The Maroon Vol. 2… No. 18 Friday, March 4, 2022
“Bringing us all to a place we don't want to lose."
Observer: Friendship
Macky’s New York: A Window Into The Morning Commute
William Peay: Tales From The Wood…
RHS Athletic Hall Of Fame: Save The Date: Nov. 5th 2022
Ridgewood Superintendent’s Column: Celebrating Differences
M + A NYC: Mighty Are We As One
James Stroker: Hope Coach
Jim Schoneman: Rock Hound
Siobhan Crann Winograd: Around The Village
League Of Women Voters Of Ridgewood: Teen Sleep Deprivation Is A Public Health Issue
RHS Distinguished Alumni Dinner: Wednesday, March 23, 2022
Observer
Friendship
Learning the joys of reading a good book, a book that has stood the test of time, a book you may have first been introduced to in high school is a fine salve for these troubled times.
A book like The Writings of Ralph Waldo Emerson has long provided a soothing influence. It is filled with the wisdom from a time far removed from our own. It won’t provide you with keys to getting rich or how to network with professionals. No, this tome is filled with writings and poems on subjects like Friendship. In all our teachings and lessons for young and old alike, the subject of Friendship ought to remain a constant. Think about all the times friends with a simple glance & smile have honored you, and shown you a great deal more kindness than ever could be spoken. It’s sometimes all you have to lift you from some pit of despair, whether real or imagined, you find yourself mired in.
People who understand my predilections for reading know my fondness for 19th Century and early 20th Century American writers. Thoreau, Emerson, & Whitman in the 19th Century, Mark Twain straddling the two centuries, and Fitzgerald, Steinbeck, and Frost in the 20th Century. I apologize to all the female writers who to date are only passing acquaintances. Someday I will read more of notables such as Agatha Christie, Jane Austen, & Maya Angelou and let their words bring me comfort in the same fashion as the male authors & poets have been doing all my life till now.
On a rare occasion I have read the works of an author who I have then had the opportunity to discuss their books with. Jim Lehrer and his wife Kate Lehrer were customers of mine in the late 1980s in Washington, DC. I knew them by sight and one summer day I asked Mr Lehrer what he was doing on a Tuesday afternoon in my gourmet food shop instead of being at the PBS television studios. He brightened up immediately and said he was finishing writing a book. “It is called Kick The Can.” I saw him a few months later and we walked for a while talking about the book. He later autographed my copy to seal our short but memorable friendship.
I wouldn’t dare to say which is more meaningful, a friendship which lasts a lifetime or one which lasts for a few precious moments. Both provide relief and can be recollected for as long as you desire. I believe the wisdom which Emerson is trying to urge on us in his writings is that Friendship is worth the effort and ought to be initiated and or renewed whenever the chance presents itself. Friendship is a risky business but only when we seek out its opportunities, even when it’s wrong. We invariably reap the benefits of Friendship when it forces us to make decisions about it. The process helps define us and clarifies our Life so we can more forward and grow. Friendship is hard to get right. Though the new viewpoints it provides us with are worthwhile and contain some of the most useful lessons we can ever learn about finding our way in this world.
Macky’s New York
Matthew Cortellesi Photography
March 1, 2022 - NYC Subway.
A Window Into The Morning Commute
Although the glass between the subway cars dull and dirty...the thoughts of those inside are bright and clean.
Shot in the 1st car of the R train looking back into the 2nd car as we head north to 57th street.
Time 815am.
#ny1pic
William Peay
Tales From The Wood…
Real Housewives of New Jersey's Melissa Gorga is opening a shop in the old Esposito's/Jekyll and Hyde location....
RHS Athletic Hall Of Fame
Save The Date: November 5, 2022
RHS Athletic Hall Of Fame Nomination Form
Visit The RHS Athletic Hall Of Fame
Ridgewood Superintendent’s Column
Celebrating Differences
Since 1976, February has been designated by every American president as Black History Month, a time to honor the contributions and legacy of African Americans throughout the history of the United States. Each of our schools recognizes this month in unique, age-appropriate ways – through art, music, literature, social studies, assemblies, and other activities. But celebrating the lives and achievements of these influential leaders in industry, politics, science, culture, and more is not reserved for one month out of the year. The curriculum of the Ridgewood Public Schools has evolved and continues to be adapted to accurately reflect history and to help students develop an appreciation for all of our differences.
Black History Month celebrations and curricular components are one piece of the district’s comprehensive commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI), a cornerstone of the RPS Strategic Plan. Developed collaboratively with a broad team of stakeholders including parents, students, community members, teachers, and administrators, the “culture” goal of this plan is built on the premise that, by capitalizing on our diversity and supporting open collaboration and communication, we foster a spirit of empathy that develops socially and emotionally resilient learners.
How do we accomplish this goal as a district?
We approach it methodically from all angles - curriculum, social interactions, policies, hiring, and school climate, to name a few. Also, we recognize that this is a long-term commitment that involves all of us - school, home, and community. This process of growing as individuals and as a society will take time. But we will continue to have difficult conversations and make the important decisions that will bring us toward a common understanding and appreciation of our differences, one small step at a time.
“Diversity is about all of us, and about us having to figure out how to walk through this world together.” - Jacqueline Woodson
Jacqueline Woodson is one of many authors whose books were added to classroom collections last year as part of our K-5 mentor texts. Along with The Other Side and The Day You Begin, many of Woodson’s beloved books for children and adolescents can be found in classroom and school libraries. Her powerful stories weave together themes of friendship, open-mindedness, and tolerance. The K-5 mentor texts expose our youngest readers to stories that celebrate our differences and teach kindness, understanding, and compassion.
