Friday, July 18, 2008
Last updated: Friday July 18, 2008, EDT 6:14 AMBY EVONNE COUTROSSTAFF
WRITERRIDGEWOOD - Village officials are questioning how to improve procedures at Graydon Pool after learning that a teenager who drowned in 12 feet of water did not take a test required for swimming in the deep end.
"I'm going to challenge my staff to make every use of any technology available that can assist us in our efforts to improve our procedures, our signage and our lifesaving efforts," said Village Manager James Ten Hoeve.
After entering the pool from the shallow section, the 14-year-old swam under a rope to the deeper waters, officials said.
There are signs posted throughout the 3-acre pool area that specify swimming rules. The pool office staff is also available to answer questions, officials said.
"He entered at the shallow end of the pool where the swim test is not required ... and swam towards the deep end ... where the lifeguard would never see that he did not have the proper sticker or wristband," Ten Hoeve said.
To go into the deep water at the spring-fed pond, children and teenagers must pass a swim test, Ten Hoeve said.
"They are then given a sticker which goes on their badge, and if they are on a day pass, the date of the swim test is written on the wristlet that they receive," Ten Hoeve said.
The teen – in the United States from South Korea for only two days and staying with family in Ridgewood - did not take a test, Ten Hoeve said.
If a lifeguard sees a swimmer in the deep-water section of the pool without that sticker or marked wristband, he or she is sent to the pool office to take the test before returning to the deep water, Ten Hoeve said.
"I don't know what should have been done," Ten Hoeve said.
"We are going to hold a staff meeting to look at our procedures and, based on the occurrences in this situation, see if they can be improved in any way. Our policy is that if you are a non-adult, you need a swim test."
The teen swam to the deep end of the pool and was trying to reach a diving platform.
"I can't breathe," he yelled in Korean on Tuesday afternoon to his 12- and 14-year-old swimming partners, already on the platform.
The 12-year-old jumped into the water to save his friend but lost sight of him after he dived in.
The teen's 10-year-old sister was swimming in shallow water nearby and raced to shore to alert her parents that she could not find her brother.
Lifeguards were summoned, a 911 call was made, and a sweeping search of the pool, its facilities, and nearby buildings was conducted.
The 14-year-old's body was recovered in 12 feet of water about 40 minutes after he went missing by divers from the Ridgewood Fire Department.
Emergency workers conducted resuscitative procedures on the shoreline of the pool before transporting the teen to The Valley Hospital, where he was pronounced dead 68 minutes after the initial 911 call.
The death has been ruled an accidental drowning. Officials have declined to release the name of the 14-year-old.
E-mail: coutros@northjersey.com
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Friday, July 18, 2008
UPDATE: Drowned teen shouldn't have been in deep end, authorities say
Thursday, July 17, 2008
Last updated: Thursday July 17, 2008, EDT 10:26 PMBY EVONNE COUTROSSTAFF WRITER
Ridgewood officials are questioning how to improve procedures at Graydon Pool after learning that a teenager who drowned in 12 feet of water did not take a test required for swimming in the deep end.
"I'm going to challenge my staff to make every use of any technology available that can assist us in our efforts to improve our procedures, our signage and our lifesaving efforts," said Village Manager James Ten Hoeve.
After entering the pool from the shallow section, the 14-year-old swam under a rope to the deeper waters, official said.
There are signs posted throughout the 3-acre pool area that specify swimming rules. The pool office staff is also available to answer questions, officials said.
"He entered at the shallow end of the pool where the swim test is not required &hellip and swam towards the deep end &hellip where the lifeguard would never see that he did not have the proper sticker or wristband," Ten Hoeve said.
To go into the deep water at the spring-fed pond, children and teenagers must pass a swim test, Ten Hoeve said.
"They are then given a sticker which goes on their badge, and if they are on a day pass, the date of the swim test is written on the wristlet that they receive," Ten Hoeve said.
The teen - in the United States from South Korea for only two days and staying with family in Ridgewood - did not take a test, Ten Hoeve said.
If a lifeguard sees a swimmer in the deep-water section of the pool without that sticker or marked wristband, he or she is sent told to go and take the test before returning to the deep water, Ten Hoeve said.
"I don't know what should have been done," Ten Hoeve said. "We are going to hold a staff meeting to look at our procedures and, based on the occurrences in this situation, see if they can be improved in any way. Our policy is that if you are a non-adult, you need a swim test."
The teen swam to the deep end of the pool and was trying to reach a diving platform.
"I can't breathe," he yelled in Korean on Tuesday afternoon to his 12- and 14-year-old swimming partners, already on the platform.
The 12-year-old jumped into the water to save his friend but lost sight of him after he dove dived in.
The teen's 10-year-old sister was swimming in shallow water nearby and raced to shore to alert her parents that she could not find her brother.
Lifeguards were summoned, a 911 call was made and a sweeping search of the pool, its facilities, and nearby buildings was conducted.
The 14-year-old's body was recovered in 12 feet of water about 40 minutes after he went missing by divers from the Ridgewood Fire Department.
Emergency workers conducted resuscitative procedures on the shoreline of the pool before transporting the teen to The Valley Hospital, where he was pronounced dead 68 minutes after the initial 911 call.
