The Ridgewood blog was founded in March of 2006 by James J Foytlin aka PJ Blogger . Mr. Foytlin was born and raised in Ridgewood ,New Jersey and is a graduate of Ridgewood High School .
Ridgewood NJ, – Oct. 26, 2009 – RIDGEWOOD, N.J. — The Ridgewood blog ( https://theridgewoodblog.blogspot.com/ ) was founded in March of 2006 by James J Foytlin aka PJ Blogger .[1] Mr. Foytlin was born and raised in Ridgewood ,New Jersey and is a graduate of Ridgewood High School .[2] [3]
After many years living in New York City[4] Mr Foytlin returned to Ridgewood after a divorce and the tragic events of 9/11 . Once he settled in he noticed a lack of sufficient news coverage of local events . One day a friend from Brazil[5] showed him her home town on the internet and to Mr. Foytlin’s great surprise when he tried to reciprocate he was utterly dismayed at the absolute lake coverage of his home town. After all Ridgewood is only 18 miles from midtown Manhattan[6] the media capitol of world and there was not a single picture of Ridgewood to be found . How could this be? Ridgewood is a picturesque upper middle class village of around 25,000 located in Bergen county in northern New Jersey[7] . Founded by Dutch settlers before it became an English colony[8] . The town or village as its called is steeped in rich history and tradition .Known for a large amount of Victorian era housing , a quality school system and a family friendly atmosphere.
Though busy getting reacquainted with his home town the fact that the Village of Ridgewood was so under represented on the internet continued to disturb Mr. Foytlin. Mr. Foytlin had been writing news letters for his job in financial services since the mid 1990’s . The popular flip, off beat investment strategy news letters had become email blasts with the advent of readily accessible internet.[9] By 2004 the email blasts were converted into blog format for the One Small Voice blog (https://onesmallvoice.blogspot.com/ ). [10]
Around that time the Village of Ridgewood had finally completed it’s much anticipated and long delayed renovation of the Village hall which has been flooded out due to Hurricane Floyd.[11] The renovation was marred by huge cost over runs and lengthy delays. In 2005 it opened with great fan fare , was once again flooded with the very first rain . Mr. Foytlin was more shocked by the abject lack of responsibility taken by elected officials than the fact that the $9 million dollar renovation had to some extent been a failure . That was the breaking point and Mr. Foytlin had had enough so he decided to give , citizen journalism a go and created the Ridgewood blog in March of 2006. [12]
The birth of PJ Blogger .By this time Blogging its seems had become quite the rage and mainstream news anchors such as Dan Rather had questioned the validity of information from non professionals sitting around in their Pajama’s blogging.[13] Mr. Foytlin not a fan of Dan Rather or any of the mainstream media decided to blog under the name PJ Blogger as a play on words and to plant himself firmly in the camp of the new digital media.
Innovations by the Ridgewood blog to citizen journalism.
“The Fly” is a column on the Ridgewood blog the originates from the expression ,”I’d like to be a fly on the wall “ . The idea is that every citizen has both a unique perspective and experience and these two factors can be used to gather news and opinions about local issues. Originally only of handful of people in town participated but with time the Ridgewood blog can now count on 20–40 semi regular contributors. These post are both anonymous and signed and are largely opinion as well a breaking news.[14]
The Ridgewood blog brings a free market lassie fare point of view to local issues . Mr. Foytlin aka PJ Blogger has stated that for local issues there are only two kinds of people ;the ones who say spend what every you want because I will not be around to pay the bill and the second group which are more focused on the ,”be careful this is my money your spending” . The Ridgewood blog is dedicated to the interplay of there two groups.[15]
[1][12] the Ridgewood blog website https://theridgewoodblog.blogspot.com/
[2] Birth Certificate born in Valley Hospital , Ridgewood 04/09/1962
[3] Ridgewood High School Class 1980
[4] 444 East 86th street ,530 East 72nd
[5] Monica Rocha
[6] Mapquest
[7] United States 2000 Census, the village population was 24,936.
[8] https://www.americantowns.com/nj/ridgewood/organization/vi…
[9] Fahnestock & Co. now Oppenheimer & Co.
[10] https://onesmallvoice.blogspot.com/
[11] https://www.ridgewoodlibrary.org/localhistory/lh_vh_pease.htm
[13] https://www.opinionjournal.com/diary/?id=110005611
[14] [15] James J Foytlin
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Foundblog Day–will Bill Murray play PJ in the movie?
Good luck “old man” — I follow your “stuff” and try to give most stories a bump up.
I post under my own real name on North Media Face Book page with a photo album. With many of North Media news reporters.
PS: You know their reporters fight with each other too.
However, I still struggle at 93yrs. of age but, enjoy being a “New Watch” here since 1948.
Congrats James!
Please continue.
James:
Congratulations on your milestone, even though I disagree with more things than I agree with when I read the Ridgewood “Rag,” I mean Blog. Having said that it is to your credit that you do attract those who disagree with you.
Some suggestions:
Discourage people from expressing their views anonymously. This is America and not Russia. I find anonymous comments to be cowardly.
Make sure your “laisser-faire” philosophy is two way, and not just your way.
Too many typos and grammatical errors.
Cheers,
Rurik
Keep up the good work!!!
Good job….make the politicos and Valley toe the line !
the mayor council and manager and top dogs would love to shut this blog down, but we all know that is not going to happen.
Keep going, PJ. Sunlight is the greatest disinfectant, and this Blog is that sunlight. It’s the only local collective place where we can show the bastards that we’re onto them!
This blog is an excellent public platform… in spite of the vitriol of the “ANONYMOUS” posters who chant death to the council, village manager, every civil employee, etc…..you manage to post a balanced view of opinions and keep above the fray (even though you trashed me a few times) … VERY VERY well done… but you should publish some summary of posts that you had to delete… it would be a hoot…and maybe add spellcheck for some of the coyotes….
hey pauly smith you are a funny man. I don’t think any one would talk about any such death to any one. but bash people yes. as long as they get the right info. no one is talking about harming any one. we the tax people are very upset about what is going on in town. we need to all get along to make things right with all.
thank you benny.
Well I am “tax people” too and yes, like others, I do have issues with some of the goings on and what the village will look like in the short future. And a benny I’m not.
To Anonymous 9:04 pm. At least Mr. Paul Smith has the courage to express his opinion openly. Why cover your face with a grocery bag when you speak. Who are you scared of?