NOVEMBER 13, 2015 LAST UPDATED: FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2015, 12:31 AM
THE RIDGEWOOD NEWS
Editor’s Note – The second event of Parlance Chamber Concerts’s ninth season will take place this coming Sunday afternoon, Nov. 15 at 3 p.m. at West Side Presbyterian Church. Here Michael Parloff, the founder and director of the very popular classical music series gives our readers background to the concert.
I am very excited to introduce pianist Jeremy Denk and violinist Stefan Jackiw to our community. Jeremy is the winner of a 2013 MacArthur “Genius” Fellowship. He will team up with the scintillating young violinist Stefan Jackiw, widely recognized as one of his generation’s most captivating artists.
This noteworthy duo will perform cherished sonatas by Johannes Brahms and César Franck in counterpoint with rarely performed gems by the iconoclastic American master, Charles Ives. Jeremy will enrich the afternoon with his insightful, thought-provoking commentary.
FIVE YEARS AGO, EVERYBODY WAS EXCITED ABOUT THE IDEA OF USING TECH TO BORROW THINGS LIKE POWER DRILLS. IN PRACTICE, THOUGH, NOT SO MUCH.
BY SARAH KESSLER
“How many of you own a power drill?” Rachel Botsman, the author of the book The Rise Of Collaborative Consumption, asked the audience at TedxSydney in 2010. Predictably, nearly everyone raised his or her hand. “That power drill will be used around 12 to 15 minutes in its entire lifetime,” Botsman continued with mock exasperation. “It’s kind of ridiculous, isn’t it? Because what you need is the hole, not the drill.”
After pausing for a moment as the audience chuckled, she provided the obvious solution.
“Why don’t you rent the drill? Or rent out your own drill to other people and make some money from it?”
Back then, this version of what Botsman called collaborative consumption, or what would become better known as “the sharing economy,” seemed like a warm and fuzzy inevitability. American consumerism had been tamped by one of the worst recessions in history, concerns about the environment were growing, and new online networks provided a connective thread that could help us get by on less by sharing things with our neighbors. “We now live in a global village where we can mimic the ties that used to happen face to face, but on a scale and in a way that has never been possible before,” Botsman explained, and these new systems allowed us “to engage in a humanness that got lost along the way.” We were now, she said, experiencing “a seismic shift from individual getting and spending towards a rediscovery of collective good.”
The Ridgewood Police Department is scheduled for an on-site assessment as part of a program to maintain accreditation by verifying it continues to meet professional standards.
Administered by the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc. (“CALEA”), the accreditation program requires agencies to comply with state-of-the-art standards in four basic areas: policy and procedures; administration; operations; and support services.
As part of the on-site assessment, agency employees and members of the community are invited to offer comments at a public information session on Wednesday, November 18 at 7:00pm. The session will be conducted at the Ridgewood Municipal Court located at 131 N. Maple Avenue, 4th Floor, Ridgewood, NJ.
Agency employees and the public are also invited to offer comments by calling (201) 615-6977 on Tuesday, November 17 between the hours of 1:00pm and 3:00pm. Comments will be taken by the Assessment Team.
Telephone comments, as well as appearances at the public information session, are limited to 10 minutes and must address the agency’s ability to comply with CALEA’s standards. A copy of the standards is available at the Ridgewood Police Department, 131 N. Maple Avenue, Ridgewood, NJ. The local contact is Capt. Jacqueline Luthcke at (201) 670-5594.
Anyone wishing to submit written comments about the Ridgewood Police Department’s ability to comply with the standards for accreditation may send them to the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc. (“CALEA”), 13575 Heathcote Boulevard, Suite 320, Gainesville, Virginia 20155.
Nation’s oldest Muslim organization condemns multiple acts of violence in Paris, France
The Ahmadiyya Muslim Community USA expresses our deepest condolences to the victims and families of the horrific acts of terrorism in Paris, France. French officials report more than 40 people killed, with many more wounded and held hostage. The
Community urges calm and patience as authorities work rapidly to restore security and order.
“Our deepest condolences are with the people of France. This is an attack on all of humanity.” said Dr. Nasim Rehmatullah, Senior Vice President of Ahmadiyya Muslim
Community USA. “While we await additional information about the attackers and their motives, we condemn any attempt to justify the killing of innocent lives. We stand committed to restoring peace.”