The death has been ruled an accidental drowning. Officials have declined to release the name of the 14-year-old.
E-mail: coutros@northjersey.com
Last updated: Thursday July 17, 2008, EDT 10:26 PMBY EVONNE COUTROSSTAFF WRITER
Ridgewood officials are questioning how to improve procedures at Graydon Pool after learning that a teenager who drowned in 12 feet of water did not take a test required for swimming in the deep end.
"I'm going to challenge my staff to make every use of any technology available that can assist us in our efforts to improve our procedures, our signage and our lifesaving efforts," said Village Manager James Ten Hoeve.
After entering the pool from the shallow section, the 14-year-old swam under a rope to the deeper waters, official said.
There are signs posted throughout the 3-acre pool area that specify swimming rules. The pool office staff is also available to answer questions, officials said.
"He entered at the shallow end of the pool where the swim test is not required &hellip and swam towards the deep end &hellip where the lifeguard would never see that he did not have the proper sticker or wristband," Ten Hoeve said.
To go into the deep water at the spring-fed pond, children and teenagers must pass a swim test, Ten Hoeve said.
"They are then given a sticker which goes on their badge, and if they are on a day pass, the date of the swim test is written on the wristlet that they receive," Ten Hoeve said.
The teen - in the United States from South Korea for only two days and staying with family in Ridgewood - did not take a test, Ten Hoeve said.
If a lifeguard sees a swimmer in the deep-water section of the pool without that sticker or marked wristband, he or she is sent told to go and take the test before returning to the deep water, Ten Hoeve said.
"I don't know what should have been done," Ten Hoeve said. "We are going to hold a staff meeting to look at our procedures and, based on the occurrences in this situation, see if they can be improved in any way. Our policy is that if you are a non-adult, you need a swim test."
The teen swam to the deep end of the pool and was trying to reach a diving platform.
"I can't breathe," he yelled in Korean on Tuesday afternoon to his 12- and 14-year-old swimming partners, already on the platform.
The 12-year-old jumped into the water to save his friend but lost sight of him after he dove dived in.
The teen's 10-year-old sister was swimming in shallow water nearby and raced to shore to alert her parents that she could not find her brother.
Lifeguards were summoned, a 911 call was made and a sweeping search of the pool, its facilities, and nearby buildings was conducted.
The 14-year-old's body was recovered in 12 feet of water about 40 minutes after he went missing by divers from the Ridgewood Fire Department.
Emergency workers conducted resuscitative procedures on the shoreline of the pool before transporting the teen to The Valley Hospital, where he was pronounced dead 68 minutes after the initial 911 call.
The death has been ruled an accidental drowning. Officials have declined to release the name of the 14-year-old.
E-mail: coutros@northjersey.com
Thursday, July 17, 2008
N.J. raises bar for pupil test scores
N.J. raises bar for pupil test scores
State Board of Education admits change could surprise parents
Thursday, July 17, 2008
BY JOHN MOONEY
Star-Ledger Staff
New Jersey made it harder yesterday for public school students to prove their proficiency on state exams -- a change that could cause more schools to run afoul of the federal No Child Left Behind Act.
The action by the state Board of Education, which approved raising the scores for reading and math tests in grades 5 through 8, highlights how remarkably low the threshold for the scores had been. Students scoring as low as 33 percent correct had been deemed proficient.
The change raised the so-called "cut scores" for proficiency to at least 50 percent in the four affected grades, and also raised the requirements to be considered "advanced proficient."
The new cut scores will be used to grade tests given last spring. Officials said similar moves are envisioned in the coming years for other grades' tests, including the state's high school exit exam. Some of those tests still have cut scores in the 30s.
"What we don't want to do is mask our weaknesses," said state Education Commissioner Lucille Davy. "The incentive may be to have the lowest standard we can, but that doesn't serve the kids."
Davy stressed that student performance still appeared to improve last spring in most of the tests. But with the changes, passing rates are likely to drop in a majority of tests, markedly in some cases, she said.
In sixth grade, for example, state estimates show the language arts passing rate would have risen from 76 percent to 80 percent this year using the old cut scores, but instead will drop to 54 percent.
For parents and teachers, it could be a jolt to see a child no longer deemed proficient or advanced, and officials acknowledged that the onus will be on the state and districts to explain the change in the coming months as final scores go out.
"Parents will need to understand we have raised the standards and their children may need more help," said deputy commissioner Willa Spicer. "There are parents who will be surprised."
In New Jersey and many other states, cut scores have been set notoriously low with the advent of increased testing, and especially No Child Left Behind, which requires schools to reach proficiency targets in reading and math or face possible sanctions.
To provide districts some short-term protection against the predicted drop in passage rates, state officials plan to reduce the proficiency requirements considered by No Child -- but set by the state.
State board members yesterday were largely supportive of the change, but some voiced concern about how schools and teachers will react, noting it may further drive a "test prep" trend over which some educators are agonizing.
The detailed process of setting the cut scores had been quietly churning forward for almost a year with the advent of new, longer tests in grades 5 through 8.
"I know that when you start the year, you have a certain standard ... and to change the standard at the very end is not the way to do it," said member Kathleen Dietz, the lone dissenting vote. "There needs to be some warning."
