Candidates Forums, Valley Testimony Continues This Week

Get to Know the November Candidates

Even though New Jersey just voted for its next U.S. Senator, the election season isn't quite over. On Nov. 5, the locals go to the polls to vote for governor, state legislators and Bergen County freeholders.

If you don't know all the candidates on the ballot in two weeks, there are a few opportunities this week to familiarize yourself.

Neighbors Helping Neighbors, a support and networking group for the unemployed, will be hosting state and county candidates at the Ridgewood Elks Lodge, 111 N. Maple Avenue, beginning at 6:45 p.m. Monday.

The nonpartisan group is hoping to hold candidates to issues affecting the job market and the unemployed. Read more about the event here.

The League of Women Voters of Bergen County will also be hosting a pair of forums for county candidates at the Moses Family Center at Bergen County Community College.

On Tuesday, candidates running for three of the seven seats on the Bergen County Board of Chosen Freeholders will be at the college to answer questions from voters beginning at 2 p.m. On Wednesday at 1:45 p.m., the two candidates for Bergen County Sheriff will be answering questions.

At both forums, voters will have the opportunity to submit written questions for the candidates.

Opposition Continues Testimony on Valley

The second night of testimony before the planning board from Concerned Residents of Ridgewood, a group opposing the proposed Valley Hospital expansion, will take place in the Benjamin Franklin Middle School auditorium at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday.

Last month, a planning expert testified on behalf of CRR that the expansion would adversely impact surrounding residential neighborhoods, and questioned prior testimony from Valley experts that the expansion would not result in a more intensity of use and traffic at the site.

On Tuesday, CRR President Peter McKenna and the group's land use attorney Michael Kates are expected to continue outlining residents' opposition to the expansion plan.

Other public meetings scheduled this week include the Ridgewood Board of Education Monday night at 7:30 p.m. and the Ridgewood Village Council Wednesday at 7:30 p.m.

Last Chance to Take the Jamboree Stage

Ridgewood High School's Jamboree is seeking parent actors for its 2014 show "It's a Shore Thing," a beach-themed musical featuring tunes from the Beach Boys, Bon Jovi, the Four Seasons and Bob Marley.

The last chance to register to be part of the show's cast will take place at 7 p.m. Thursday in the high school campus center. For more information, contact rhsjamboree2014@gmail.com.

Jamboree funded over $100,000 in student scholarships last year.

Film Festival Debuts

The Ridgewood Public Library's Reel Voices documentary film festival takes off with two screenings this week.

Stories We Tell kicks off the festival Wednesday night at 7:30, with a free screening of a creative exploration of memory told through the family history of Oscar-nominated director Sarah Polley.

The Invisible War, an eye-opening expose of rape in the military, will be shown at the same time Friday, and the festival will continue each Friday night through November. Tickets to the screenings are $5 and, with the exception of the free Wednesday premier, are followed by a question and answer session with producers or experts on the issues presented.