The Ahmadiyya Muslim Community USA prays for swift justice and the speedy recovery of the wounded.
About Ahmadiyya Muslim Community:
The Ahmadiyya Muslim Community is a dynamic, reformist and fast-growing international movement within Islam. Founded in 1889, the Community spans 206 countries with membership exceeding tens of millions. Ahmadiyya Muslim Community USA, established in 1920, is among the oldest American-
Muslim organizations.
The Ahmadiyya Muslim Community is the only Islamic organization to believe that the long- awaited messiah has come in the person of Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (1835-1908) of Qadian, India. Ahmad claimed to be the metaphorical second coming of Jesus of Nazareth and the divine guide, whose advent was foretold by the Prophet of Islam, Muhammad.
The Community believes that God sent Ahmad, like Jesus, to end religious wars, condemn bloodshed and reinstitute morality, justice and peace. Ahmad’s advent has brought about an unprecedented era of Islamic revival and moderation. He divested Muslims of fanatical beliefs and practices by vigorously championing Islam’s true and essential teachings.
State, congressional leaders announce plan to fund the project
By ANDREW TANGEL And
HEATHER HADDON
Nov. 11, 2015 9:00 p.m. ET
An emerging plan to dig two new Hudson River rail tunnels came into sharper focus on Wednesday as state and congressional leaders outlined a plan to fund and manage the project.
Under an agreement announced late Wednesday, the project would be managed by a subsidiary of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. That development corporation would be overseen by a four-member board including two representatives of the bistate agency and one each from Amtrak and the U.S. Department of Transportation.
New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo and New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, who announced the deal with two U.S. senators, jointly control the authority.
“Our shovels are ready,” Mr. Cuomo said in an interview. “Literally, if you don’t build this tunnel, you would greatly imperil train service.”
Anthony Coscia, Amtrak’s chairman, said the agreement among state and federal leaders marked an encouraging step for Amtrak’s broader Gateway project. “It’s going to be a real turning point,” he said.
The national passenger railroad has struggled to fund big projects, and has warned of a transportation crisis if it must shut down one of its aging two current tunnels between New York and New Jersey.
It remains unclear how the local, state and federal governments will fund the tunnel project in an era of tight budgets. The project is part of the Gateway plan, which early estimates suggest could cost $15 billion to $20 billion.
NOVEMBER 11, 2015 LAST UPDATED: WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 11, 2015, 9:13 AM
BY MARK KRULISH
STAFF WRITER |
THE RIDGEWOOD NEWS
The village’s professional staff last month gave an update to the council regarding an ongoing project related to cleaning up Ridgewood’s salary ordinances and ranges.
The issue of updating the salary ranges and titles was first broached in September when Village Manager Roberta Sonenfeld presented the possibility of hiring certain employees at a salary higher than the minimum listed in the village’s salary ranges.
The purpose of changing the ordinance was to give the manager discretion and flexibility in hiring employees with qualifications that would suggest bringing them in at a higher salary and allow the village to get the best employee for the position. The ordinance could extend to both public safety and non-public safety employees.
At that time, Sonenfeld also offered to include in the ordinance a provision that anytime an employee is brought in at a salary higher than the low end of the pay range, the details would be discussed during the open session portion of a council meeting for the sake of clarity.
Since then, Sonenfeld, Village Clerk Heather Mailander and Human Resources Director Sharyn Matthews have met several times to continue work on the ordinance and discovered more aspects in need of an update.
Discussion focused on the addition of new titles and the deletion of unused ones. Sonenfeld said ranges had not been adjusted, but new ranges would be presented for consideration when the yearly salary ordinance is adopted.
Rep. Garrett tours key railroad tracks and infrastructure carrying crude oil through NJ-05 in Haworth (left) and Harrington Park (right) with local officials.
Nov 10, 2015
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Harrington Park NJ, Rep. Scott Garrett (NJ-05) toured key railroad tracks and infrastructure carrying crude oil through NJ-05 in Haworth and Harrington Park with local officials. The tour allowed Congressman Garrett to see first-hand the measures being taken to prevent an environmental disaster and listen to the concerns of local elected officials about rail safety.