But all agreed the benchmark needed to be raised for students and schools, with one member citing his own fifth-grade child who took the tests last year.
"I realize this could impact where he's placed," said Arcelio Aponte, the board's vice president. "But as a parent, I'd want to know if he's not responding correctly."
John Mooney may be reached at jmooney@starledger.com or (973) 392-1548
The Fly wants to know what you think Mrs. Botsford (head of testing) will do now that NJ has "raised" its standards. Any suggestions for her?
State Board of Education admits change could surprise parents
Thursday, July 17, 2008
BY JOHN MOONEY
Star-Ledger Staff
New Jersey made it harder yesterday for public school students to prove their proficiency on state exams -- a change that could cause more schools to run afoul of the federal No Child Left Behind Act.
The action by the state Board of Education, which approved raising the scores for reading and math tests in grades 5 through 8, highlights how remarkably low the threshold for the scores had been. Students scoring as low as 33 percent correct had been deemed proficient.
The change raised the so-called "cut scores" for proficiency to at least 50 percent in the four affected grades, and also raised the requirements to be considered "advanced proficient."
The new cut scores will be used to grade tests given last spring. Officials said similar moves are envisioned in the coming years for other grades' tests, including the state's high school exit exam. Some of those tests still have cut scores in the 30s.
"What we don't want to do is mask our weaknesses," said state Education Commissioner Lucille Davy. "The incentive may be to have the lowest standard we can, but that doesn't serve the kids."
Davy stressed that student performance still appeared to improve last spring in most of the tests. But with the changes, passing rates are likely to drop in a majority of tests, markedly in some cases, she said.
In sixth grade, for example, state estimates show the language arts passing rate would have risen from 76 percent to 80 percent this year using the old cut scores, but instead will drop to 54 percent.
For parents and teachers, it could be a jolt to see a child no longer deemed proficient or advanced, and officials acknowledged that the onus will be on the state and districts to explain the change in the coming months as final scores go out.
"Parents will need to understand we have raised the standards and their children may need more help," said deputy commissioner Willa Spicer. "There are parents who will be surprised."
In New Jersey and many other states, cut scores have been set notoriously low with the advent of increased testing, and especially No Child Left Behind, which requires schools to reach proficiency targets in reading and math or face possible sanctions.
To provide districts some short-term protection against the predicted drop in passage rates, state officials plan to reduce the proficiency requirements considered by No Child -- but set by the state.
State board members yesterday were largely supportive of the change, but some voiced concern about how schools and teachers will react, noting it may further drive a "test prep" trend over which some educators are agonizing.
The detailed process of setting the cut scores had been quietly churning forward for almost a year with the advent of new, longer tests in grades 5 through 8.
"I know that when you start the year, you have a certain standard ... and to change the standard at the very end is not the way to do it," said member Kathleen Dietz, the lone dissenting vote. "There needs to be some warning."
But all agreed the benchmark needed to be raised for students and schools, with one member citing his own fifth-grade child who took the tests last year.
"I realize this could impact where he's placed," said Arcelio Aponte, the board's vice president. "But as a parent, I'd want to know if he's not responding correctly."
John Mooney may be reached at jmooney@starledger.com or (973) 392-1548
The Fly wants to know what you think Mrs. Botsford (head of testing) will do now that NJ has "raised" its standards. Any suggestions for her?
Reader asks ,why dont they cut back on buying cars for upper management in the village
this town needs some serious re-evalutation.. to charge businesses for sewage discharge because the town needs money is a joke. why dont they cut back on buying cars for upper management. why does the head of recycling need a new truck fully loaded. they town officals fill up their cars at the town gas pump and drive home and on vacation in these cars. The residents need to be better informed of the waste that goes on. its too easy to pass it to the business owners.. WAKE UP RIDGEWOOD
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
The doors CAN be opened on both sides of the trains from Hoboken!
When they put in ramps for the disabled at buildings, they don’t take away the doors. Not the ones nearest the ramp. Not the ones fartherest from the ramp.
Let’s be clear. There is nothing in any of the laws, regulations, or court decisions requiring that access be made harder for the abled in order to make it easier for the disabled.
To quote from the ADA Web site:
“Public entities do not necessarily have to make each of their existing facilities accessible. They may provide program accessibility by a number of methods including alteration of existing facilities, acquisition or construction of additional facilities, relocation of a service or program to an accessible facility, or provision of services at alternate accessible sites.”
You’ll notice that nowhere does it say the disabled and abled have to have the same access. So NJ Transit’s position is bogus when it comes to legal requirements.
The next claim, that opening doors on both sides would slow down operations, is equally suspect. Opening both doors clears the cars faster and, by allowing the abled to file out one side, actually leaves the disabled with better access on the other!
Ridgewood should not cave in on this issue.
Let’s be clear. There is nothing in any of the laws, regulations, or court decisions requiring that access be made harder for the abled in order to make it easier for the disabled.
To quote from the ADA Web site:
“Public entities do not necessarily have to make each of their existing facilities accessible. They may provide program accessibility by a number of methods including alteration of existing facilities, acquisition or construction of additional facilities, relocation of a service or program to an accessible facility, or provision of services at alternate accessible sites.”
