Maroons Online Vol. 2… No. 1 Tuesday, February 8, 2022
“Bringing us all to a place we don't want to lose."
Observer: Alumni Externships
Macky’s New York: The Birds Nest
William Peay: Tales From The Wood…
RHS Athletic Hall Of Fame: Save The Date: Nov. 5th 2022
M + A NYC: Mighty Are We As One
James Stroker: Hope Coach
Jim Schoneman: Rock Hound
Siobhan Crann Winograd: Around The Village
RHSAA: RHS Alumni Externship
Jeff Meyers: Perfect Parents
Observer
Alumni Externships
When Youth departs, may wisdom prove enough.
The Alumni Externships program is a wonderful idea and I’m glad it’s becoming an annual tradition at RHS. It’s all about connecting juniors & seniors with RHS alumni via Zoom and in person to talk about careers and life in general. What a great antidote to the loneliness so many people are feeling nearly two years into this pandemic!
Though given my druthers, I’d personally like to see more older adults encouraged to participate. They possess experiences & knowledge which the 20 & 30 year olds who largely composed the cohort last year didn’t possess. All I am suggesting is that there be more emphasis placed on including older alumni & soliciting their wisdom. They have seen plenty and have insights about each phase of Life and how they are intrinsically connected.
Nothing wrong with hearing from 20 & 30 somethings on what Corporate America is currently like and how teenagers might best approach this phase of life. Unfortunately, these lessons are transitory and once learned become less meaningful.
Better to talk to high school students about the long arc of Life. And these sort of discussions are best led by people at the end of their careers, who are more concerned with their legacies than their resumes.
Let’s be clear, recently graduated students don’t have to be perfect on the first day of a new career. There is no amount of coaching or introductions to rich & powerful people that is going to make up for their unsophisticated and immature outlooks. None.
It doesn’t matter whether one begins their career immediately after high school graduation or college. Perfection is rarely achieved, only approached, and sometimes for only brief moments.
A better path is for these young alumni is to gain a firm grasp on what their Civic Responsibility are. It’s quite different than the obligations they might feel towards an employer. In fact, young graduates can find out rather quickly that their loyalty to a corporation might come at the expense of their Civic Responsibilities. Many an inexperienced person has been persuaded to break the law, pollute the environment, and forgo participation in their communities in order to meet some arbitrary deadline to meet a bonus or quota. It’s only after the fact they come to understand disrespecting their neighbors rights for their own gain is a shallow way of living.
Alumni further along in their lives will have a much clearer idea as to what this distinction means and how young people might approach such a choice. It is just as important as, if not more, than the career they might be interested in learning about.
Macky’s New York
Matthew Cortellesi Photography
February 2, 2021 - Central Park.
The Birds Nest
The Lake was completely covered in snow today...except for one spot at the south end of Wagner Cove. When I saw that...I made my way over. Up until that point no one had crossed the pathway into the brush and the snow looked thick and I really didn't know where the water line was and so I took a move out of the Crinch and decided the best approached was to slither down the hill on my stomach...which was surprisingly effective - it was like a toboggan run as I weaved between the trees and thorn bushes and when I got to what I thought was the edge...I went belly first into the water - but on a positive note...I don't have to shower later today. And so I laid there as a couple stayed warm and out of the afternoon snow storm - they were looking at me kinda funny and I did the old hand up to show that I was normal and the hesitantly waved back and as I got up and made my way back out of the bog... I pointed to the hill...indicating to meet me over there and they nodded and well...you meet the damndest people in 2 feet of snow and I'm honored to introduce you to @krista.Jocelyn and @actualbankrobert...my new friends.
Shot on the south end of the cove looking north.
Time 145pm.
#mackysnewyork
William Peay
Tales From The Wood…
RHS Athletic Hall Of Fame
Save The Date: November 5, 2022
RHS Athletic Hall Of Fame Nomination Form—Under Construction
Visit The RHS Athletic Hall Of Fame—Under Construction
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
Stella Hand Loomed and Tufted Cotton Lumbar Pillow 12x24"
Inspired by Frank Stella's mesmerizing work we had Panipat artisans hand loom and weave our pillows in pit looms using the most plush unbleached, undyed cotton. They then meticulously stitched and hand tufted the design directly onto the straight woven to create a our pillows. Our 12 x 24" oblong pillow has fancy little self tassels because if you can't have a pom pom, you can have a tassel (or 12). Ours comes with a custom insert.
James Stroker
Jim Schoneman
Rock Hound
Cave Point is a magical place.
Siobhan Crann Winograd
Around The Village
Wow. There is a meeting tonight and being honest I am unsure of what will be on the agenda as I have never seen any official flex like this and attempt to remove things from a public discussion. I do wish the Pickleball Ridgewood crew the best of luck and hope our public parks are made accessible again by aligning pickleball with tennis.