“The safety and security of northern New Jersey is my top priority, and it’s important that everyone knows that my office is a resource for the towns in my district,” said Garrett. “We need to ensure an open line of communication exists between local officials, the rail industry, federal officials, and New Jersey residents, and that’s why I’ve demanded answers from federal agencies such as the FRA, the DOT, and the OMB. I will continue to work with the mayors to guarantee the safety of our communities.”
Background:
With an increased number of trains carrying crude oil throughout the country, the safety and reliability of the train tracks and infrastructure carrying this oil through New Jersey is a top priority for Congressman Garrett. This year, he has called on the Department of Transportation (DOT) and OMB to finalize a rule about the safety of DOT-111 tank cars that carry crude oil, introduced an amendment to increase funding to rail safety and operations, and requested information from the Federal Railroad Administration about safety reports.
Sun, November 15, 2015 – Wed, November 18, 2015
Time: 4:00 PM – 8:00 PM
Location: Ridgewood Village All, 131 North Maple Ave, Ridgewood NJ 07451
CARE ALTERNATIVES & SOLUTIONS FOR A LOVED ONE WITH ALZHEIMER’S
(*)Sunday, Nov 15. 4-6 pm
Ridgewood Village Hall, The Council Chambers Room, 131 North Maple Avenue
LEGAL & FINANCIAL CONSIDERATIONS ASSOCIATED WITH CARING FOR A LOVED ONE WITH ALZHEIMER’S
(*)Monday, Nov 16. 6-8 pm
Ridgewood Village Hall, The Council Chambers Room, 131 North Maple Avenue
ALIVE INSIDE: A STORY OF MUSIC AND MEMORY
A cinematic exploration to demonstrate music’s ability to combat memory loss and restore a deep sense of self to those suffering from Alzheimer’s
(*)Wednesday, Nov 18. 1-2:30 pm
Ridgewood Warner Theater, 190 E. Ridgewood Ave.
ALZHEIMER’S & DEMENTIA CARE, THE PITFALLS TO AVOID
(*)Thursday, Nov 19. 6-8 pm
Ridgewood Village Hall, The Youth Lounge, 131 North Maple Avenue

(*) Caregivers from Unicity Eldercare will be present at each presentation in Village Hall to help care for loved ones with Alzheimer’s in the Senior Lounge. This will enable family members to attend the events.
By Selwyn Duke — Bio and Archives November 9, 2015
When leftists start talking about “civility,” watch out for your freedom of speech. This again comes to mind with reports that some media outlets are eliminating online comments sections in civility’s name. And while it’s not a First Amendment violation (these are private-sector actions), it is largely motivated by the same mentality spawning speech codes on college campuses and “hate speech” laws overseas.
And as with those phenomena, the nixing of online comments is justified with noble-sounding sentiments. As the AFP recently reported, “Last month, Vice Media’s Motherboard news site turned off reader comments, saying ‘the scorched earth nature of comments sections just stifles real conversation.’ It instead began taking ‘letters to the editor’ to be screened by staff.”
That’s rich. What stifles conversation more than eliminating a comments section completely? As for “real conversation,” the content leftist media disgorge proves they haven’t the foggiest idea what that might be.
It’s also clear that some types of incivility are more unequal than others. Consider that the AFP also cites University of Houston communications professor Arthur Santana and writes, “‘Often the targets of the incivility are marginalized groups, including racial minorities,’ Santana said in the Newspaper Research Journal. Santana found readers referred to immigrants as ‘cockroaches, locusts, scumbags, rats, bums, buzzards, blood-sucking leeches, vermin, slime, dogs, brown invaders, wetbacks,’ among others.” Oh, the humanity!
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Now, I’m not sure Prof. Santana knows what a “marginalized” group is, but I invite him to visit some left-wing sites and peruse what’s posted about Christians, and traditionalists in general. And consider these comments from under a viral 2012 YouTube video featuring a cute 6-year-old boy providing 10 reasons not to vote for Barack Obama:
can someone kill that child… to teach his parents a lesson!!!!
Where is Jerry Sandusky when you really need him? This kid needs a shower!
If I could id kill this kid. He’s somewhat racist and brings up obama stereotypes. Dumb redneck.
This child and his parents need to be euthanized.