You’ll notice that nowhere does it say the disabled and abled have to have the same access. So NJ Transit’s position is bogus when it comes to legal requirements.
The next claim, that opening doors on both sides would slow down operations, is equally suspect. Opening both doors clears the cars faster and, by allowing the abled to file out one side, actually leaves the disabled with better access on the other!
Ridgewood should not cave in on this issue.
Tuesday, July 15, 2008
Breaking News: Divers find missing child's body
By Evonne Coutros and Kipp Clark
Staff Writers
The body of a child who went missing at Graydon pool in
Ridgewood this afternoon was removed from the water moments
ago.
The family of the child reported the boy, wearing a purple bathing
suit, dove into the water and didn't surfaace shortly before 3 p.m.,
Police Sgt. David Kiernan said.
Less than 45 minutes later, divers found the body, which was
taken to Valley Hospital.
Investigators are on their way to the scene.
Find this article at:
CLICK HERE
With latest update...
Note: County Divers and equipment at the scene together with many pieces of Ridgewood Rescue and Fire Department. More details expected soon.
Dom Nizza ... domnizza@netzero.com
Attached photo here By Evonne Coutros The Record
Paul Aronsohn Invites You ......
Folks --
I generally don't respond to anonymous personal attacks, but this issue hits particularly close to home. Like so many others, I have a long, personal history with disability issues.
If you're interested, I hope you will attend tomorrow's meeting or contact me directly, so that we can discuss it one-on-one.
Disability is a reality that cuts across all socio-economic lines, all political lines, and all racial/ethnic/religious lines. And so rather than use the discussion of disability as a means for attacking me or anyone else, I would invite you to instead join the discussion in a constructive way and help enhance the quality of life for all those -- our sisters, brothers, mothers, fathers, children, spouses, friends, etc -- who face daily challenges due to some form of disability.
Thanks.
Paul Aronsohn
I generally don't respond to anonymous personal attacks, but this issue hits particularly close to home. Like so many others, I have a long, personal history with disability issues.
If you're interested, I hope you will attend tomorrow's meeting or contact me directly, so that we can discuss it one-on-one.
Disability is a reality that cuts across all socio-economic lines, all political lines, and all racial/ethnic/religious lines. And so rather than use the discussion of disability as a means for attacking me or anyone else, I would invite you to instead join the discussion in a constructive way and help enhance the quality of life for all those -- our sisters, brothers, mothers, fathers, children, spouses, friends, etc -- who face daily challenges due to some form of disability.
Thanks.
Paul Aronsohn
Monday, July 14, 2008
Accused kidnappers caught
Monday, July 14, 2008
Last updated: Monday July 14, 2008, EDT 5:03 PM
BY KIPP CLARK AND MIKE DALY
THE RIDGEWOOD NEWS
Local police arrested two Allendale men accused of kidnapping, robbing and assaulting an acquaintance from Ridgewood.
The 41-year-old man victim was found injured on the side of a road in Harriman State Park in Rockland County, N.Y. yesterday. New York State Park Police said he told them he'd been assaulted by acquaintances who broke into his apartment., said Ridgewood Detective William Hemmer.
The intruders got in through a window after climbing a fire escape, police said.
The man told police they pulled him from his bed, took cash and then led him down the stairs and out into the parking lot. They then forced him into a car, drove him a remote area of the park and led him to a wooded section where he was beaten and threatened, he said.
Several departments combined to investigate the case -- among them, Ridgewood Police, New York State Park Police, the Bergen County Sheriff's Department and Allendale Police.
After interviewing him, detectives obtained arrest warrants for Cullen Schlesiona, 31, and Matthew Staudt, 24, and then arrested them last night at an apartment they share.
Schlesiona and Staudt are being held on $500,000 cash bail each at the Bergen County Jail, charged with kidnapping, robbery, burglary, terroristic threats and criminal restraint.
The alleged victim was treated at a Rockland County hospital for minor injuries to his face and arms and released, police said.
An investigation is continuing and additional charges could follow, police said.
Last updated: Monday July 14, 2008, EDT 5:03 PM
BY KIPP CLARK AND MIKE DALY
THE RIDGEWOOD NEWS
Local police arrested two Allendale men accused of kidnapping, robbing and assaulting an acquaintance from Ridgewood.
The 41-year-old man victim was found injured on the side of a road in Harriman State Park in Rockland County, N.Y. yesterday. New York State Park Police said he told them he'd been assaulted by acquaintances who broke into his apartment., said Ridgewood Detective William Hemmer.
The intruders got in through a window after climbing a fire escape, police said.
The man told police they pulled him from his bed, took cash and then led him down the stairs and out into the parking lot. They then forced him into a car, drove him a remote area of the park and led him to a wooded section where he was beaten and threatened, he said.
Several departments combined to investigate the case -- among them, Ridgewood Police, New York State Park Police, the Bergen County Sheriff's Department and Allendale Police.
After interviewing him, detectives obtained arrest warrants for Cullen Schlesiona, 31, and Matthew Staudt, 24, and then arrested them last night at an apartment they share.
Schlesiona and Staudt are being held on $500,000 cash bail each at the Bergen County Jail, charged with kidnapping, robbery, burglary, terroristic threats and criminal restraint.
