the demise of the BCRO last year. Now he wants to ensure that Nancy Pelosi is the next Speaker by putting together a ticket that will tank in November.
It is the first time in memory that a BCRO chairman has played the authoritarian and taken away from the members of the Republican county committee, the right to choose which candidates they will endorse. The BCRO chairman has done this because he knows that his candidate for Congress, John McCann, doesn’t have the support to win a county convention.
The BCRO chairman has taken away the county committee’s rights because he knows that its members don’t want McCann — the consigliore of the elected Democrat who is responsible for losing Republican control in Bergen County, Sheriff Michael Saudino. And the members know that McCann began his campaign for Congress while on the payroll of this Democrat.
You all know me. No matter what you think of me, you all know where I stand on the issues. Some of you might accuse me of being too unwavering, unwilling to compromise, but nobody has ever doubted where I’m coming from.
As we watch the Christie era in the rear-view mirror, we need to decide on what kind of party we intend to be. We need to chart a course for the road ahead.
That’s very easy for someone like me. The course is free market conservatism, defending freedom at home, and our interests abroad. It is the message of our Republican Party Platform. Simple enough. If you call yourself a Republican, you should value Republican principles.
Unfortunately, that is not who is leading the Republican Party in Bergen County these days. There are too many who look to cut deals with the Democrats — and not for idealistic policy aims — but for their personal benefit. Their vision of the Republican Party is a defeatist one, where they seek to benefit from the crumbs swept from the Democrat table. The policies they advocate consist of slavishly mimicking a watered down version of the Democrats’ own post-Western, post-Christian, anti-Freedom agenda.
You’ve probably heard it around the county, and around the state, that a conservative cannot win — anything. The fact is that the only Republican to win statewide office in over twenty years was both Pro-Life and Pro-Second Amendment. The fact is that those Republicans who get the most votes in New Jersey are consistently the most conservative. The liberal wannabe Republicans can’t turnout their base and those they want to convince have someone better to vote for — a Democrat.
This “moderate” nonsense is like a religion with some of our so-called “leaders” — those who practice the Janus-faced religion of being all things to all voters. Even though every study and every poll shows that they will not convince a Democrat to vote Republican in this starkly divisive climate, they hold true to the faith that turning-off a dozen conservatives is worth every liberal vote they pick-up.
The way forward is clear for 2018: Maximum Republican and conservative turnout. A full effort.
Of course, there are some within our party who are working against this. Some who are personally enmeshed with the Democrats. It’s happening in other parts of the state as well. Democrats are playing in our primary. In every congressional battleground in the state, there is a former Democrat running as a Republican or a liberal Republican with Democrat-ties claiming to be a conservative. Every one.
They are there for one reason: To make us spend money so we won’t have it to hit the Democrats in the General Election. Here in Bergen County, I am facing an opponent who was described by the Bergen Record as the “right hand man” to Democrat Sheriff Michael Saudino. Let’s not forget that it was Saudino’s feud with the Republican County Executive that lost us control of our county. Saudino, followed that up by joining Hillary Clinton and Josh Gottheimer on a ticket that crushed the BCRO. Through it all, my opponent remained employed by Sheriff Saudino, as his trusted consigliore, and actually started his campaign while still on the Democrat’s payroll.
Now we all know where Sheriff Saudino stands on this election. He’s backing fellow Democrat Josh Gottheimer for re-election this year. So are Mayors Harry Shortway of Vernon and Harry Shortway of Midland Park. They held an event for my opponent at their family bar in Passaic County. Did you follow that? They are endorsing Democrat Josh Gottheimer in the General Election but held an event to help my opponent in the Republican primary. Meanwhile, in a neighboring district, the insider-backed “Republican” candidate wouldn’t tell a room full of Republicans how he voted for President in 2008 (Obama vs. McCain), 2012 (Obama vs. Romney), or 2016 (Clinton vs. Trump). And like my opponent, this fellow seems to be allergic to voting in a Republican primary.
Our party faces an existential threat from those who cut deals with Democrats and then preach the religion of “moderation” while pushing fake Republican candidates on us. We must resist them, whether they are well-meaning and stupid or slick and treacherous. It is time to use the Republican Party Platform and our conservative principles as the measure by which we judge our candidates. If some of our so-called “leaders” don’t like that platform or our principles, they are free to leave the party and start their own. I, for one, am sick and tired of being dictated to by a small group of professional political “leaders” who are totally out of touch with the thoughts and views of most Republicans. It is time for them to go.
A party that knows what it is about, is a party that can convince people to get involved, contribute, and win. This holds true up and down our ticket. The message of lower taxes, less government, and individual freedom is a winning one. The Democrats’ warmed-over socialism, leavened with coarse identity politics has, in the end, always lost.