And here’s one I’ve had to clean up (as much as leftists’ messes can be):
“GO F*** YOUR MOTHER YOU LITTLE ****-SUCKING HOMOPHOBIC GUN LOVING ****-SUCKER IF YOU WERE MY F****** KID I WOULD BE GIVING THE BIGGEST S**T KICKING OF A LIFETIME YOU LITTLE GOOD GOD FEARING GOOD FOR F****** NOTHING F****** ****-SUCKER!!!!!!”
Funny thing, though, we didn’t hear about the pressing need to eliminate comments sections after displays such as the above, which aren’t unusual in the vile netherworld of leftist websites (the Left is governed by irrational emotion). It’s only now—in the midst of an anti-establishment revolution, as represented by support for Donald Trump and the anti-migration demonstrations in Europe—that we hear, “Oh my, Scarlet, the Internet is so full of meanies! Cover your virginal eyes!”
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Let’s be clear: This has little more to do with “civility” than Marxism has to do with improving the lot of “workers.” And while some sites claim that nasty comments sections alienate readers, the feature likely yields a net gain in traffic; after all, it does inspire return visits by those who do participate. So what does largely drive this “civility” concern?
Political correctness.
It’s all about the media’s effort to control the narrative. Think about it: a reporter crafts his propaganda.
Then this is undermined by commenters saying that the emperor-media have no clothes.
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For example, a news piece may quote a few citizens talking about how Muslim migrants in Europe have fled danger and have to be accepted in compassion’s name. But then commenters not only point out that most are military-age males, weren’t actually imperiled, are Sharia-minded and have no intention of assimilating, but also exhibit great zeal while doing so, illustrating that the anti-media side has the facts and great passion. And the combination of ethos, logos and pathos is very powerful.
And here’s another example (these are random; countless others could be cited): an article will reflexively refer to, let’s say, French National Front leader Marine Le Pen as “far right.” This can be effective because what’s assumed is learned best.
That is, it can be effective unless commenters point out that she takes mostly statist positions and only distinguishes herself by opposing Muslim immigration. Then pop goes the agenda.
So the media shape a message and then commenters point out that it’s misshapen and shape another. The media report in one way and commenters provide a kind of counter-reportage. And this can be intense. Consequently, when I see an article in certain news organs about, for example, immigration or a black-on-white bias crime, I generally know to expect something such as the following message below it: “Sorry we are not currently accepting comments on this article.”
The U.S. described a vast, multi-year criminal enterprise centering on hacks of at least nine big financial and publishing firms and the theft of information on 100 million of their customers that fueled a web of stock manipulation, credit-card fraud and illegal online casinos.
Two indictments, unsealed Tuesday, tied three of four suspects to previously reported hacks of JPMorgan Chase & Co., E*Trade Financial Corp., Scottrade Financial Services Inc. and Dow Jones & Co., a unit of News Corp.
Hackers and conspirators in more than a dozen countries generated hundreds of millions of dollars in illicit proceeds om pump-and-dump stock schemes and particularly lucrative online gambling, prosecutors said.
From 2012 to mid-2015, the suspects and their co-conspirators successfully manipulated dozens of publicly traded stocks, sent misleading pitches to clients of banks and brokerages whose e-mail addresses they’d stolen, and profited by using trading accounts set up under fake names, prosecutors said.
Along the way, members of the ring tried to extract nonpublic information from financial corporations, processed payment information for fake pharmaceuticals and fake anti-virus software, falsified passports and took control of a New Jersey credit union, said prosecutors. They used 75 companies and bank and brokerage accounts around the world to launder money, prosecutors wrote. Other alleged offenses include hacking, securities fraud, wire fraud and identity theft.
Planning Board Meeting – Cancelled November 17 – Scheduled November 9
PLANNING BOARD
AMENDMENT TO MEETING SCHEDULE
Cancelled: November 17, 2015, Public Meeting
Scheduled: Work Session & Special Public Meeting: Monday, November 9, 2015
In accordance with the provisions of the “Open Public Meetings Act,” please be advised that the Ridgewood Planning Board has scheduled a special public meeting and work session for Monday, November 9, 2015 at 6:30 p.m. in the Annie Zusy Room on the ground floor at the Village Hall, at 131 North Maple Avenue, Ridgewood. Formal action may or may not be taken. The meeting scheduled for November 17, 2015 has been cancelled.