By VIOLET LAZARUS
PublishedFebruary 1, 2022 at 6:54 PM
Last UpdatedFebruary 2, 2022 at 9:12 AM
RIDGEWOOD, N.J. - The pickleball discussion regarding days and hours on the agenda last week was pushed to this week, due to Deputy Mayor Michaeal Sedon’s absence.
Council Member Vagianos originally requested to re-open the discussion because he was not on the council for the last discussion that took place in November. That discussion concluded in the abbreviated hours remaining for pickleball players. Multiple pickleball players and residents attended the meeting to present their side of the argument.
During last week’s meeting, Council Member Lorraine Reynolds speculated that Vagianos was requesting the pushback because he knew that he, Sedon, and Council Member Pam Perron had a majority to reinstate the original hours.
Pickleball players currently cannot play on Mondays or Fridays, and their hours on other days are abbreviated as well.
Last week, the council was expected to allocate funds to the parks and recreation department to purchase a noise-absorbing barrier requested by Department Head Nancy Bigos at the recommendation of Stop Noise. However, a few members had questions regarding the quality of the material, and wanted to be sure the village purchased the highest quality product. They decided to hold off on the discussion until they were sure they had the best.
However, when Vagianos requested the discussion of hours be put off, Mayor Susan Knudsen asked Village Manager Heather Mailander to request that Bigos stop any further inquiries into the noise-absorbing material.
“Are we just wasting staff time and taxpayer money if the intent is to simply change the hours back to what they were before we understand the success of the sound mitigation effort?” said Knudsen.
Vagianos and Perron said they thought continuing to look into sound mitigation efforts was a good idea.
“The concern of people who want to restore pickleball hours isn’t the noise, it can’t possibly be.” Knudsen said after the meeting.
Siobhan Crann Winograd
February 3rd Update:
Lately it has become harder and harder to be involved and often people are looking for a personal update, so I am going to post on my personal page. Below are my unofficial points from last night.
-Hybrid Access was not on the agenda and the chair ignored all public input advocating for this to be re-instated. It was exceptionally sad to hear such beautiful advocacy ignored.
-The budget meetings will NOT BE STREAMED so you will have no view into how our taxes are allocated or spent.
-Our fields are in rough shape and due to the failure to develop Schedler after 13 years plus the closure of Orchard, the spring season MAY be delayed by one week which means less play time for our kids and adult athletes. Stay tuned.
-Despite an aggressive policy regarding masks, there was no enforcement and officials had to be reminded to wear them. (not commenting on masks but why have rules if they are not enforced?)
-PickleBall appeared to move forward despite the random objections of two members of council to slow walk the process. Cautiously optimistic for my PickleBall friends that the badges will align with tennis. Let us Dink!
-HealthBarn has signed their lease.
-The tree ordinance sort of moved forward and was the subject of lots of discussion that IMO could/should have been done via a draft circulation especially since the VC has been so vocal about meeting length. Again happy for Shade Tree that they made it back onto the agenda and just hope the VC focuses on the big picture.
-The VC again committed to a statement of clarity regarding the Schedler project that HAS NO COMPREHENSIVE PLAN in place. No time frame and I am not hopeful as this has gone on too long and it seems odd that for over a year nothing has been issued despite the 7 Million Dollar Price Tag.
-Our beautiful library did not receive the state grant but their trustees were back in action advocating for what they love.
Hope this helps.
RHSAA:
RHS Alumni Externship
About RAX:
The RHS Alumni Externship (RAX) program creates opportunities for current RHS juniors and seniors to meet, receive mentorship, and network with RHS Alumni (and parents) from a variety of career backgrounds. Sessions are virtual and will take place during May & June of this year. RAX is open to all students in 11th & 12th grade. This is going to be a part of the Tradition of Excellence for many years to come!
Jeff Meyers
Perfect Parents
Those of you who are perfect parents
May want to stop reading here;
My daughter told me
My response to the question
“Why aren’t you in therapy”
Was “pathetic,”
A word I taught her
In another lecture,
The arrow bouncing back
To pierce my armored heart.
Those of you who are excellent parents
May want to stop reading here;
I told my son the leather phone holder
Belted to his waist
Was ”kind of nerdy,”
He went down to the basement
And slammed some drums
While I stood cooking
Food
Not entirely to everyone’s preference.
Those of you who are adequate…whatever…
There is a fly, alive on the plate, upside down
Legs wriggling spasmodically,
Next to a cracker spread with soft cheese.
I watch it gesturing,
Beside the ruby luster of
A glistening glass, red wine,
Emoting tannins,
Sweet,
16% alcohol.
Peace