The alleged victim was treated at a Rockland County hospital for minor injuries to his face and arms and released, police said.
An investigation is continuing and additional charges could follow, police said.
It is time for a change of leadership at the Stable.
The lack of fields (if one choses to believe this line)or amount of use has no baring on whether one cleans up the debris from the fireworks or fills in holes on pitcher's mounds or orders new benches does it?
This is really simple stuff here. Nothing complicated and nothing out of the ordinary.
It has nothing to do with man power, use of fields or any thing else other than laziness and incompetence on the part of Parks & Rec. from top down.
As for the budget you would have to ask each sports organization what they contribute in addition to the Parks Dept. budget for fields.
For instance, in the Spring, the RBSA spends more than 30k per year to ready the fields. And in past years as much as $52,000.00.
This amount from the RBSA is used for all of our fields, including the High School fields for Baseball and Softball, regardless of whether they are owned by the BOE or Village.
It is real simple, we pay high taxes and get poor results when it comes to the Parks & Rec. services.
This is really simple stuff here. Nothing complicated and nothing out of the ordinary.
It has nothing to do with man power, use of fields or any thing else other than laziness and incompetence on the part of Parks & Rec. from top down.
As for the budget you would have to ask each sports organization what they contribute in addition to the Parks Dept. budget for fields.
For instance, in the Spring, the RBSA spends more than 30k per year to ready the fields. And in past years as much as $52,000.00.
This amount from the RBSA is used for all of our fields, including the High School fields for Baseball and Softball, regardless of whether they are owned by the BOE or Village.
It is real simple, we pay high taxes and get poor results when it comes to the Parks & Rec. services.
We were there! Many people took photos of our 1975 white Buick, but we never got any!
Thanks again to the Fourth of July Celebration Committee for coordinating a great parade. The Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Post 192 of Ridgewood/Ho-Ho-Kus has reinitiated participation in the last several parades and we enjoy it very much. While this year my son, Major Erik Kober, an Apache/Longbow helicopter pilot, is back in Iraq for his second tour, this time for 15 months, after being in Bosnia and Afghanistan, and Iraq on 12 month tours, he was not able to participate with us. We did however, have veterans who were from WWII, Korea, and Vietnam. Our Ridgewood VFW Post looks forward to having more combat veterans and active duty members join us in the Post and in the future parades. Thank you!
May God continue to Bless America!
Stanley A. Kober
Commander,
Washington Elm VFW Post 192
TEL: 201-445-1121
Ridgewood will zero in further on accessibility
Sunday, July 13, 2008
BY EVONNE COUTROS
STAFF WRITERRIDGEWOOD - Village officials are taking measures to establish a panel that would serve as a formal sounding board to address the needs and concerns of the disabled community.
"My sense is that Ridgewood has done a good job, but there is always room for improvement," said Councilman Paul S. Aronsohn, a proponent of the Ridgewood Committee on Disability Issues.
Aronsohn and Village Manager James Ten Hoeve have invited the public to a meeting Thursday at Village Hall to discuss the need, potential scope, and role of a disability committee.
James Thebery, the director of the county's Division of Disability Services, will also attend.
"We want to go beyond ADA [the Americans with Disabilities Act] and address emergency preparedness issues and quality of life," Aronsohn said. "There are day-to-day issues you don't think about - quality-of-life issues that can impact someone's life."
Aronsohn encouraged village residents to attend and offer input in what could be a series of organizational meetings.
"Rather than me decide the parameters, we want to hear from parents, families, caregivers ... so that we can see what the scope should be," he said.
Board of Education and library officials, as well as emergency service personnel, are expected to attend.
The disability community may have issues that range from what to do in a flood or fire to how to commute within the village, Aronsohn said.
"There may be people on oxygen and we may need to know who they are, where they live ... we need to get a handle on what we need to do," Aronsohn said. "And ground transportation. How many people in town have physical limitations? We need to ask if we should have a bus service in town.
"The committee is a sounding board, a platform to start a dialogue and we hope to have a committee up and running by the end of the year," Aronsohn said.
E-mail: coutros@northjersey.com
BY EVONNE COUTROS
STAFF WRITERRIDGEWOOD - Village officials are taking measures to establish a panel that would serve as a formal sounding board to address the needs and concerns of the disabled community.
"My sense is that Ridgewood has done a good job, but there is always room for improvement," said Councilman Paul S. Aronsohn, a proponent of the Ridgewood Committee on Disability Issues.
Aronsohn and Village Manager James Ten Hoeve have invited the public to a meeting Thursday at Village Hall to discuss the need, potential scope, and role of a disability committee.
James Thebery, the director of the county's Division of Disability Services, will also attend.
"We want to go beyond ADA [the Americans with Disabilities Act] and address emergency preparedness issues and quality of life," Aronsohn said. "There are day-to-day issues you don't think about - quality-of-life issues that can impact someone's life."
Aronsohn encouraged village residents to attend and offer input in what could be a series of organizational meetings.
"Rather than me decide the parameters, we want to hear from parents, families, caregivers ... so that we can see what the scope should be," he said.
Board of Education and library officials, as well as emergency service personnel, are expected to attend.
The disability community may have issues that range from what to do in a flood or fire to how to commute within the village, Aronsohn said.
