Kent Blair - Center in Cub Master Uniform

After working for nearly twenty-five years for large institutional Wall Street firms, Kent Blair has created a more personal and entrepreneurial venture.   Van Dien Asset Management is the result.  Here, Kent puts to work his significant portfolio management and research analyst skills to construct high quality technology-focused equity portfolios in an effort to deliver superior returns. The early performance results are promising: 

For the First Quarter of 2010, the Van Dien Asset Management portfolio was up 9.66% versus 5.68% for the NASDAQ Composite index and 4.87% for the S&P 500 index, respectively.   This is on top of substantial outperformance in 2009. 

In today’s turbulent investment environment, trusting your Portfolio Manager is more important than ever.  And if there is one family I know that inspires trust – it is the Blair family. 

Kent is the Cubmaster of Ridgewood’s Cub Scout Pack 55, a Ridgewood football, basketball and baseball coach and he is an active member of the Somerville-Hawes Dads’ Night organization.

Kent coaching Ridgewood Biddy Basketball

Kent’s wife, Beth Blair, is the former President of the Ridgewood YWCA Newcomers Club and currently serves on the Vestry at Christ Church in Ridgewood. 

Obviously, being involved and trustworthy people doesn’t necessarily translate into great returns.  Luckily, both Kent and Beth Blair’s resumes and credentials are even more impressive than their dedication to the Ridgewood Community.  And of course there is the fact that Van Dien Asset Management handily beat the returns of the NASDAQ Composite index and the S&P 500 index in Q1 2010.

To learn more about Kent, Beth and Van Dien Asset Management:

Call:  (201) 857-2628.

Email:  kentblair@vandienasset.com

Visit: http://www.vandienasset.com/

Read: Van Dien Asset Management Brochure

In the interest of full disclosure I do want to mention that I have not invested in Van Dien Asset Management…yet.   I also am not currently, and never will be, a financial expert and am in no way qualified to give investment advice.  Furthermore, “Past performance is no guarantee of future results” and yada, yada, blah, blah please don’t sue me.  Check out this firm.  Make your own decisions.

Click below and let’s connect on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, etc.

CRUMBS Bake Shop, the originator of the gourmet cupcake, brings its Signature sized cupcakes and sweet treats to the New Jersey community of Ridgewood. The CRUMBS Ridgewood store will open to the public on Monday, January 18th at 123 East Ridgewood Avenue at 7:30 a.m., offering a variety of their delicious cupcakes, muffins, cookies, brownies, coffee and other baked goods.

“Ridgewood embodies everything we love about a small town,” said Mia Bauer, CRUMBS co-founder. “The people are warm and welcoming and we cannot wait to bring our delectable treats to this lovely community.”

The design of CRUMBS Bake Shops is inspired by old-time candy shops, creating a warm and friendly environment with wall-to-wall treats served on real china. The first bake shop opened its doors in March of 2003 on the Upper West Side of Manhattan by co-founders Mia & Jason Bauer. There are currently twenty locations on the East Coast and five locations on the West Coast. The specialty of the house is cupcakes; however the menu also adds an irresistible blend of comfort-oriented classics and elegant baked goods. There are more than 50 varieties of cupcakes baked fresh daily with a new cupcake of the week debuting each Monday.

CRUMBS Ridgewood

123 East Ridgewood Avenue

Ridgewood, NJ 07450

www.CRUMBS.com

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Why Choose Aloysius Donohue?

It’s hard to answer this question myself without sounding like a complete blowhard so please click below to see what clients and local newspapers had to say.

Clients Are Saying…

Local Newspapers are Saying…

Click here to see some of my current listings…

Ridge Thai's Website (Ridgewood, NJ)

According to 201 Magazine Ridge Thai nudged out another Ridgewood Restaurant for first place on this year’s list.  Taste of Thai, in Ridgewood, was the category’s runner up.

Ridge Thai serves traditional Thai Dishes, in large portions, at its 24 seat establishment located at 50 Chestnut Street near the Ridgewood Train Station.  One local resident quoted in the 201 Article describes it as “small, inmate” while another says “The staff is accommodating, to the point of being sweet without being sugary.  The spices are real and delicious.  When I wipe the back of my neck and back of my head and they are wet with perspiration, but my mouth and throat are not burning in the least, I know I’m enjoying the best Thai food.”

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Ridgewood’s Office Beer Bar and Grill Named Best Sports Bar in Bergen County

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Click Here to Subscribe to The Ridgewood Front Porch

Deirdre Ward, 201’s Social Editor, says Ridgewood Vehicle  is her one-stop motor shop when it comes to auto service and repairs.  She says she is a repeat customer and has 5 drivers and 4 cars in her family so she is no stranger to fender-benders.  She counts on Ridgewood Vehicle’s Ken Montick and his team to do a great job every time whether they are doing repairs, painting, body work, alignment or some other service.

Ward says Ken’s team offers competitive pricing and great turnaround time.  She says, “They are so good I recommend them to everyone.”

Related Ridgewood Articles

Ridgewood’s Office Beer Bar and Grill Named Best Sports Bar in Bergen County

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Click Here to Subscribe to The Ridgewood Front Porch

201 Magazine recently named Ridgewood’s Office Beer Bar and Grill as a repeat winner int he “Best Sports Bar” category.  The magazine cites the lively bar scene, large number of wide-screen TVs, sports enthusiasm and “good-eats” as the main reason for the award – and I have to agree.

