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Maples at risk
By Erin Roll
of Glen Ridge Voice
Glen Ridge’s younger maple trees aren’t making it through stretches of extreme weather, a condition that doesn’t bode well for the borough.
If conditions persist, says Councilwoman Elizabeth Baker, the borough might end up losing five-eighths of its young trees over the next five years.
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Passengers praise weekend trains proposal
By Erin Roll
of Glen Ridge Voice
With Montclair leading the push to get weekend trains started on the Montclair-Boonton Line, local commuters are wondering if it’ll lead to anything.
"I don’t know, maybe it’s something that’ll come of it," Claire Moses said as she got off a train at Ridgewood Avenue Station early Tuesday morning. A New York resident, Moses works for a Glen Ridge family and relies on the train to come to work.
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Station's sale is on, close
By Erin Roll
of Glen Ridge Voice
NJ Transit has officially finalized the sale of the former Benson Street Station, culminating a year-long process.
The sale should eventually help end seven years of speculation as to what may happen to the station.
The sale was announced during the borough council’s June 22 meeting.
The new owners are Richard and Edna Moriarty of Woodland Avenue, NJ Transit representative Joe Dee said Tuesday.
"Everyone’s anxious to see what the plans are," said Councilwoman Yvonne Provost.
The station went up for sale in April 2008 with an asking price of $150,000.
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Field of nightmares?
By Erin Roll
of Glen Ridge Voice
Despite seemingly unrelenting amounts of rainfall this spring, renovations at Hurrell Field are staying on schedule and within budget, according to borough officials.
"So far we’re okay, but if we get any more rain it could be an issue," said Parks and Recreation Director Jim Cowan.
Curbing for the new running track is complete, and crews have begun upgrading the drainage system.
"Once (the drainage is) done, then they can start distributing those giant piles of dirt you see there," Cowan said.
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After break-ins, police catch a break
By Erin Roll
of Glen Ridge Voice
Police have arrested two Orange residents suspected in a recent rash of burglaries in Glen Ridge and neighboring towns.
Amir K. Terry, 19, and Keiton Calloo, 18, were taken into custody earlier this month on suspicion of breaking into a Willow Street home May 26, according to Glen Ridge Lt. Paul Bruno.
The homeowner reported several electronic items, including two iPods, as missing.
Terry was arrested in Orange June 4 after a fingerprint at the crime scene matched one of his.
During the investigation, Bruno said, police learned Terry had been working with Calloo, who was by that time in Bloomfield police custody on unrelated charges.
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Hit the road!
By Erin Roll
of Glen Ridge Voice
The borough plans to crack down harder on trucks making late-night deliveries to the Glenmont Square shopping center along Bloomfield Avenue, in response to complaints from nearby residents.
Bright lights, noise and litter from the lot, the former Montclair-Bloomfield Ford dealership site, has raised the ire of residents on Glen Ridge Avenue.
Borough officials and Montclair Township Planner Karen Kadus have been meeting to review both towns’ ordinances on delivery hours and noise, according to Borough Administrator Michael Rohal.
Glen Ridge Avenue resident Eleanor Proto said she and her husband, Anthony, have been kept awake in the early morning hours by idling trucks in Glenmont Square.
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Outbreak hits close to home
By Erin Roll
of Glen Ridge Voice
A Ridgewood Avenue School student has tested positive for Glen Ridge’s first case of swine flu, according to school and health officials.
A letter sent to parents June 3 said that the student exhibited flu-like symptoms in school May 26 and was subsequently sent home. The New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services identified the student’s illness as swine flu June 2. No other students from the affected child’s grade level have shown signs of illness thus far. The infected student has not returned to school.
Ridgewood Avenue School’s custodial staff has been regularly disinfecting the school — standard procedure when a student becomes sick on school property, according to Schools Superintendent John Mucciolo.
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DOT may hold cure for jitney
By Erin Roll
of Glen Ridge Voice
Jitney service in the borough is being hampered by a bus shortage, along with a funding cutoff from NJ Transit.