"There may be people on oxygen and we may need to know who they are, where they live ... we need to get a handle on what we need to do," Aronsohn said. "And ground transportation. How many people in town have physical limitations? We need to ask if we should have a bus service in town.
"The committee is a sounding board, a platform to start a dialogue and we hope to have a committee up and running by the end of the year," Aronsohn said.
E-mail: coutros@northjersey.com
Friday, July 11, 2008
nostalgic posting of the Ridgewood Lawns triggered a couple of memories.
James.. your nostalgic posting of the Ridgewood Lawns triggered a couple of memories. Here are a couple of photos of that time period.
1. Dom ... in his first backyard gardening experience.
and.
2. Yes, they even delivered milk to your backdoor those days!
Perhaps, you could use and start a collection of the "Ridgewood Lawns Memories from 1948"
Stay well... Dom domnizza@netzero.com
Dom Nizza is an original owner from 1948 and declares that he is the "Mayor" of Robert St (a dirt road at the time)He is known as a local celebrity in the village . He selected a lot off a map that was next to an existing home that belonged to Mr and Mrs. Bartel (Bartel Place named after them). Their son was the "building inspector" at the time, and advised Dom, "anytime you want do improve your home, just do it, stay away from the building dept. they will just add more paper work to your project"... Now that wouldn't happen today, would it?
PS.. Mrs. Bartel taught Dom, how to plant those huge tomatoes! Check that one out with Dom now the last remaining "original owner" on his street. Can he claim an added street sign to the pole? You want more history of the Lawns, check with Dom. No charge.
Thursday, July 10, 2008
More 4th of July Parade Photos ..where are you?
Photos by
Joseph O'Connor
Terrie O'Connor Realtors
(201)445-4554 ext 59
(201) 315-1421
www.tocr.com
Joseph O'Connor
Terrie O'Connor Realtors
(201)445-4554 ext 59
(201) 315-1421
www.tocr.com
History of the Lawns
This history of the neighborhood plays a vital part in the identity of its residents. If you have lived in the neighborhood for many years, the neighborhood history is a heartfelt reminder of days gone by. If you have just come to call the neighborhood home, it is a way to learn more about the new community you have joined.
Story taken from
NEW JERSEY HOME BUILDER MAGAZINE
September 1950
'The 429 house development along Grove St in Ridgewood is the largest single development in Bergen County.
Ridgewood is mighty particular and so the houses had better be good. The builders, Carletta & Rocco are proud of their $4 1/2 million project.
Start with 127 acres. Pick out 37 acres of it along Saddle River and donate them to the Bergen County Park Commission. Prepare the land, install sewers and get some houses started.
When Reliable Homes bought the tract, a farmer (squatter) got six months notice to vacate. The farmer was raising berries on one part of the tract. He had a house and sheds. He was paying no rent. The builder asked him to move the sheds, when the time came to go through there with roads, sewers and pole lines. He ran into pitchforks and cries of 'Bring that Shotgun'-into lawyers, legal arguments and calls for police. This was in February, yet the argument included something about a common law that if you have a crop planted, you can't be ejected until it's harvested. This was despite the fact that the farmer had planted his berries after receiving notice to vacate. The builders went ahead and the strawberry land now is going into homes.
Ridgewood lawns lots are 60 x 100 and up. Windows and screens are steel. Plumbing and water leaders are copper. Bath, of course, is tiled, with shower. Kitchen equipment includes exhaust fan, gas range, formica-topped work spaces, cabinets and other standard items.
Story taken from
NEW JERSEY HOME BUILDER MAGAZINE
September 1950
'The 429 house development along Grove St in Ridgewood is the largest single development in Bergen County.
Ridgewood is mighty particular and so the houses had better be good. The builders, Carletta & Rocco are proud of their $4 1/2 million project.
Start with 127 acres. Pick out 37 acres of it along Saddle River and donate them to the Bergen County Park Commission. Prepare the land, install sewers and get some houses started.
When Reliable Homes bought the tract, a farmer (squatter) got six months notice to vacate. The farmer was raising berries on one part of the tract. He had a house and sheds. He was paying no rent. The builder asked him to move the sheds, when the time came to go through there with roads, sewers and pole lines. He ran into pitchforks and cries of 'Bring that Shotgun'-into lawyers, legal arguments and calls for police. This was in February, yet the argument included something about a common law that if you have a crop planted, you can't be ejected until it's harvested. This was despite the fact that the farmer had planted his berries after receiving notice to vacate. The builders went ahead and the strawberry land now is going into homes.
Ridgewood lawns lots are 60 x 100 and up. Windows and screens are steel. Plumbing and water leaders are copper. Bath, of course, is tiled, with shower. Kitchen equipment includes exhaust fan, gas range, formica-topped work spaces, cabinets and other standard items.
History of a Village (yes we are a Village)
4th of July always gets me thinking ,this is straight from the Village website
History of Ridgewood's Municipal Government
The Village of Ridgewood wasn’t organized as a separate municipality until 1876. By then, the settlement we call Ridgewood was almost two centuries old. The land that Ridgewood occupies was originally a hunting and fishing ground of the Lenni Lenape Indians that became a part of the Dutch colony of New Amsterdam founded in 1624. Forty years later, the British captured New Amsterdam and renamed it New York.