Thank you for your time and I hope I will have your support to secure our primary in June and defeat the Democrats in November. If you have any insights you would like to share with me, please feel free to send me an email at [email protected].
MAHWAH NJ, Special Properties Real Estate Services, LLC, an exclusive affiliate of Christie’s International Real Estate and the fastest growing real estate brokerage in northern New Jersey, announced today that Marron Gildea Realtors, Inc. has joined Special Properties. Marron Gildea’s agents will transition to Special Properties, bringing a total of 151 agents available to home buyers and sellers throughout Bergen and Passaic Counties and beyond.
“We are very proud to welcome the Marron Gildea family to Special Properties. With more than 35 years in business, this boutique company is a perfect match for the expansion of the Christie’s International Real Estate brand in northern New Jersey,” said Ilija Pavlovic, President and CEO of Special Properties Real Estate Services LLC. “The addition of these offices and agents strengthens our presence in the Bergen and Passaic County region, and provides access to many more qualified agents for clients throughout the region.”
Marron Gildea, with offices in Ho-Ho-Kus, Saddle River, and Ridgewood, was organized more than 35 years ago in response to client demands for customized services that met their real estate needs. “Their team of world-class agents brings deep experience and local expertise in both residential and commercial real estate, and is quite active in both land sales and residential development,” said Pavlovic.
According to Charles Gildea, President of Marron Gildea, “In this highly-competitive environment, we were looking to provide our agents and our customers with the best service and marketing available. We believe that Special Properties, Christie’s Affiliate of the Year, is the best place for us to achieve those goals.”
Peter Marron, Vice President of Marron Gildea, said “We were looking for a strong, global brand with a clear vision for the next 20 years and beyond. Christie’s 256 years of business and Special Properties’ reputation for innovation and cutting-edge technology are guarantees that our company will stay at the head of the game.”
Dan Conn, CEO of Christie’s International Real Estate, stated, “Through its acquisition of Marron Gildea, Special Properties continues to demonstrate the market leadership that earned it Christie’s International Real Estate’s Affiliate of the Year Award in 2017. Special Properties strong collaboration with Christie’s global affiliate network has distinguished them within the industry and positioned them to succeed in a growing marketplace. This exciting acquisition of a renowned firm will undoubtedly drive further success, and we are excited to be working alongside such a remarkable team.”
Special Properties Real Estate Services, LLC embraces the history and traditions of its flagship brokerage location in Saddle River, NJ, into an expanded, modern presence in Mahwah, Franklin Lakes, Ridgewood, Hoboken and Ho-Ho-Kus, NJ. With a staff of accomplished real estate agents and brokers, its clients across northern New Jersey and southern New York are provided with customized, personalized services, backed by the luxury real estate brand of Christie’s International Real Estate. Special Properties provides local expertise with global connections. For more information, call 201-934-0607 or visit www.specialpropertiesres.com.
Ridgewood NJ, Almost a year after U.S. Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao called the Gateway Program “an absolute priority,” she said federal loans shouldn’t count toward the states’ share of funding. New York and New Jersey have pledged some $6 billion, mostly from federal loans, toward a proposed new $12.7 billion commuter rail tunnel under the Hudson River and were counting on federal grants to cover the remainder. Federal authorities have said loans shouldn’t count as the states’ share.
This is a big issue for “dead broke” New Jersey and close to broke New York state.
On Thursday during a committee hearing on President Donald Trump’s infrastructure plan ,New York Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand and New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker asked Chao on Thursday during a committee hearing on President Donald Trump’s infrastructure plan why the federal loans that the states must repay don’t count as local funding.
Cho responded ,“We’re not anxious for a fight on this, but for New York and New Jersey to consider funds, debt that we have given them, as part of their equity back to us is something that we disagree with,” Chao went on that under federal calculations that disregard the loans, the two states are putting up only 5%.
Chao repeated again that there is no agreement for the federal government to fund half the Gateway program as state officials have said. That agreement with the Obama administration was a sentence “given at a rally, a political rally, no less,”
While New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy, speaking at a state Chamber of Commerce dinner in Washington, D.C., on Thursday night, said he was “committed to getting Gateway back on President Trump’s priority list.”
And stated ,“No single project is more critical, not just to our state’s economy but to our nation’s economy as well,” said Murphy, a Democrat who took office in January.
Hawthorne NJ Hawthorne Police and Fire Department units responded to the intersection of Lafayette and South Avenues on Friday afternoon, 03/02 after receiving multiple 911 calls regarding a large tree limb that fell on a high tension wire. A street light was also downed in the incident. Portions of Lafayette Avenue and South Avenue were closed pending removal of debris by Hawthorne DPW personnel and the restoration of electric power by PSE&G crews.
