Week in Review: Teacher Unrest, Real Estate Comeback, Tax Talk

In a massive showing of discontent with stalled teacher contract negotiations, hundreds of Ridgewood Education Association (REA) members crowded the Education Center Monday to say they felt the school board had been negotiating in bad faith and spending money foolishly.

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There are encouraging signs the housing market in Ridgewood and Glen Rock is inching back to normalcy, according to Keller Williams Operating Principal Al Donohue. He offered some suggestions on what to do and what not to do if selling your house.

Neighboring Mahwah is having a devil of a time finding a new superintendent of schools, one they largely attribute to the salary cap now in place. With David Verducci's recent retirement announcement and even less it can spend on a top school admin, the borough could soon find itself in the same position.

Council members said any tax increase under 4 percent pretty much guarantees more layoffs and they don't expect a tax bill as high as 7.6 percent when the budget is finally introduced. Councilman Aronsohn asked colleagues to consider a "zero-based-budgeting approach" and that the public be allowed to view the preliminary budgets. The council dismissed both requests.

Convicted by a jury of a hate crime for a series of spycam incidents against Ridgewood's Tyler Clementi, Dharun Ravi held big-time interviews with media last week. "I won’t ever get up there and tell the world I hated Tyler because he was gay, or tell the world I was trying to hurt or intimidate him because it’s not true," he told The Newark Star-Ledger.

Game On! Glen Rock is offering some fantastic incentives to helping the grassroots turf group raise money to revitalize Faber Field. Among the offers? A brand new car! Glen Rock Family Day on August 18 is shaping up to be a fantastic time.

Diana Stolfo was a featured speaker at a conference held at the United Nations on Wednesday. Born with Down Syndrome, she lives independently, has four jobs and is hoping to get her driver's license soon.

Ridgewood BOE candidate Jim Morgan says he'd bring openness, an inquisitive mindset to the school board and the ability to better breakdown a budget he says doesn't draw enough sharp eyes. Morgan is running for a one-year seat against incumbent Bob Hutton.

Consumate community volunteer and father John Lavin died at age 54 last weekend. The Ridgewood resident was well known for his involvement in the youth sports community, at his church and as a member of Dad's Night. He will be missed.

Former councilman and mayor Quentin Wiest II was hired as Hoboken's Business Administrator, the city announced. The Ridgewood resident has a tall task ahead of him navigating the icy waters of 'Boken politics.