After New Amsterdam became British, King Charles 2nd gave New Jersey to Sir Carteret and Lord Berkeley, two of his most loyal supporters. In 1674, Lord Berkeley needed money to finish his mansion in London, and sold his half of the colony to two Quakers. New Jersey was then divided into the Province of East Jersey owned by Sir Carteret and the Quaker Province of West Jersey. In 1687, the East Jersey Proprietors granted several hundred acres in Bergen County to Isaac Kingsland. Johannes Van Emburgh bought some of this land in 1698. The area was then known as Hoachas (now Ho Ho Kus) and as Paramus by 1725.
After the Revolution, the settlement had grown to about 20 families and was known as Godwinville, after a war hero. However, Godwinville was never a separate municipality. The entire northwest corner of Bergen County was a large municipality known as Franklin Township formed in 1771 from a section of Saddle River Township. Within Franklin Township, there were numerous unincorporated settlements such as Godwinville.
In 1848, the Patterson and Ramapo Railroad was completed providing Godwinville with easy access to New York City. In 1853, Samuel Dayton bought the Van Emburgh estate and with the idea of establishing a suburb. Cornelia Dayton renamed Godwinville “Ridgewood” to attract buyers from the city. The population exploded from several hundred in 1850 to over 1,200 by the time of the centennial. Ridgewood built its own school but was still a part of Franklin Township. The population doubled again by the turn of the century.
On March 30, 1876, Ridgewood finally became a separate Township. Actually, Ridgewood was fifteen years ahead of the rest of the state. It wasn’t until the early 1890s that New Jersey adopted legislation requiring each municipality to establish a Board of Education and fund all public schools with a municipal-wide property tax. In just a few months in 1894, numerous settlements with schools incorporated as separate municipalities. Twenty-eight municipalities were incorporated in Bergen County alone. Part of Ridgewood Township went to the new Borough of Midland Park and another part went to the new Borough of Glen Rock. At the same time, Ridgewood changed its municipal form of government from a Township to a Village. However, to this day the school system is still officially known as the “Ridgewood Township Board of Education”.
Almost all of the 1894 municipalities were incorporated as Boroughs, the most common plan of municipal government in New Jersey. In a Borough, the governing body consists of six Council Members and a directly elected Mayor who acts as the chief executive.
Ridgewood was one of the few municipalities that incorporated as a “Village.” In this rare form of local government, the public elected five trustees who selected one of their members as Village President to preside over the meetings. There was no Mayor. The Village plan proved unsuccessful because it lacked clearly defined management responsibilities.
During this period, the Trustees organized the village departments and planned a civic center just west of the train station. However, the civic center was defeated in 1909 and the Village built a municipal building and firehouse at Hudson and Broad streets. This remained as the municipal complex until 1955 when the Village purchased the Elk lodge built in 1928 on North Maple Avenue and converted it into the current Village Hall.
In 1911, Ridgewood reorganized for a second time adopting the Commissioner plan of municipal government, but retaining the name “Village”. The municipality was divided into three departments – Public Safety, Finance and Public Works. The voters elected three Commissioners who each had full executive authority over one of the departments. The Commissioners also selected one of their members as Mayor to preside over the meetings, but the Mayor had no executive power other than as a Commissioner of one of the departments. At the time, the Commissioner form was considered as a reform, but today few municipalities retain this plan. Each department tends to become a fiefdom and is too dependent on the management skills of its Commissioner.
In 1970, Ridgewood recognized the need to professionalize municipal management and adopted the more modern Faulkner Act Council-Manager plan. Under this form, the public elects five Council Members who act as a Board of Directors. Their principle responsibility is to hire and oversee a professional Village Manager who has full executive power for all departments. The Council also selects one of its members as Mayor who presides over the meetings but has no executive authority.
Who exactly is minding the store?
The Fly wonders why, a week after the 4th of July fireworks display, the refuse left behind from the fireworks themselves, paper, cardboard and packaging, was never raked up. Instead it appears to have been shredded by a lawn mower when Parks & Rec. cut the lawn behind the 3rd base bench at Vets North. Is it really asking too much that the garbage produced by the Parks & Rec. be picked up by the Parks & Rec. Department?
Who exactly is minding the store here in Ridgewood when it comes to our fields? Just a stroll south and one comes upon the Vets 90 baseball diamond minus the home team’s middle bench. This bench, by the way, has been broken/missing since April. And as you can see from the photo the other two benches are listing backwards and thrusting out of the ground. The Fly wonders, how long does it take to order and install new benches? It really can’t take this long, can it?
And then there’s the pitcher’s mound at Vets 90. The field was groomed and lined today for the weekend. But what about the hole in front of the pitching rubber, why wasn’t it filled in and the mound groomed too?
Then there is Citizens Field, where the RBSA spent thousands of dollars for a new infield two years ago, including building a new pitcher’s mound for the 12 years and under teams. What does it take to make sure that the mound is maintained and that the rubber is below grade? The fact that the pitching rubber is four inches above the dirt is disgraceful. Not to mention it is a hazard for any pitcher fielding a ball. Does our Director of Parks & Rec. find this acceptable work from his employees?