West Trenton, N.J. – The New Jersey Office of Emergency Management (NJOEM) will activate the State Emergency Operations Center in order to monitor the nor’easter conditions expected to last through Saturday. NJOEM has been in contact with all 21 counties, and members of the Emergency Response Bureau are working with their counties to address any storm-related needs. State Emergency Management Partners have been notified and continue to coordinate with NJOEM on any traffic, power, and flood concerns.
Current Forecast
Coastal flooding, heavy rain, and high winds are forecast. Some snow may fall in northern locations. Advisories posted for Friday and Saturday include a Coastal Flood Watch for Atlantic and Delaware Bay counties, a Coastal Flood Advisory for Hudson River counties, a High Wind Warning for most counties and a Winter Storm Watch for Sussex and Passaic counties.
Impacts to New Jersey
Rain will be heaviest on Friday with winds of 20-45 mph. Gusts over 50 mph are possible at the coast. Minor to moderate coastal flooding will occur with high tides Friday and Saturday. Heavy rain may flood some rivers and streams and cause ponding in urban locations and poor drainage areas. High winds may impact trees and power lines.
Stay Informed
Follow weather news for local forecasts, warnings, and watches through Sunday.
For those living in Central and Southern New Jersey visit US National Weather Service Philadelphia/Mount Holly https://www.weather.gov/phi/. For those living in Northern New Jersey and the New York Metro area visit US National Weather Service New York NY https://www.weather.gov/okx/.
Visit ready.nj.gov for information on how to build a kit, make a plan, and prepare your family for emergencies. Pets are family too! Remember to include them in your emergency plans. Visit animalemergency.nj.gov to find out more.
Follow NJOEM on social media for important weather updates and safety information:
Facebook: www.facebook.com/ReadyNewJersey
Twitter: www.twitter.com/ReadyNJ
Instagram: www.instagram.com/ReadyNJ
Important Tips to Remember
If you are told to evacuate from a flooded area, GO! Secure loose items in your yard such as trash cans, children’s toys, and lawn ornaments.
· Move vehicles parked in flood prone areas to higher ground.
Have cash on hand. If the power is out, so are the ATMs and credit card machines. Gas up your cars ahead of the storm. The gas pumps will not work without power or may be too damaged to open afterwards. Be sure to check on friends and neighbors who have access or functional needs. Be sure to have extra medications on hand and keep them in a water resistant container. Get all of your vital records and insurance papers together NOW. Keep them in a water resistant container. If you can, scan and email them to yourself so you have a copy of important numbers and policies, etc. Charge your cell phones and try not to use them if the power goes out. Texting uses less power than a cell call, so use text messaging when possible to save power. Discuss business continuity plans now. Whether you are the boss or report to a boss, discuss your game plan for continued business operations. NEVER use a generator inside homes, garages, crawlspaces, sheds, or similar areas, even when using fans or opening doors and windows for ventilation. Deadly levels of carbon monoxide can quickly build up in these areas and can linger for hours, even after the generator has shut off.
· Know where your utility shut off valves (gas, electric, water) are and how to use them.
· Know how to report a power outage to your utility company.
Drive Safely
New Jersey State Police will be out on patrol and ready to assist. If you must be on the roads, leave extra time to reach your destination and take it slow. NEVER walk, bike or drive through flooded areas. Water may be deeper than you think! For more information regarding driving times and current incidents visit: https://www.511nj.org/
During a Power Outage: Safety Tips
Only use flashlights for emergency lighting, candles can cause fires. Keep refrigerator and freezer doors closed. Most food requiring refrigeration can be kept safely in a closed refrigerator for several hours. An unopened refrigerator will keep food cold for about 4 hours. A full freezer will keep the temperature for about 48 hours. Put on layers of warm clothing if it is cold outside. Never burn charcoal for heating or cooking indoors. Never use your oven as a source of heat. If the power may be out for a prolonged period, plan to go to another location (the home of a relative or friend, or a public facility) that has heat to keep warm. Call NJ 2-1-1 for additional resources. Turn off or disconnect appliances and other equipment in case of a momentary power “surge” that can damage computers and other devices. Consider adding surge protectors. Only use generators away from your home and NEVER run a generator inside a home or garage, or connect it to your home’s electrical system
At Ridgewood High School, we believe that students should create bonds through their teams and clubs. We host many events to create opportunities for students to come together throughout the school year and all of these events are monitored by school professionals in a safe environment.
However, students sometimes take it upon themselves to create their own opportunities, such as dart wars, scavenger hunts, or other similar activities. Ridgewood High School does not condone these unsanctioned events.
