Category Archives: Pascack Valley

PSE&G Sucks.

Luckily, the regional headquarters of mrwestwood.com has been replete with electricity for the duration, and aftermath, of hurricane Irene.  However, as early as 8am this morning, numerous neighborhoods throughout Westwood, and throughout the Pascack Valley, have experienced extended electricity outages.

This sent many people in low-lying areas scrambling for generators to power the sump pumps to keep their homes from flooding.  Eleven hours later, electricity still has not been restored.

There were no significant reports of high winds in the region overnight, yet PSE&G couldn’t do the most important thing it is charged with doing–keep the electricity flowing.

Do you live in a neighborhood which lost power today?  Does your neighborhood have those useless solar panels flying high on the poles?  We had a sunny afternoon in Westwood.  Why wasn’t the solar panel sending power to your home?  Because PSE&G’s solar panels do nothing.

For all of you who fell prey to PSE&G’s public disservice today, we will use a bit of our own electricity to send out a message on your behalf:

PSE&G SUCKS!

Cell Phone Motorists Make Westwood, NJ Roads More Dangerous.

The scourge of cell phone motorists has reached epidemic proportions in Westwood, NJ, and across the state.  There is no doubt that a distracted driver is a dangerous driver.

In New Jersey, it is unlawful to use a handheld cell phone while operating a motor vehicle.  This is a primary enforcement law in NJ, which means that an officer may cite a driver for using a handheld cell phone without any other traffic offense taking place.  Text messaging while driving is also unlawful in NJ, and is also a primary enforcement law.

Additionally, novice drivers are prohibited from all cell phone use, whether handheld or hands-free, while driving.

It seems that the unlawful nature of this conduct is no deterrent.  Watch the traffic on any street in Westwood and you will readily observe adults with children in their cars, persons driving large commercial vehicles, and even borough employees (cops, for example) driving borough-owned vehicles, all while holding cell phones up to their ears in violation of the law.

Here is an example of a cell phone motorist driving in Westwood on 6/11/11 in a green Cherokee Sport.  This young woman drove without a care in the world and was observed changing lanes and making a turn without a directional, and driving erratically, all while gabbing away on her cell phone.

Cell Phone Motorist in Westwood, NJ on 6/11/11.

Cell Phone Motorist in Westwood, NJ on 6/11/11.

Cell Phone Motorist in Westwood, NJ on 6/11/11.

Cell Phone Motorist in Westwood, NJ on 6/11/11.

This epidemic of stupidity and criminality on Westwood, NJ roads must stop.

If only Westwood had a department of persons on staff to enforce the laws. 

Dare to dream …

Don’t Be A Cigarette Litter Pig.

Cigarette litter pigs are those despicable people who discard their cigarette butts on the ground.

Cigarette butts are litter!!!  Westwood code includes in its definition of litter any unlighted cigarette, cigar, match or any flaming or glowing material.

In Westwood, NJ, it is unlawful to litter pursuant to relevant Ordinance sections, among others:

  • ARTICLE I. General Littering Regulations
    § 204-2. Litter in public places.
    No person shall throw or deposit litter in or upon any street, sidewalk or other public place within the Borough…
  • ARTICLE II. Litter Control
    § 204-17. Prohibited acts; litter from vehicles and boats.
    A. It shall be unlawful for any person to throw, drop, discard or otherwise place any litter of any nature upon public or private property…
    B. Whenever any litter is thrown or discarded or allowed to fall from a vehicle or boat in violation of this article, the operator or owner, or both, of the motor vehicle or boat shall also be deemed to have violated this article.

Most commonly, one can catch cigarette litter pig motorists tossing their cigarette refuse out of their car windows.  They seem to be so high on nicotine that they are oblivious to, or unconcerned with, their brazen violation of the law.

Here’s a litter pig in the act of flicking a lit cigerette butt out his car window on Mill Street at the Third Ave intersection on 3/16/2011 at 5:20 pm:

Cigarette litter pig in Westwood, NJ.

Cigarette litter pig flicks a cigarette butt out of his car window onto Mill Street in Westwood on 3/16/11 at 5:20 pm.

Cigarette litter pig in action on Mill Street at Third Ave on 3/16/11 at 5:20 pm.

Cigarette litter pig in action on Mill Street at Third Ave on 3/16/11 at 5:20 pm.

When enough people do this (and there are plenty), our roads look like this:

Cigarette litter on a Westwood road.

