Maroons Online Vol. 2… No. 4 Friday, January 14, 2022
“Bringing us all to a place we don't want to lose."
Observer: Combing The Past
Macky’s New York: 3 Tracks In
William Peay: Tales From The Wood…
RHS Athletic Hall Of Fame: Accepting Applications
La Vita Cortellesi: American Red Cross Advanced First Aid
M + A NYC: Ear Cuff—Sterling Silver
James Stroker: Hope Coach
Jim Schoneman: Rock Hound
Siobhan Crann Winograd: Around The Village
Observer
Combing The Past
The lessons & experiences of multi-generational “Ridgewood Families” has long fascinated me. It helps to have money and to work locally in order to sustain the family tree, though the most dynamic families have always possessed a sense of wanting to give back to the community. They give their energy and often their names to projects which will endure long after the family has moved on.
One of my favorite examples is the Citizens’ Park across the street from George Washington Middle School. It’s the lack of a single name which draws my interest. Citizens’ Park began as an assemblage of citizens who pooled their money to purchase the land and give it to the Village. A large rock near the entrance with a plaque bearing the names of individuals, families, and businesses is all that was deemed necessary to mark their efforts.
Citizens’ Park is much like the Veterans’ Field acquisition. It was created for future generations to enjoy and for Village infrastructure to expand around it. It’s now surrounded by the high school, town hall, Kasschau Memorial Bandshell, & public library. Not to mention the memorial trees and benches which dot the field and provide shade as well as spots for a brief respite.
There are many other gifts to the Village like the Lester Stables, Graydon Pool, Van Neste Square, and others that I am surely missing.
The gift I’m looking to see in the future is a proper drainage system around the RHS Football field and the nearby Stevens Field. I’m watching efforts now in my own part of the world to avert neighborhood flooding through the building of Bioswales and Rain Gardens.
These are storm water runoff conveyance systems that provide an alternative to storm sewers. They can absorb low flows or carry runoff from heavy rains to storm sewer inlets or directly to surface waters. Rain gardens and Bioswales are simple landscaping features used to slow, collect, infiltrate, and filter storm water. Differences between these systems are subtle and the terms often are used interchangeably to describe systems that achieve the end goal of reducing storm water runoff and improving storm water quality.
It may just be these sports fields will always be susceptible to hard, heavy rains and that the Hohokus Brook will continue to overflow its banks. Maybe the Village government has already considered these strategies as ineffective or too costly. All I know is that it frustrates me, and I’m sure many other people, to see the same flooding that occurred when I was growing up in Ridgewood being endured by another generation of residents. The time is right to build the fields back better, to borrow a well worn phrase, and maybe by some combination of techniques avert the next big storm doing the same, predictable damage.
Macky’s New York
Matthew Cortellesi Photography
January 12, 2022 - NYC Subway.
3 Tracks In
As I wait for the downtown One train...a number 3 express flies past on the uptown side - I shot this in snow melt on the 50th street platform looking east with raised bumps for rider safety.
Time 645pm.
#mackysnewyork
William Peay
Tales From The Wood…
Saddle River Bike Path
Believe it or not.. Just 9 miles from the George Washington Bridge...
RHS Athletic Hall Of Fame
Accepting Nominations
RHS Athletic Hall Of Fame Nomination Form
Visit The RHS Athletic Hall Of Fame
La Vita Cortellesi
American Red Cross Advanced First Aid
This is Day 4 of a challenge from Tom Keoughan to post the covers of books that I either loved or influenced me. I will continue to editorialize.
No one will be tagged, but feel free to join in on the fun.
We move on to Tech:
Advanced First Aid & Emergency Care.
I was issued this book in October of 1980 by Bergen County’s Bob Chais as part of New Jersey’s “5 Point” training program:
First Aid
CPR
Emergency Childbirth
Defensive Driving
Extrication
Once I passed the tests for all five, I could ride on the Police ambulance in Ridgewood.
Looking back, this is one of the most life changing books I’ve ever read. I met Deb Keniston Cortellesi through EMS, have had some remarkable experiences, and 40 years later I am still taking overnight shifts. The technology has changed since the days of Cadillacs and Thomas Half Rings, but the basics of patient care remain the same.
M + A NYC
Ear Cuff—Sterling Silver
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
Jim Schoneman
Rock Hound
We’ve had so many gray and gloomy days the last couple weeks that it makes me glad we’ve had some good snowfalls to brighten up the landscape a bit. But yesterday we had a clear sky and bright sun all day long. I really like the way the sun lit up this little clump of birch trees.
Siobhan Crann Winograd
Around The Village
Our beautiful printed banner coming soon to Van Neste Fence:) Mark your calendars for the awesome line up. Also we are still collecting for Ridgecrest Senior Housing at our house: 274 Ivy Place.
Peace