In September 2021, the English Language Arts Department introduced the 6-12 “Tell Me Your Story Initiative” designed to explore topics of race, culture, and identity. At the middle school level, students engaged in shared reading to examine essential questions. What is diversity? How do our differences make us special? What does it mean to be part of a community? What does it mean to be human? What is a human right? High school students selected one of three memoirs to facilitate understanding of multiple perspectives. This successful initiative is being expanded to the elementary level.
This month, all K-12 students participated in the National African American Read-In, which was established in 1990 by the Black Caucus of the National Council of Teachers of English. The goal of this effort is to make literacy an integral part of Black History Month. The district’s “read-in” featured author and illustrator Jerry Pinkney at the elementary level, and authors Jerry Craft and Jason Reynolds at the middle school level. Our sixth through eighth-graders will get a special treat in March when Jerry Craft visits their schools!
The curriculum is only one place in the learning environment where this important work is being done. Through co-curricular clubs and service projects, students are making a difference in their school and community. Recently, legislation was passed in New Jersey mandating that Asian American and Pacific Islander history be taught in the K-12 curriculum. Ridgewood High School student Christina Huang helped make this happen by working with Make Us Visible NJ to lobby for this bill. In an interview with WABC, Christina said she had supportive teachers who not only introduced her to Asian American history but encouraged her to get involved. Her advocacy and action are to be commended.
Jacqueline Woodson said it plainly and clearly: “Diversity is about all of us, and about us having to figure out how to walk through this world together.” We have a responsibility to listen to the stories of others, to find a way to walk through this world together, and to celebrate our differences.
Thomas A. Gorman, Ed.D. is Superintendent of the Ridgewood Public Schools & RHS Class Of 1987
History Of Ridgewood Public School Superintendents
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
Kingston Design Showhouse 2021
Feb 25, 2022
It was a big honor to be a part of the Kingston Design Showhouse again this past year. One of the things that was different about this one was the partnership that was established with affordable housing advocate Kingston City Land Bank to renovate an existing home in dire need of repair and make it available below market value to a first-time homeowner earning 80% or less of the area median income. Maryline Damour, founder of Kingston Design Connection, the organization that runs the Kingston Design Showhouses, was quoted in Architectural Digest Pro as saying “It’s the type of partnership that I’d love to see show houses across the country imitate”. Aside from adding accessibility to her vision, “the project has two goals. One, to connect Hudson Valley designers with each other, and two, to show that design sourcing can happen right here in Kingston.”
One of my favorite hashtags, #creatingcommunitythroughdesign is often used in conjunction with Kingston Design Connection’s social posts. For me it sums up why I have loved participating in these events – I have met and been inspired by so many talented designers and makers.
M+A NYC pieces were shown in two rooms: the primary bath designed by Barbara Fisher of Barbara Fisher Interiors, and the powder room designed by Jennifer Morris of JMorris Design.
James Stroker
Jim Schoneman
Rock Hound
Finally, a day with above freezing temperatures, a relatively calm wind, and a beautiful blue sky. Took advantage of the nice weather with a drive to Cave Point County Park. I was able to slither down to the rocky waterline and listen to the water dripping from the icicles. The sun is getting higher in the sky. Unlike the other war we’re all watching right now, the battle between winter and the sun is fun to watch, and the good guy always wins. My heart is breaking.
Siobhan Crann Winograd
Around The Village
At tonight’s Village Council meeting while advocating for universal access (another post for a future day), I was extremely disappointed to hear that our Village Council intendeds to kill the outdoor dining corrals via a resolution next Wednesday. The breakout was as follows Vagianos (abstain), Reynolds (on the fence), Knudsen & Sedon (hard No) and thankfully Pam Perron, (yes). I could not address this awful (IMO) decision bc of the embarrassing discussion on hybrid (it did not go well) but I did want people to know that next week our council will vote to end the dining corrals and limit out door dining for Ridgewood. Sigh.
Clearly this is not a good thing for restaurants, parking or generating additional foot traffic for our few realtors.
Seriously exhausted by the hybrid terribleness but did want to let people know.
So here is what I took away. By corrals they mean the places in the street that have the painted barricades. During initial public comment Steel Wheel and PWT spoke saying that if they knew the concept would stay they have better beautiful plans to present. Also currently the restaurants pay 100% occupancy for the spots they use with respect to parking. They have paid that through the cold months when it was not valuable to them and now when they can reap a financial return this VC is going to kill the concept most likely resulting in a loss for those restaurants. It will also be a loss to us taxpayers as the odds that any spot uptown will be 100% utilized is not realistic. Some of the odd things the council said was that retailers needs the spots for traffic but foot traffic is what the retailers need and a significant amount of foot traffic comes from the diners. No retailer came to advocate for anything and most of the anti comments came from council members first hand anecdotal experience rather than any of the studies we as a village have run and paid for. There was no discussion that perhaps the parking rate increase and extended meter hours have contributed to tough time for the retailers just a bizarre discussion that centered around the death of outdoor dining. Added to that there was no positive pro-active discussion as to how a garage promotion would relieve the need for on street parking. Sigh.
League Of Women Voters Of Ridgewood
Teen Sleep Deprivation Is A Public Health Issue
RHS Distinguished Alumni Dinner
2020 & 2022 Honorees
Please join us Wednesday, March 23rd at Park West Loft as we induct five incredible alumni into our 2020 and 2022 Distinguished Alumni classes. To purchase tickets and for full event details, head to our website or click here: https://store.rhsalumniassociation.org/.../distinguished....