The agenda for the meeting includes the following, subject to change:
1. An executive session to discuss pending litigation, beginning at 6:30 p.m. and concluding at approximately 7:30 p.m.
2. Continued discussion of the reexamination of the Master Plan and development regulations, pertaining to the topics of circulation and community facilities.
3. Discussion of the preparation of the housing element of the master plan.
4. Adoption of minutes.
With the exception of Executive Sessions, all meetings of the Ridgewood Planning Board (i.e., official public meetings, work session meetings, pre-meeting assemblies and special meetings) are public meetings which are always open to members of the general public.
FALL SESSION II PROGRAMS WITH RIDGEWOOD RECREATION – SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE!
Registration is underway for Fall Session II programs to begin in November.
Preschool
My First Art with Abrakadoodle – caregivers join as little ones enjoy “firsts” – touching, feeling, hearing, seeing, and thinking while painting, drawing, sculpting, enjoying storybooks, art games and music. Ages 20-42 months. Tuesday mornings at the Stable, 259 N. Maple Avenue. $110/6 classes, includes all materials.
Mini Doodler with Abrakadoodle – a fun journey with new lessons that inspire creativity to help little ones foster a love of art. Ages 3-5. Wednesday afternoons at the Stable, 259 N. Maple Avenue. $110/6 classes, includes all materials.
Elementary
Garden Arts for Kids – a magical mixture of nature and eco-art with lessons on animals, gardening and recycling. Ages 4-7. Monday afternoons at the Stable, 259 N. Maple Avenue. $110/6 classes, all materials provided.
Creative Cooking Holiday Fun with Education Explorers – Junior chefs learn the basics of cooking in this resourceful class; how to follow a recipe, mix, measure, and decorate with a variety of techniques and tools. Grades K-4. Mondays after school at the Stable, 259 N. Maple Avenue. $120/6 classes, includes all materials.
Drawing and/or Acrylics with Mrs. C – both offer art instruction to meet personal goals and approaches at individual levels. Grades 2-6. Acrylics is offered on Tuesdays after school and Drawing on Wednesdays after school. Both are located at the Stable, 259 N. Maple Avenue. Acrylics – $65/6 classes, Drawing – $55/5 classes. Students are to bring materials.
Super Science Mash Up #2 with Explore Science – Enjoy challenges in ALL realms of science with hands-on experiments and creations. Experiments include making your own lava lamp, working with color chemistry, making an ultimate puff mobile, making playdough, designing basic electrical circuitry and designing a bubble hat to take home. Grades K-5. Tuesdays after school at the Stable. $120/6 classes, includes all materials.
The Age of Dinosaurs with Education Explorers – Children will learn what it was like when dinosaurs owned the earth, 200 to 144 million years ago. Exciting and fun hands-on projects each week. Grades K-4. Wednesdays after school at the Stable, 259 N. Maple Avenue. $105/5 classes, includes all materials.
Crayola-la Model Magic Mania with Abrakadoodle – Participants will enjoy this art lover’s dream exploring all the wonderful products Crayola has to offer to make fabulous mixed media. Clay rules for sculpting while incorporating watercolor paints, tempera paints, oil pastels and more. Grades K-3. Thursdays after school at the Stable, 259 N. Maple Avenue. $100/5 classes, includes all materials.
Green Kids Spring Workshops **Starts October 14th** – for those who wish to explore and discover nature, gardening, science, art, birding, ecology, the environment and our senses. Grades 3-5. Wednesdays after school at the Stable, 259 N. Maple Avenue. Topics include Nature Sculptures, Homes for Feathered Friends, Homemade Troughs, Giving Thanks (community service project), and a trip to Lorrimer Sanctuary, Franklin Lakes. $50/5 workshops, all materials included. Sponsored in part by the Women Gardeners of Ridgewood.
Adults
Watercolors with Maryann Burton – Beginner and intermediate instruction for adults on Wednesday mornings at the Stable, 259 N. Maple Avenue. $95/6 classes. Students must bring own materials.
Acrylics with Sandi Chanoch – Individual and personalized attention helps all find their personal techniques. Tuesday afternoons at the Stable, 259 N. Maple Avenue. Students must bring own materials. $80/6 classes.
