The Maroon Vol. 2… No. 28 Tuesday, April, 12, 2022
“Bringing us all to a place we don't want to lose."
Observer: Mulberry Trees
Macky’s New York: The House On The Hill
William Peay: Tales From The Wood…
RHS Athletic Hall Of Fame: Save The Date: Nov. 5th 2022
RHS Tired Teens: Later School Start Times
M + A NYC: Mighty Are We As One
James Stroker: Hope Coach
Jim Schoneman: Rock Hound
Siobhan Crann Winograd: Around The Village
Observer
Mulberry Trees
I’ve been something more than a casual spectator these past six years of mulberry trees. We had five in our backyard when we moved in and now have three. The three which remain are of each of the three main types found in this country.
There are three types of mulberry trees (It’s not a bush despite the well known rhyme.) This includes the red mulberry, the white mulberry, and the Texas mulberry. Only the red and Texas mulberries are native to the country; the white mulberry tree was imported from China.
Just a month ago we chopped down the largest mulberry tree we had. It had been both a good sources of shade and a mischief. The shade needs no explanation on a hot summer’s day and we praised the tree for this. The mischief was, as is all rascality, subtle and harmless, but certainly deserving of a lecture. In this case I must explain why we took a chain saw to what had become a public nuisance.
Our neighbors actually suggested we cut the tree down, and provided the chain saw and expertise on how to use it. Let’s be clear my neighbors all are gardeners. They liked the shade and many a day stood under the mulberry tree on their side of the fence while I worked the garden. Though every summer for a solid two weeks this neighborliness would turn to mild scorn. The purple berries from our huge Texas Mulberry Tree would make its presence known by way of its plentitude of fruit, which everyone who walked in and around the garden couldn’t help but step on. These smashed berries would invariable in some form be tracked into our house as well as our neighbor’s homes.
The mulberry is a favorite of birds and many birds frequent our yard, just not enough to eat all of our mulberries. So we made the decision to rid the neighborhood of this roguish tree. In its stead we have planted numerous perennial bulbs like gladiolas, tulips, iris, and hyacinths. The portion of our garden devoted to grapes will be expanded and that part for vegetables will now receive full sun.
All of life is a compromise and is filled with trade offs. I’m sure we’ll miss the shade but we can move our chairs closer to our remaining mulberry trees and not be any worse off. What’s more, our neighbors can continue coming to our fence for their visits and not have their cadence interrupted by the glut of purple berries smashed into our pavement. Nobody has any hidden sympathies for the mulberry tree which is now only a stump. Life will go on and the remaining mulberry trees will keep growing their tart & sweet fruit for the birds and for the more knowledgable visitors to eat.
Macky’s New York
Matthew Cortellesi Photography
April 4, 2022 - Central Park.
The House On The Hill
I think this view...this perspective I have shot the most since I picked up my phone and started taking pictures of water and such - perhaps one day I'll just do a show with just these photos perhaps even in the lobby of the fabled house on the hill (aka the Beresford)
This is an outtake from yesterday shot on the south end of Wagner Cove looking north towards the Beresford.
Time 1015am.
#ny1pic
William Peay
Tales From The Wood…
RHS Athletic Hall Of Fame
Save The Date: November 5, 2022
Visit The RHS Athletic Hall Of Fame
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
The turtle beats the Hare !!! SLOW and STEADY !!
Jim Schoneman
Rock Hound
Took this picture of the wall way back in 1982, on my first visit back to my New Jersey home town since the family moved to Wisconsin in 1976. It’s the stickball wall at the grade school up the street from our house. To play stickball, all you needed was a wall, an old tennis ball, your mom’s broom handle (with the broom sawed off), and an opponent. The batter would stand in front of the wall with his broom handle, and the pitcher would throw the tennis ball from about 20 feet out. There were no bases to run. You scored singles, doubles, triples or home runs depending on how far and where you hit the ball.
You could play stickball against any old wall, but you’d usually get chased away by the building owner. But this wall was special. It was provided by the school district, and we were allowed to paint a strike zone on it. The big strike zone box was for amateurs, and the small one was for the pros. I was a good pitcher, and a lefty, so I liked the small strike zone. I was a lousy hitter, but good enough to usually make a game of it. Stickball was great fun.
Siobhan Crann Winograd
Around The Village
15- Minute Complimentary Parking May Come to an End
By SOPHIE MILLER
PublishedApril 8, 2022 at 6:11 PM
Last UpdatedApril 8, 2022 at 6:11 PM
RIDGEWOOD, NJ — With “Grab and Go” parking set to expire on April 30, discussion at Wednesday evening’s public workshop revolved around the merits of renewing the program.
“Grab and Go” parking was implemented early in the pandemic in an effort to support restaurants and businesses. The parking program provides those driving into the Central Business District (CBD) with 15 minutes of free parking to encourage visitors to pick up food from local restaurants or to buy online and pick up in-store from businesses. The program is set to expire at the end of April, and the council must decide whether to extend, terminate, or alter the “Grab and Go” parking program.
Councilperson Paul Vagianos recused himself from the matter.
“I would like a little bit more information…I feel like there’s a benefit to having some, I think we maybe could scale it back a little bit,” said Mayor Susan Knudsen, referring to the 13 designated “Grab and Go” spots.
Councilperson Pamela Perron was in favor of extending the program, stating, “I’d just like to say that I think it is a welcome to people and it makes people feel like they can find parking when they come downtown, so they’re more willing to come and shop. So I think it is an important feature of downtown.”
“I always find that when I use the 'Grab and Go' spaces, I grab and go, but if I didn’t use the 'Grab and Go' space, I actually would go and shop more, so I think there’s a tradeoff there that may in fact hurt business,” responded Mayor Knudsen.
Deputy Mayor Michael Sedon was in favor of extending the program and keeping all 13 spots. “I’m all for it as it is now because, I mean, if I want to go downtown and pick up food, I just want to go downtown and pick up food. I’m hungry, and I want to go home and eat, that’s pretty much it… I think it encourages people to just come down and utilize the businesses, utilize our restaurants, our dry-cleaners, for you know, just quick stuff,” said Deputy Mayor Sedon.
Councilperson Lorraine Reynolds brought up the potential loss of revenue from the parking spaces. Councilperson Reynolds agreed with the plan to obtain more information before making a decision.
Village Manager/Village Clerk, Heather Mailander, suggested holding a Special Public Meeting on April 27 in order to make a decision about the spots by the April 30 deadline.
Resident Siobhan Crann Winograd spoke in favor of the “Grab and Go” program during public comments, stating, “If these businesses are not supported, and customers like [Deputy Mayor Sedon] cannot reach them, people will not use them, and these spaces will be even more of a drain, and we will have another store to put a vacancy in.” She went on to say, “Emotionally, I feel like it’s really mean to pull [the 'Grab and Go' spots] right now and COVID is not over.”