Disgusting, despicable, unlawful.  Don’t be a cigarette litter pig.

Winter in Westwood (circa 1906).

Before we say goodbye to the snowy days of winter in Westwood, NJ, let’s take a moment to pictorially reminisce about the days gone by in Westwood circa 1906:

Winter in Westwood, circa 1906.

How to Block Harassing Reverse 911 Calls.

Perhaps you have an unlisted phone number and were surprised to find out that Westwood’s Money Pit Reverse 911 called you anyway.

Perhaps you were asleep at 1:10 am on 8/23/10 when Westwood’s Money Pit Reverse 911 woke you and your family with a phone call to say that it was raining heavily and that, guess what, areas prone to flooding were likely to flood!

Perhaps the idea of the waste of taxpayer money on unnecessary services such as a phone call from Westwood’s Money Pit Reverse 911 just really pisses you off.

Whatever your reason, here’s how to stop the harassing reverse 911 calls.  Most phone services offer to block incoming phone calls from specific numbers for free.  In this age of digital communication, the consumer often gets direct control over this action without a middle-man.  The following describes how to block unwanted phone calls using Cablevision’s Optimum Voice interface.

First, log in to your Optimum Voice account.

Next, select the tab marked “Features > Block Unwanted Calls.”

Block Reverse 911 Calls.

At the bottom of the “Block Unwanted Calls” page, you will find a place to input specific phone numbers to block.

Block Reverse 911 Calls.

If you wanted to block Westwood’s Money Pit Reverse 911, for instance, you would enter (201) 403-9565.  Update 10/31/2012: new Reverse-911 number is 973-718-7763.

Hit the “Submit” button at the bottom to confirm changes, and you are done.  No more harassing phone calls.

Reverse 911 is a Joke and/or We Are Idiots.

It’s raining heavily outside; places that are prone to flooding might actually flood.  Did you need a phone call to tell you that?

Only if you’re an idiot.

It’s snowing heavily outside; the roads might be slippery and you should be careful if you leave the house to drive.  Did you need a phone call to tell you that?

Only if you’re an idiot.

A bear was spotted somewhere in Westwood; you should be careful not to approach any bears that you may see.  Did you need a phone call to tell you that?

Only if you’re an idiot.

Reverse 911 is a joke.

Reverse 911 is a waste of taxpayer money.

Site Updated.

Welcome returning loyal visitors and those who have just stumbled upon this site.  Some of you may have noticed that the navigation structure at the top has changed.  Have no fear, nothing is lost.  In fact, it’s all here.  The old site is gone and all the content has been completely moved here.  There are nested pages within each link at the top of the page, and all pages can be accessed with the “Pages” navigation structure on the right-hand side of every page.

We welcome your comments, suggestions, and submissions.  Enjoy!

Welcome to Westwood NJ - The Hub of the Pascack Valley.

Leaf Blower Nuisance.

Dust cloud in downtown Westwood from gas-powered leaf blowers.

Dust cloud in downtown Westwood from gas-powered leaf blowers.

Recently, an insightful Hillsdale woman wrote a letter to the editor of one of those free so-called newspapers that litter our driveways on a weekly basis.  Her letter addresses the noise, smell, and dust created by those terrorist pollution machines generally referred to as gas-powered leaf blowers.  These machines terrorize us in a number of ways: they are responsible for a significant amount of noise pollution and air pollution, and they run on nonrenewable fossil fuel (overpriced gasoline).

If you’ve ever been on a walk or a ride past an area where one of these machines is operating, then you likely noticed the dust storm created in the area, as well as the excessive noise and emissions smell.  You better have something nearby to protect your mouth, nose, and eyes!

Dust cloud in downtown Westwood from gas-powered leaf blowers.

Dust cloud in downtown Westwood from gas-powered leaf blowers.

It is interesting to note that many people who use these machines don’t even wear protective equipment.  Sometimes you see hearing protection being used, but rarely do you see protection for the mouth or nose.  Yikes!

The Pascack Valley needs to take a stand against these gas-powered leaf blower terrorist machines.

If a picture is worth a thousand words, a video is worth a lot more:

Now let’s be clear about one important thing: nothing above is meant to criticize the young gentlemen operating the machines.  They are working hard, and you gotta do what you gotta do to make a living.  However, the people at the top who are calling the shots should be aware of the impact of their decisions on the environment and on the health and the quality of life of both occupational and non-occupational receptors.

by Mr. Westwood