Annie’s Artisanal Cookery – Holiday Hors D’Oeuvres Impress your friends with easy to make Holiday hors d’oeuvres that can be made in advance. All you need to do is reheat when needed and serve. Friday afternoons at the Stable, 259 N. Maple Avenue. $90/4 sessions, all ingredients provided.
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Please visit the Recreation homepage at www.ridgewoodnj.net/recreation for more details and to download the registration forms for in-person/by mail signups to the Stable, 259 N. Maple Avenue, Ridgewood 07450. Online registration through Community Pass is available for programs (unless otherwise noted) at www.ridgwoodnj.net/communitypass.
Don’t hesitate to call the Recreation Office at 201-670-5560 for more information of if special accommodations are needed. Non-residents may register if space allows; an additional $10 fee will apply.
New program suggestions are always welcome! Please be sure to bookmark the Recreation homepage on your computer for easy access to updated program and special event information.
Racefaster would like to invite you and your family to attend our inaugural Ridgewood Thanksgiving Day Run. It’s a sanctioned 4 mile race beginning and ending at Benjamin Franklin Middle School. Stop by the Racefaster Store, 211 E. Ridgewood Ave, for discounted registration rates.
Please join us this Thanksgiving Day for a great new community tradition. This race is four miles through the beautiful streets of Ridgewood, NJ. Runners will be hosted in the Benjamin Franklin gym before and after the race, and you will be home in time for Thanksgiving Dinner!
NOVEMBER 6, 2015, 10:44 PM LAST UPDATED: FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2015, 10:45 PM
BY SCOTT FALLON
STAFF WRITER |
THE RECORD
HAWORTH — CSX engineers will meet this month with town officials to discuss the condition of two pedestrian tunnels under the company’s rail line that have become a concern now that millions of gallons of crude oil pass through the town on trains, Mayor John Smart said Friday.
Smart had been trying for months to get inspection reports on the condition of the Crocker Place and Park Street Playground tunnels, but a federal loophole in railroad regulations prevented him from getting any meaningful information. Smart said he recently secured a meeting with CSX executives and hopes to meet with them regularly.
Officials from Teaneck to Harrington Park have often complained that CSX, which operates the largest rail system in the eastern U.S., has been slow to address local concerns since railroads are regulated almost exclusively by the federal government.
Bogota officials famously issued a summons in 1999 to a CSX train for disturbing the peace by idling noisily even though railroads are exempt from municipal ordinances under federal interstate commerce law.
They say Florida-based CSX should be more responsive especially now that 15 to 30 trains, each carrying as much as 3.6 million gallons of volatile Bakken crude oil, pass through 11 towns each week on the company’s River Line. The oil has been involved in several fiery derailments across North America in recent years.
In Bergen County, the trains pass thousands of homes and businesses on their way to a Philadelphia refinery. They cross dozens of small bridges, some of which appear pristine and others that are heavily rusted with cracked foundations.
Among them are the two pedestrian tunnels in Haworth, one of which has cracked and crumbling concrete just under the railbed, and the other near the playground.
Smart was unable to get inspection reports because railroads are not required to submit them to their primary regulator, the Federal Railroad Administration, unless the FRA asks for them.
A spokesman for CSX said this summer that the tunnels were inspected in January and deemed safe, but would not make inspection reports public.
“Those tracks are inspected visually several times weekly, and are subjected several times annually to internal, ultrasound inspections and examination with a geometry car that measures physical characteristics to affirm compliance with engineering specifications,” Rob Doolittle, a CSX spokesman, said this week.
On Friday, Rep. Scott Garrett toured the Haworth site as well as a section of the rail line that goes over the Oradell Reservoir. Last month, Garrett called on the FRA to obtain inspection reports on all spans through the region and share them with local officials. He said Friday he is still waiting for them.
“I want to see what [CSX] thinks of the chipping concrete here,” the Wantage Republican said. “Is it something that lasts six months, six years? I’m no expert. That’s why we need those reports.”