One of two jitneys used to shuttle commuters to the train station is out of service due to a blown gasket, according to Councilman Art Dawson. The borough is looking to acquire a used mini-bus to fill the gap.
"We’ll see whether it seems like it makes sense," said Dawson.
There are three jitneys in the fleet. Two serve as commuter shuttles, while the third accommodates Parks and Recreation activities, e.g. outings by the Golden Circle seniors.
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Clamoring for less noise
By Erin Roll
of Glen Ridge Voice
Residents are continuing to voice displeasure over lighting and noise issues at the Glenmont Square shopping center, formerly home to the Montclair-Bloomfield Ford dealership.
The problem, according to Borough Administrator Michael Rohal, is that the borough can do little right now, since the lone building on Glen Ridge’s side of the property remains vacant. The borough council plans to discuss the alleged nuisances with Montclair’s council and planning board and the property’s developer, Cary Heller, the head of Glenmont RR Crossing LLC.
During the borough council’s May 26 meeting, Glen Ridge Avenue resident Eleanor Proto claimed she and her husband have endured noise from trucks making late night and early morning deliveries
[Continued]
Single-family homes in R-5 zone at risk?
By Erin Roll
of Glen Ridge Voice
If you live in a single-family home in Glen Ridge’s R-5 zone, there’s a bizarre rule that you may want to know about.
If your house burns down or is destroyed in some other fashion, it can not be rebuilt. That’s because the R-5 zone — which includes Clark Street and Glen Ridge Avenue — is not zoned for single-family houses.
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Changing of the guard at CCC
By Erin Roll
of Glen Ridge Voice
The Glen Ridge Civic Conference Committee (CCC) will have a change in leadership this summer.
David Lefkovits will be stepping down as chair when his term ends in June.
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Lisovicz, Baker throw hats in 2009 council race
By Erin Roll
of Glen Ridge Voice
Council members Paul Lisovicz and Elizabeth Baker will run for new terms on the borough council in November.
Both candidates had their signatures and petitions notarized on Friday before the start of the Memorial Day weekend. Both will also have the backing of the Glen Ridge Civic Conference Committee (CCC).
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Dale Mincey/Glen Ridge Voice
INVINCIBLE FEELING
Tom Nisenson garners a bit of extra attention after receiving his diploma on Friday during Glen Ridge High School's graduation ceremony, moved indoors to the Ridgewood Avenue School auditorium. See full coverage in the print edition
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Borough against proposed changes
By Erin Roll
of Glen Ridge Voice
Glen Ridge is speaking out against a set of proposed changes to record-keeping regulations in municipal vital statistics offices.
"We’re contacting our legislators, to voice our opposition to these recommendations becoming legislation," said Borough Administrator Michael Rohal.
[Continued]
New owners share station plans
By Erin Roll
of Glen Ridge Voice
It’s no secret that Glen Ridge has been wondering what’s going to happen to Benson Street Station.
Now, the station’s new owners are going to try to make the station just as it was the day it was built.
Richard and Edna Moriarty appeared before the Historic Preservation Commission Wednesday night to share some preliminary plans for the station.
"Basically, we want to restore it how it is," Edna Moriarty told the board.
The station’s sale was finalized two weeks ago after more than a year.
For the Moriartys, the real motivation isn’t to try to turn the station into a building for another use.
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Budget awaits decisions
By Erin Roll
of Glen Ridge Voice
Glen Ridge’s budget for 2009 remains in a holding pattern while the state works out further details.
"We have heard nothing from them, either on our pension deferral or, of course, on our extraordinary aid," said Councilwoman Linda Seyffarth.
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Record-keeping too passé?
By Erin Roll
of Glen Ridge Voice
Glen Ridge’s Bureau of Vital Statistics is in trouble with the state over improper record-keeping procedures, after an audit by the State Bureau of Vital Statistics and Registration last month uncovered several violations.
Among other issues, the audit claims the borough does not provide proper security for records or its safety paper, used to make certified copies of files.
The audit is intended to ensure every municipality follows the same record-keeping guidelines.
