The Maroon Vol. 2… No. 40 Friday, May 27, 2022
“Bringing us all to a place we don't want to lose."
Observer: A Complacent Village
Macky’s New York: A Portrait Of Mother
William Peay: Tales From The Wood…
RHS Athletic Hall Of Fame: Save The Date: Nov. 5th 2022
Did You Know… A Little Help from Mary Poppins
RHS Tired Teens: Later School Start Times
M + A NYC: Mighty Are We As One
James Stroker: Hope Coach
Jim Schoneman: Rock Hound
Doug Walker & Tara Farrell: New Home for Walker Office Works
Observer
A Complacent Village
When the new interum Superintendent of Ridgewood Public Schools, Dr. Leonard Fitts, spoke at the Board Of Education meeting on May 23, 2022, he asked whether there was a polo team. My classmate and friend clued me in as to what he meant by his gentle query about Polo and about Ridgewood creating an Olympic Prep Board. Dr. Fitts was actually asking,
“Why aren’t you trying new things? What's keeping you from seeing the possibilities? Is it fear, boredom, or are you just content to rest on your laurels?”
A goodly number of Ridgewood community members live by and in fear of the Jack Welch paradigm. It is a brutal kind of corporate irresponsibility made famous by the CEO of GE who cooked the books and ran the company founded by Thomas Edison into the ground. Welch cut costs, made the numbers look right for shareholders, and then paid himself handsomely (he received a $437 million severance package).
One need not dig too deep for examples of the power of this creed over the minds and behaviors of Village leaders. You’ll find widespread hypocracies in the Village Council and their reckless spending on Pickleball noise abatement ($24,000); the Board Of Education for stalling on a proposal sponsored by their own high school principal to start school at 8:30AM; and the indifference of the RHS Alumni Association to repeated warnings about a local grifter who has hacked their unpatched web server.
On this past Monday, members of the community readily admitted at the BOE meeting that they have averted their eyes to the shenanigans going on around the village, now that their own children have graduated. Isn’t that how it usually goes in Ridgewood?
Live Stream TV Monday night clearly showed what the unsuperivsed actions have left us with: A lazy, discontented rabble. The Village might as well be led by the fictional Mr. Potter from the Frank Capra movie, It’s A Wonderful Life.
As Anne (Tarvin) Vandevander put it in her comments made directly to the BOE, Dr. Fitts saw an "embarrassing" display, of the disconnect between the BOE and the community. Another parent asked, "Do we look like a happy community?"
The answer is a resounding NO!
Macky’s New York
Matthew Cortellesi Photography
November 23, 2021 - Upper Eastside
A Portrait Of Mother
There are people who find problems in life and make people around them know and there are those who chose to brush them aside and not draw attention to their pain so those around them can enjoy their moment - my mother is part of the greatest generation too - never once asking for sympathy for her frustrations just smiling always and trying to advance joy and hope...especially hope that the bottle of chardonnay on the dinner table will find its way in her direction.
Shot at my sister's house on the dining room table.
Time 9pm.
#mother
William Peay
Tales From The Wood…
Prospect Street. (Formerly Al & Harry’s)
RHS Athletic Hall Of Fame
Save The Date: November 5, 2022
Visit The RHS Athletic Hall Of Fame
Digital Printing for the RHS Hall of Fame provided by Tim Boucher, RHS 1988
Did You Know…
A Little Help from Mary Poppins
Did you know that Dr. Leonard Fitts was appointed as interim superintendent of Ridgewood Public Schools at this week's BOE meeting? His calm, professional demeanor was in stark contrast to that of others in the room. He was present for an embarrassing display of the tension and disconnect between our current superintendent, the BOE, and the community. The overriding theme of the public comments was the lack of communication and collaboration between the district and the community.
A perfect example was the complete lack of response to the RHS students who presented their petition for a later school start time and asked for an action plan. They didn't have time to be at a BOE meeting but they went anyway. They didn't want to speak in an unwelcoming space but they did it anyway. They shouldn't have to tell district leaders that it is their job to protect the most basic health requirements of their students. Yet, they continue to show up with an issue so important that NJ legislators are giving it their attention only to be dismissed without comment. Like Jane and Michael Banks in Mary Poppins presenting their grievances to their parents and being given a pat on the head before being sent off to bed.
You can't help but feel hopeful when you see Mary Poppins descending from the clouds with her bag full of magic. You know that with a "spit-spot" she will help clean up the mess. With a can-do attitude and a fresh perspective, she reminds us of what we value most in life. Dr. Fitts made it clear that he is only going to be with us for a short time before moving on but let's hope he spreads a little magic and helps us to see, with new eyes, what we have been missing.
RHS Tired Teens
Later School Start Times
M + A NYC
Mighty Are We As One
Inspired by art, designed in New York, and made by hand with love by artisans all over the world. Shop home décor and wearable accessories at www.mplusanyc.com
James Stroker
Hope Coach
Jim Schoneman
Rock Hound
A couple of Jenni's poppies.
Doug Walker & Tara Farrell
New Home for Walker Office Works
Today was my last day in Winooski, VT. 10 years goes so fast. I started from scratch 10 years ago and now I’m onto the big apple. I would have never guessed this. I want to thank my wife Tara Farrell Walker for all her support while I worked long hours to develop my craft and established a great customer base. You are my rock. I could not have done it without you.