Because of the heightened awareness of shootings, we strongly urge students to not participate in “dart wars.” Although students use nerf guns during these games, the strategies employed by students to target other teams may be misinterpreted in today’s climate. The Ridgewood Police Department has been informed of the school’s concerns.
To ensure the safety and well-being of all students, legitimate team and club events will always be approved and monitored by a coach, advisor, or administrator. Parents should counsel their children that students should not participate in unsanctioned activities where there is no apparent supervision.
Ridgewood NJ, NJ TRANSIT anticipates regular weekday service on its rail, bus and light rail systems for the service day on Friday, March 2 and regular weekend service on Saturday, March 3 as parts of the state are subject to an intense Nor’easter with coastal flooding, high winds, heavy rain, and even snow in northwestern New Jersey predicted. Cross-honoring is in effect for rail, bus and private carriers and light rail for Friday, March 2 and Saturday, March 3.
Bus Route Nos. 196/197 only bus tickets and passes will be accepted during this time on the Port Jervis Line trains to/from Harriman, Tuxedo and Sloatsburg. Additionally, Shortline Bus will also cross-honor in Orange County, N.Y. The Warwick plan will be instituted if conditions warrant.
NJ TRANSIT will have personnel and assets in position to address any issues that may arise during or after the storm, which is expected to bring strong wind near the coast and flooding to low-lying areas.
NJ TRANSIT’s Emergency Operations Center (EOC) will open during the early morning hours on Friday and key personnel will monitor any impacts on the system throughout the duration of the storm.
Customers are strongly advised to monitor the status of the system by checking njtransit.com frequently. Customers are also encouraged to sign up for My Transit Alerts, which provide customized notifications via email or text message based on a customer’s preferred mode of travel. My Transit alerts can be accessed by creating a free account on njtransit.com. In addition, customers are advised to monitor NJ TRANSIT’s social media feeds on Twitter and Facebook, as well as tune in to broadcast traffic reports for the latest information.
Important Notes:
Cross-honoring will be in effect for Friday, March 2 and Saturday, March 3 on NJ TRANSIT bus and private carriers, rail and light rail services. At this time, it is not anticipated that there will be cross-honoring on PATH or NY Waterway ferries.
Regular weekday service for rail, bus, light rail and Access Link will operate as long as conditions allow.
Bus Route Nos. 196 and 197 only bus tickets and passes will be accepted during this time on the Port Jervis Line at the Harriman, Tuxedo, and Sloatsburg Stations. Shortline bus will also be cross-honoring. The Warwick plan will be instituted if conditions warrant.
Before starting your trip, visit the Travel Alerts page at njtransit.com for up-to-the-minute service information. This information is also available by calling (973) 275-5555 or from broadcast traffic reports.
Customers are encouraged to sign up for the My Transit alert system on njtransit.com, which delivers travel advisories for your specific trip to your cell phone.
Allow extra time getting to and from your destination. Use extreme caution when walking on exposed sidewalks or station platforms and when boarding trains and buses.
Listen closely to public address announcements at stations for late-breaking service information.
Ridgewood NJ, Public Service Electric and Gas Company (PSE&G), New Jersey’s largest electric and gas utility, is preparing for an approaching storm system that is predicted to bring heavy rain, gusty winds, snow and local flooding to the utility’s service territory beginning Thursday evening.
“This storm system has the potential to produce a little bit of everything, so we will be prepared to handle any resulting outages that may occur,” said John Latka, senior vice president of electric and gas operations for PSE&G. “We have additional personnel scheduled and on standby, with auxiliary equipment at the ready for this approaching storm.”
In anticipation of the storm, PSE&G is taking the following steps to ensure that the utility is ready to respond to any resulting power outages:
Arranging for contractors, including tree crews, to assist the utility’s own skilled workforce.
Ensuring that additional supplies, including poles, transformers and other pole-top equipment, are on hand.
Refueling all vehicles.
Testing generators at utility locations.
Coordinating with county and municipal emergency management personnel to inform them of outages and expedite restoration efforts.
PSE&G urges its customers to be cautious during and after the storm:
Downed wires should always be considered “live.” Do not approach or drive over a downed line and do not touch anything that it might be in contact with.
To prevent carbon monoxide poisoning, do not run any gasoline powered engine, including generators and snowblowers, in a garage or any other enclosed space.
Customers should report downed wires or power outages by calling PSE&G’s Customer Service line at 1-800-436-PSEG. Also, customers can report outages at www.pseg.com or by texting “OUT” to 4PSEG (47734). The utility’s mobile-friendly website includes an “Outage Map” that is updated every 15 minutes and displays the location and status of power outages in PSE&G’s service area.