[Continued]
Borough acquires new set of wheels
By Erin Roll
of Glen Ridge Voice
The borough has acquired a replacement bus to fill a void in its jitney service, as efforts to secure additional state funding for the shuttles continue.
An agreement with U.S. Coach and Equipment Sales, Inc., a used-bus broker based in Vineland, to supply the backup was finalized during the borough council’s June 22 meeting.
"(The bus) seems so far to be in pretty good shape," said Councilman Art Dawson. The replacement is built on a Ford chassis and is similar in make to airport shuttles, he said. Its air conditioning system is also more powerful than the existing models. The $28,000 purchase is covered under the borough’s capital fund.
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Schools select new head of Student Services
By Erin Roll
of Glen Ridge Voice
Glen Ridge High School Vice Principal Mary Lynn DePierro has been named the district’s new director of Student Services.
DePierro replaces Barbara Gemza, who is retiring June 30.
"I have truly enjoyed my time as an assistant principal at Glen Ridge High School and the days I have spent working with the students, parents and faculty in our middle school program," said DePierro via e-mail. "I am looking forward to the new position of director of Student Services and working in our community of Glen Ridge in a new capacity."
The board of education (BOE) officially named DePierro to succeed Gemza during its June 15 meeting, accompanying a tribute to the outgoing director.
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Glen Ridge grad excels in NCAA lacrosse
By Matt Choquette
of Glen Ridge Voice
Glen Ridge native Amanda McGovern, a junior lacrosse captain at Muhlenberg College in Pennsylvania, has broken into the premier ranks of Div. III.
McGovern was recently named to the All-Centennial Conference second team and All-Metro Area second team after helping her Mules to a 10-4 season, the highest winning percentage in program history.
The former Ridger knows how to score. Her 46 goals and 15 assists not only paced the Mules’ offense in 2009; those 61 points will go down in the record books as the fifth-highest scoring season at Muhlenberg.
But it’s not the statistics that McGovern will remember about this historic year.
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Wrecking ball cometh?
By Erin Roll
of Glen Ridge Voice
Montclair-based developer Steven D. Plofker is attempting to demolish two single-family homes on Glen Ridge Avenue and replace them with newer, albeit smaller, living space.
Plofker, the head of 3-D Partners LLC, filed an application with borough construction officials last week, according to Borough Administrator Michael Rohal. He also filed for a demolition permit on May 20, said building department representative Tara Bentola. Approval is contingent on Historic Preservation Commission approval, she said. He would also have to prove that all utilities have been shut off and that the homes have received asbestos abatement and pest control.
Plofker has been planning to redevelop the two Glen Ridge Avenue properties for several months. When contacted by Glen Ridge Voice June 4, Plofker declined comment.
Under the original plan, Plofker sought to re-model the existing houses (the pair now targeted for demolition), along with a barn at 117 Glen Ridge Ave. He then planned to construct three new dwellings, bringing the total number of structures on the properties to six.
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End of a long road for GRHS lacrosse
By Ed Kensik
for Glen Ridge Voice
The Glen Ridge girls lacrosse season might have ended with a thud, but the Lady Ridgers’ drive to get to the state sectional final was quite an achievement.
Glen Ridge had never in its program history been to a state sectional final until this season.
"We were one of the 16 teams playing on that day," Lady Ridgers head coach Beth Larkin said.
When they got there, Glen Ridge had a difficult time against Mountain Lakes. The early going against the Thundering Herd set the tone for the rest of the Group 1 North sectional title game.
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South end bicycles an endangered species
By Erin Roll
of Glen Ridge Voice
Bicycle owners in the south end have had to cope with a rash of garage burglaries in recent weeks.
At least 14 bikes were reported stolen from garages last month, with eight of the incidents taking place over the Memorial Day weekend. The thefts are part of a trend that extends back over the last few months, according to Police Chief John R. Magnier.
The stolen bikes range in value from a $250 women’s mountain bike to a $2,000 Gary Fisher model. In three separate incidents on Lincoln Street, Washington Street and Douglas Road, the perpetrator(s) stole multiple bikes from the same garage.
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