The Office is a very versatile place.  There are not many sports bars that work equally well as a happy hour spot and a family restaurant – but The Office pulls it off.  My colleagues and I sometimes hit the office for happy hour and I have caught my share of games there but I feel equally comfortable bringing the family to The Office for a nice, casual lunch on weekends.  The Office is like a good utility player – it can fill many roles.

Next time you are in Ridgewood  stop by the office and check it out for yourself.

Click Here to Subscribe to The Ridgewood Front Porch

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Brooklyn’s Brick Oven Pizzeria, in Ridgewood NJ, Named Best Pizza in Bergen County

This award should be no big surprise to Ridgewood Residents or to anyone who has had the privilege of eating at this beloved Downtown Ridgewood Establishment.   The Country Pancake house features over 100 different types of pancakes along with every other conceivable breakfast fare you could think of – from Belgian Waffles made with Coconut and Wheat Germ to delicious Frittatas stuffed with Artichokes, Shrimp and Jack Cheese. If you plan to eat here on a weekend morning be prepared to wait a bit but the huge selection, large portions and and fresh ingredients make it well worth the wait.

Ridgewood’s Country Pancake House also won the award for Best Pancakes.  Go figure.

To view the full menu Click Here

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Click Here to Subscribe to The Ridgewood Front Porch

Van Dyke’s Ice Cream, on Ackerman Avenue in Ridgewood, Named Bergen County’s Best Ice Cream.

This is another Bergen Health & Life review I can agree with.  I’d give Van Dyke’s “A” for it’s great handmade ice cream and it’s “throwback” charm.  However, if I had to choose, I would still go with  Maggie Moo’s on Maple Avenue in Ridgewood – but you really can’t go wrong either way.

The magazine cites the Bailey’s Irish Cream, Amaretto and Chunky Strawberry as the best flavors to try.  I will have to take the family there and give it a try.  I reserve the right to change my vote from Maggie Moo’s to Van Dyke’s pending the results of my new field research.

Other related must reads:

Brooklyn’s Brick Oven Pizzeria, in Ridgewood NJ, Named Best Pizza in Bergen County

4 Great Things to do in Ridgewood this Summer

For once, a review I can agree with.  My family gets take out from Brooklyn’s Pizza in Ridgewood all the time.  They have a great menu and the pizza and fresh toppings are excellent.  They also make a great garlic bread that actually comes in the shape of a pizza pie, as opposed to a loaf of Italian Bread with butter and garlic salt that you get in most pizzerias.  My 2 boys love the mozzarella sticks which also have a unique shape.  In fact, they are not “sticks” at all.  They are triangle shaped and they are the best mozzarella sticks triangles I have ever tasted.

I do agree that Brooklyn’s is the best pizza in Bergen County but they do have one fatal flaw – they don’t deliver.

In the interest of full disclosure, Brooklyn’s Pizza did tie for the #1 spot with Kinchley’s Tavern in Ramsey.  I have heard great things about Kinchley’s but I have never been there.  I have heard tales of long lines at Kinchleys, and since I know what I am getting right here in Ridgewood, I have never bothered to take that long 10 minute drive to Ramsey.

If you live in Ridgewood and don’t want to get up off the couch to pick up your pizza, I would also recommend Renato’s and Puzo’s.   They both deliver.

Click the link below for info on the best Ice Cream in Ridgewood.

4 Great Things to do in Ridgewood this Summer
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Home Staging. Is it right for you?

Yes!

“Because the way you live in your home and the way you market and sell it are two very different things”.

– Barb Schwarz

When you decide to place your house on the market, it becomes a product. Now I know it can be hard to think of your home as just a product, but it is, and the consumers that you want to attract are the buyers.

Anyone who has gone shopping knows how important packaging can be when choosing to buy something; it could be as simple as picking out a bottle of wine. You may not be sure how it tastes but you may be tempted to buy and try it because of how the bottle and label looks.

Well this is the same principal for having your home Professionally Staged. You want to package your home to make it very appealing to a large group of potential buyers.

As homeowners we can become very comfortable with how our house looks to us.  Over time we start to overlook things that can be very obvious to others buyers.

When you are ready to sell, you must be ready to be seen. And believe me, buyers are going to look at everything.

“Buyers only know what they see – not the way it is going to be”.

–Barb Schwarz

Having your home Professionally Staged will ensure that you are giving buyers a great and lasting first impression about your home.

Staging Tip #1:

Have all the windows in your home cleaned. Buyers are always looking out the windows to see the view.

For more information on Home Staging please click here: Bergen County’s Best Home Stager – Barbara Miksits

Click Below to view photos of homes staged by Barbara Miksits:

Ridgewood New Construction Staged by Barbara Miksits

Allendale Home Staged by Barbara Miksits

Ridgewood Home Staged by Barbara Miksits

About Barbara Miksits and BCM Home Staging

Barbara Cluck-Miksits is an Accredited Staging Professional and a member of The International Association of Home Staging Professionals^.  As the Design Manager of a large Retail Floral Enterprise for 25 years, Barbara has experience in on site decorating of residential homes, corporate environments, interior design for retail stores and merchandise coordinating. Click here to learn more about Barbara.