Ridgewood’s Park & Rec. Department has been woefully incompetent for far too long in the maintenance of our fields. These are just but a few examples of what passes for acceptable work by the Parks & Rec. We pay far too much in taxes and sports fees to be treated like this by the people we employee.
It’s time the Village Council take a hard look at how our Parks & Rec. Dept. is run and hold those responsible accountable .
Small Business Owner Says Enough Already!
I own a small retail business in Ridgewood. My daily water usage amounts to one toilet flush and one use of the sink to wash my hands. The sewage tax bill I received amounts to about $1.50 per day - this on top of a water bill that adds up to about $1 per day. You'd think that my plumbing fixtures were made of gold and that sparkling Pellegrino is being pumped through the lines at those prices!
This tax is the last straw that is driving me out of business. Even though business has dropped off significantly in the last few months (once-twice a week I don't even get any customers through the door, sometimes even on Saturdays!) I've been subjected to ever increasing tax bills like this sewage tax. I'm now paying thousands of dollars out of my pocket each month just to pay taxes and bills, and I'm stuck in a lease that may take me years to get out of and could potentially bankrupt me.
It's no wonder there are so many empty retail spaces on Ridgewood Ave., Broad St., etc. It's simply too expensive to do business in Ridgewood. Even worse, the residents of this village don't support local businesses. For all of you complaining about the abundance of banks, when was the last time you purchased something from a local, independently owned store in Ridgewood (and I don't mean Dunkin Donuts, the Gap or Rite Aid)? Remember, you reap what you sow.
This tax is the last straw that is driving me out of business. Even though business has dropped off significantly in the last few months (once-twice a week I don't even get any customers through the door, sometimes even on Saturdays!) I've been subjected to ever increasing tax bills like this sewage tax. I'm now paying thousands of dollars out of my pocket each month just to pay taxes and bills, and I'm stuck in a lease that may take me years to get out of and could potentially bankrupt me.
It's no wonder there are so many empty retail spaces on Ridgewood Ave., Broad St., etc. It's simply too expensive to do business in Ridgewood. Even worse, the residents of this village don't support local businesses. For all of you complaining about the abundance of banks, when was the last time you purchased something from a local, independently owned store in Ridgewood (and I don't mean Dunkin Donuts, the Gap or Rite Aid)? Remember, you reap what you sow.
Train Station Fiasco - Mayor Now Says Platform Layout He Demanded Is Lousy
In a rather strange but somewhat expected turn of events, Mayor David T. Pfund publicly criticized NJ Transit officials during Wednesday evening's Village Council Work Session by calling the VILLAGE COUNCIL APPROVED train station renovation plan "no good."
So let me get this story straight now Mr. Mayor: NJ Transit presented a plan. The Council, with Mr. Harlow as the lead objector, rejected the NJ Transit plan and developed its own. NJ Transit accepted your plan. Now you say the NJ Transit plan is "no good?" Mr. Mayor, you're losing it!
The VILLAGE COUNCIL APPROVED renovation plan will force all homeward bound commuters to exit the station platform via one of two staircases (or an elevator). This in contrast to the NJ Transit suggested plan which would have offered four (4) egress routes.
So let me get this story straight now Mr. Mayor: NJ Transit presented a plan. The Council, with Mr. Harlow as the lead objector, rejected the NJ Transit plan and developed its own. NJ Transit accepted your plan. Now you say the NJ Transit plan is "no good?" Mr. Mayor, you're losing it!
The VILLAGE COUNCIL APPROVED renovation plan will force all homeward bound commuters to exit the station platform via one of two staircases (or an elevator). This in contrast to the NJ Transit suggested plan which would have offered four (4) egress routes.
Deputy Mayor Keith Killion Demands Policy For Loan of Village Equipment
On September 2, 2006, an electric generator owned by the Village of Ridgewood, and provided by Ridgewood Emergency Services, was used to power all operations of business located in Midland Park for up to 24 hours. This business lost
their primary electric service during the intense storm that ripped through northwest Bergen that day.
Immediately following word of this incident, several Ridgewood residents asked questions about the use of taxpayer purchased equipment outside of Village limits. One key question never answered publicly was: "Who authorized the use of Village owned equipment at a commercial establishment outside of Ridgewood?"
Coincident with Village Council member's tentative authorization for the purchase of additional generator related equipment, recently elected Deputy Mayor Keith Killion insisted tonight that an official policy be drafted to ensure similar incidents do not occur in the future.
their primary electric service during the intense storm that ripped through northwest Bergen that day.
Immediately following word of this incident, several Ridgewood residents asked questions about the use of taxpayer purchased equipment outside of Village limits. One key question never answered publicly was: "Who authorized the use of Village owned equipment at a commercial establishment outside of Ridgewood?"
Coincident with Village Council member's tentative authorization for the purchase of additional generator related equipment, recently elected Deputy Mayor Keith Killion insisted tonight that an official policy be drafted to ensure similar incidents do not occur in the future.
Dr. Fishbein Assumes Superintendence on July 14, 2008
The Ridgewood Board of Education is pleased to announce that Dr. Daniel Fishbein will assume the position of Superintendent of the Ridgewood Public Schools on July 14, 2008.
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