Maroons Online Vol. 1… No. 41
Acta non verba
Observer: Lasting Friends, Fond Memories
Macky’s New York: Pennies For Your Thoughts
William Peay: Tales From The Wood…
Siobhan Crann Winograd: Attention Park Lovers
RHS DECA: The Maroon Mart
The Daily Treat: Established 1963
RHS Acapella: Flash Mob
Observer
Lasting Friends, Fond Memories
It’s often said that by going to school you are given the opportunity to making lasting friends and to share fond memories. Does the same hold true when the classes are virtual? Not so much from my experience.
The students in school today deserve recognition, not a trophy, but a simple acknowledgement that the education they completed, and in some cases endured, was like no other. Students mostly had to hold themselves accountable and not let a world wide pandemic be an excuse. They additional had to complete their coursework without the close contact and assistance of friends.
People’s conceptions of friendship will vary given their circumstances and the education they are pursuing. But what ideas about friendship could have accounted for a 15 month lockdown at home, the loss of social intimacy, and an endless parade of Zoom meetings? Nobody.
Let’s not forget the teachers, administrators, and countless people who make the school run on time and in clean classrooms. They were asked to contribute in untold ways, brand new ways, and continue to understand what was going on at any moment of the day. I’m sure there was many a time for them when the thought of another Zoom meeting, the incoherent guidance they were being given regarding masks, and estimates of how long before a vaccine would be developed were all unbearable. It’s not exactly what they signed up for or were trained to expect.
In both cases they were charged with a task they neither wanted nor asked for. Never the less they had to do it or fall behind, or be let go.
We may be at the beginning of the end of Covid in this country. If so, we’ll look at our friends differently when we finally venture out from our imposed isolation. We’ll all remind one another of how we acted. If we’re lucky our friends will help us recall something funny that might have happened during Covid. After all that’s what friends do best.
Macky’s New York
Matthew Cortellesi Photography
May 28, 2021 - Williamsburg
Pennies For Your Thoughts
As I walked through an old garage now a vintage clothing store...I saw these coins hanging in the corner and although not my usual style...I took the photo just for the fun of it as the sun poured in over my right shoulder - a penny for your thoughts.
Bedford Avenue just south of 10th street.
Time 3pm.
#mackysnewyork
William Peay
Tales From The Wood…
George Washington Junior High School
Siobhan Crann Winograd
Attention Park Lovers!
Attention Park Lovers and Tax Sensitive Friends. As many of you know Ridgewood will be raising taxes by 4.3 percent on the municipal side. While there are many contributors to this increase excessive spending is one of them. Early in the budget process there was a 2.5 million ask for the Schedler Park which raise a red flag. During the course of this discussion the following information was pecked out by the public.
1-At some point for some reason the Village Council declared the full 7 acres historic (not just the house).
2-This declaration has given a state agency (SHPO) full approval of future plans and also made the project more expensive.
3- Since Jan 2020, two sets of plans that are materially different than the publicly approved plans from 2017 have been submitted and rejected by the state.
4-Select council members were involved and others left in the dark. Not one of the citizens boards or committees were notified or updated of this change. (sad)
5-The second set of plans submitted Jan 2021 has now been rejected which will significantly delay the project further.
6-The historic house which has no intended use (no future source of revenue like the gatehouse) has received the lion share of money and attention despite the fact that over 5K kids in town use municipal land for sports and Orchard has been closed due to remediation for two summers now. The field has effectively become secondary in any version of project discussion. (This is also why your second grader is having practice too late just fyi)
Since this initial budget meeting, the public has encouraged the council to be more transparent with respect to the status of this park and release the most recent version on line. This week I was pleased to hear the most recent rejected version had been placed on the website for citizens review (love public information). It is important to note that this plan is REJECTED and the letter from the State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) detailing the reasons is not included in the project folder but it is more than was there in February which is progress. Equally pleased that the initial ask was taken from 2.5 million to zero after intense public input during the budget process.
At this point, Ridgewood should be made aware that millions of tax payer dollars are sitting in a parcel of land and historic house that we have owned for 13 years and not one citizen has enjoyed one moment in the park. Habernickle Park was purchased and useable in less than ten years and we all know the gatehouse has always provided revenue to offset taxes. All that being said, I feel there needs to be a refocusing on this project so that it can progress and its value be returned to Ridgewood. Ridgewood is a beautiful town that is lacking open space and my hope is that people reading this offer solutions as to how to make this important project move forward in an honest and open fashion.
RHS DECA
The Maroon Mart
DECA is a global organization that prepares emerging leaders and entrepreneurs in marketing, finance, hospitality, and management in high schools and colleges. At RHS, over 180 students participate in DECA.
Since 2004, the Maroon Mart has been operating out of Ridgewood High School. Similar to the school motto the store upholds a Tradition of Excellence. At our store, we have a variety of merchandise including, snacks, spirit gear, and more!
Students from RHS DECA work hard in order to provide these goods.
The Daily Treat
Established 1963
Established in 1963, The Daily Treat is located at the heart of downtown Ridgewood, NJ. We’re open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, serving delicious diner classics with a homemade touch. Family is at the heart of everything we do—and we continue to welcome our customers with the same enthusiasm as we did when we opened our doors 57 years ago.
RHS A Cappella
Flash Mob
Ridgewood High School Choir (NJ) Singing Akekho Ofana No Jesu at Nashville airport inn 2019.
Peace