Ridgewood NJ, On Wednesday November 4, the agenda for the Village Council’s Public Workshop Agenda included a single line item: Public Hearing – Change in Use of 1057 Hillcrest Road (The Gate House) at Irene Habernickel Family Park. No one in the neighborhood of the park had been informed via any official channels. A small, almost unreadable sign posted at the park informed of the meeting, but few saw it and many who might have would not have read such an insignificant posting. Many found out about the meeting through a grapevine of neighbors. One was told, off the record, by a police officer. Another heard about it from a contractor working at her home. Some learned as they were arriving home from work that night.
The basic gist of what is going on is as follows. For many years, the Gate House had been rented to a family, who opted not to renew their lease. An ad placed for a new renter yielded no interested parties. A business, however, had indicated an interest in acquiring the property. Late in the summer, on September 16, an ordinance was introduced to change the use of 1057 Hillcrest Road to “recreational/educational purposes.” Health Barn USA won the bid, and soon thereafter the business website indicated the new address in Ridgewood. The website, should you care to read further, is https://www.healthbarnusa.com/
Some reached out to one of our elected officials, Councilwoman Susan Knudsen in advance of Wednesday’s meeting. Responding appropriately and promptly, Councilwoman Knudsen explained to those who inquired how to speak their concerns at a Council Meeting, and who to speak with at the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection regarding the regulations involved using a property that was purchased with Green Acres Funding for business purposes.
Many residents of the neighborhood arrived at the November 4 meeting, not sure what to expect, but certain that they wanted to speak their opposition to this plan. For most, this was the first Village Council meeting they had attended. They waited patiently while other business items were discussed and presented.
When the Public Hearing began, the owner of Health Barn USA, Ms. Stacey Antine, explained the mission and purpose of her business. She also denied some allegations that had been swirling prior to this meeting, stating that she was not involved in any litigation with her former landlord (Abmas Farm in Wyckoff) and that no children from inner cities would be bused in for the programs. Following her presentation, several clients of Health Barn USA gave testimonials, and employees of the Village of Ridgewood spoke about safety and other concerns surrounding the changed use of the property.
When the residents finally got their chance to speak, they were amazing. Twenty one individuals spoke, ranging in age from 18 to “retired.” One after the next they voiced valid objections to the change in use, to the way the matter has been handled by The Village Council, and to the legality of defying the NJ-DEP Green Acres guidelines. They were all clear, determined, insistent, polite, even while frustrated. Many expressed a sense of wonder that their elected officials had actually changed the use and drafted (although not finalized) a lease on a business BEFORE the Public Hearing. You can hear their excellent comments on the Village of Ridgewood website U-Stream.
Here are a few highlights, in no particular order:
1. One resident was reprimanded sarcastically and loudly by Councilwoman Gwenn Hauck. Yes, you read that correctly, a member of the public, a taxpayer, was publicly humiliated by one of our elected officials.
2. Results of a traffic study conducted by the Ridgewood Police Department seemed to greatly differ from the neighbors’ observations of traffic at the site.
3. While the original presentation by the Health Barn USA owner indicated that busses would not be coming in and out of the park, later in the evening it was revealed that mini-busses and full-size school busses could be expected on a regular basis.
4. The business has been granted permission by the Village to use a large plot on the park property for gardening; this is separate from the home and its immediate surrounds.
5. Assistant to the Village Manager, Ms. Janet Fricke, expressed frustration that one of our elected officials assisted residents in navigating the process without including her in the discussion. Likewise, Village Manager Ms. Roberta Sonenfeld indicated that no such communications between a councilmember and the public should take place without everyone being cc’ed. SINCE WHEN DO EMPLOYEES TELL ELECTED OFFICIALS WHAT THEY CAN OR CANNOT DO? Does anyone actually believe that an elected official should not assist residents who ask for assistance?
6. No resident, not one, criticized the business in any way or maligned Ms. Antine for having sought this location. Their argument was not with Health Barn USA; it is with the proposed presence of any business in their quiet residential neighborhood.
7. In summary, Mayor Aronsohn, Deputy Mayor Pucciarelli, and Councilwoman Hauck all indicated that with some minor adjustments to satisfy the NJ-DEP, they will be looking forward to welcoming this wonderful new business, thereby completely ignoring the impassioned pleas of these residents.
So, are the Habernickel Park neighbors getting the shaft just like the Schedler Park residents? Sure looks like it. Once again, the Council Majority is running a steam roller right over the taxpayers.
