I'm thrilled to share that more than 200 Senior Parking Permits have been sold since we launched the program on July 1. That means no more trips to the kiosks or dealing with ParkMobile for our seniors!

The permit allows Ridgewood residents age 65 and over to park in the Central Business District for a flat fee of $75 per year. For the remainder of 2026, a prorated permit is available for $37.50.

This program is just one part of our broader effort to make it easier and more affordable for Ridgewood seniors to get around, shop, dine and enjoy everything our downtown has to offer.

Several of our parks have received upgrades this year, with even more improvements on the way. New sunshades were installed at Graydon Pool before the start of the summer season, and new equipment for the adjacent skate park will be arriving by mid-October. At Citizens Park, the project to revamp the lower field is expected to move forward shortly. At Kings Pond Park, the new playground is already in place, and a new gazebo will soon be installed. It's exciting to see so many improvements taking shape across our parks!

I had the pleasure of kicking off the 2026 Mayors Wellness Campaign at the Kasschau Memorial Shell on September 18 and visiting with residents of Ridgecrest Senior Housing and members of the HILT Senior Club more recently. This year's message is simple: Take a 10-minute walk and add a little more fruit to your diet. If 10 minutes feels like too much, start with five minutes. And don't give up cookies completely! Maybe once a week, swap them for an apple or an orange. Good health doesn't have to mean drastic changes. It starts with small choices made consistently.

The soil remediation project at the Zabriskie-Schedler property is now complete, marking an important step forward for this site. The park project was approved by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection on August 27, 2025. This project addresses a critical need in our community because it includes a full-size multipurpose field that is not prone to flooding, as so many of our other fields are. In fact, the Village originally purchased the property in 2009 for this purpose. I am proud to say that we anticipate breaking ground by the end of the year.

Ray Keeley stepped into the role of Director of the Building Department/Construction Code Official on July 1, and his leadership has already made a real impact.

First, the Building Department now opens at 7:30 am, one hour earlier, giving contractors and residents more flexibility. If you're stopping by that early, be sure to use the Maple Avenue entrance.

Second, the department is fully staffed for the first time in several years, allowing inspections to take place five days a week.

Third, the department is current on all applications, reviews and permits. No backlog!

These are meaningful improvements, and the Village Council is grateful to Ray and the entire Building Department team for making the process more convenient and responsive for our residents.

Tatte Bakery & Cafe has become such a popular destination that earlier this summer, we installed a permanent crosswalk right in front of it. That section of Ridgewood Avenue was already an area of concern for pedestrians because of the driveways on both sides of the street. New corner bump-outs shorten the crossing distance, reducing the amount of time pedestrians spend in the roadway. Many thanks to our Engineering Division for making it easier and safer to cross the street, whether you’re heading to Tatte for a latte, shakshuka or sweet treat.

If you’ve been to Van Neste Square lately, you may have noticed a welcome new addition: our new bus station, which opened last month.

The project was funded through a New Jersey Department of Transportation grant secured last year with the assistance of Senator Kristin Corrado, Assemblyman Christopher DePhillips and Assemblyman Al Barlas.

Many thanks to our LD40 representatives for helping to make this Central Business District improvement possible.