Maroons Online Vol. 1… No. 58
Acta non verba
Observer: The Fireplace
Macky’s New York: Mister Jones' Walk
William Peay: Tales From The Wood…
RHS Athletic Hall Of Fame Induction Dinner: October 30, 2021
Paul Cortellesi: Simple Pleasure of the Day: Blueberries & Cream
Tim Monahan RHS 1997: Promotion!
PSA: Why Is Cybersecurity Important?
Observer
The Fireplace shuts its doors for the last time at 4PM today. For a lot of us it was the first restaurant we were taken to while living in Ridgewood. It had plenty of seats, an all-you-could-eat condiments bar, and a smooth precision from the moment you placed your order to the time your food was a set on a tray for you to take.
First decision was always which side of the restaurant to eat in. As a young lad, I always favored the side closer to Route 17, then as I grew older I found the back of the restaurant more inviting. It didn’t matter which side you ate in as there was a shelf with pickles and onions to garnish your burger with.
Many years later when I was a restaurateur, I sold Cajun seasoning to The Fireplace from the restaurant I managed in Washington, DC. Spicy fries with the Lousiana Express Company’s Cajun Magic were popular for a time in the early 1990s.
The Fireplace was a place of dreams. Alumni returning for RHS class reunions would visit to recall past adventures, over hamburgers, fries, and milkshakes. They would reminisce about going to The Fireplace after sporting events, proms, or a Friday night out on the town. It was always better than going to Burger King, even though our young minds weren’t ready to understand the old world charms of the Fireplace’s wooden chairs and tables, with the small lamps which provided a dim glow to illuminate your burgers.
As the Joni Mitchell song goes,
“You don’t know what you’ve got until it’s gone.”
It’s easy predict that the huge trees in the back parking lot will be paved over once the property is sold. Modernity marches ever onward no matter how we feel. It’s almost surprising that The Fireplace, an artifact of the 1950s survived as long as it did. The people who endured the collective hardship of World War II found The Fireplace an easy stopover just off the highway on their way home from anywhere. They could take their children and not have to wait too long. These same parents would ask complete strangers lined up outside the door, waiting for their own orders, how long the wait would be. The guesses were always accurate enough to gauge whether or not to move on. There were not a lot of choices in the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s so people usually waited.
There are a thousand sound reasons why nobody will try to re-capture that spirit of comradrie again, where burgers were flipped by hand to order, customers lined up without complaint, and the pickles and sliced onions were piled high. Too bad because we need it more than ever now.
Macky’s New York
Matthew Cortellesi Photography
July 28, 2021 - Coney Island
Mister Jones' Walk
On a hot morning...a man takes refuge in the shadows of an alley called Jones Walk.
Shot looking east with Wonder Wheel and Luna Park.
Time 11am.
#mackysnewyork
William Peay
Tales From The Wood…
More Ridgewood Train Station
RHS Athletic Hall Of Fame 2020 Inductees Dinner
October 30, 2021
Order Your Tickets For 2020 Inductees Dinner Celebration
Visit The Online RHS Athletic Hall Of Fame
Paul Cortellesi
Simple Pleasure of the Day: Blueberries & Cream
My first memory of Blueberries & Cream was in 1967 at the LaBonte Dairy Farm near White River Junction, Vermont. The family vacationed there for two summers and I was introduced to a variety of new things, cows, 90 weight Hypoid Gear Oil, hay, and milk that was not homogenized. The magic that these bottles contained under their foil caps was incredibly fresh milk that had a layer of heavy cream floating above. My parents used some of the cream for their coffee (which, at the age of 6 I thought was ghastly waste) but the rest was saved for an afternoon treat of Blueberries.
50 years later, and it still brings back memories of a simpler time.
Tim Monahan, RHS 1997
Promotion!
I am ECSTATIC to be starting a new position as Assistant Principal at George Washington Middle School in the Ridgewood Public Schools. For anyone who doesn’t know this about me, I grew up on Godwin Avenue and went to school there as a young man. GWMS unequivocally made me who I am, and I am honored to be a part of this learning community. I will be serving as the Godwin House Assistant Principal. I am excited beyond words to be working with an absolute WORLD CLASS educational leader in Dr. Katie Kashmanian, and my new partner (soon to be Dr.) Michelle Melucci in Monroe House. I am so passionate about education that there is as no place I wanted to be more than here in Ridgewood at GWMS. I am looking forward to continuing the GWMS tradition of forging respectful, intellectual, creative, and caring student-leaders within these walls. Thank you to everyone who encouraged me along the way on the journey to this point; I plan to make you proud as I begin this new chapter of my life!
Public Service Announcement
Why Is Cybersecurity Important?
The way individuals and organizations handle data matters. And unfortunately, there have been numerous data breaches in the last year. Unless you relish the thought of having your networking equipment trashed or your business held for ransom, Cyber attack prevention is essential for everyone and every business organization.
Train yourself and your co-workers to keep software and systems patched and running up-to-date software.
Also:
Courtesy of https://www.executech.com
Peace