Maroons Online Vol. 2… No. 3 Tuesday, January 11, 2022
“Bringing us all to a place we don't want to lose."
Observer: Old, Happy, Far Away Places
Macky’s New York: What A Drag
William Peay: Tales From The Wood…
RHS Athletic Hall Of Fame: Accepting Applications
Cucina Cortellesi: New Cucina Cortellesi Flag
M + A NYC: Block Print Corner T Pixelated Stripes 18" Square Pillow
James Stroker: Hope Coach
Jim Schoneman: Rock Hound
Siobhan Crann Winograd: Around The Village
Jack Zerbe: Sidney Poitier
Observer
Old, Happy, Far Away Places
For many of us, Ridgewood is an old, happy, far away place. Yes, we also have memories which make us cringe. The joy of remembrance combines with the knowledge that the bullies, late homework assignments, and the normal fears associated with youth are no longer paramount in our lives. We have other things now to worry about and a lot less time to live with the old phobias. Thank goodness!
The lives we lived as students in Ridgewood Public Schools were a gift to most of us. Not to say we were always grateful or appreciated this gift, but they were advantageous whether we liked it or not.
If I sound like I am hedging my bets, I am. Kids are hard on themselves, each other, and most of all on their parents. I would include their teachers & principals but I have no idea how these people are being treated today. The anecdotal evidence I’ve heard of students receiving a bad grade and then handing a cell phone to their teacher in order for them to explain it to their parents are beyond my comprehension. We had teacher/parents meetings during my school days but they were held at predictable times of the year and ample preparation could be done by teachers beforehand. I can’t imagine being handed a cell phone and having to search my memory for the appropriate words. Let’s just say that teachers and principals are needed more than ever and today’s students are just as fortunate as I was to be the recipients of their efforts.
Not to take away anything from teachers in general, but I sometimes think every teacher ought to take their class outside and have everyone lie on their backs, no matter their age. Together they would spend time in some quiet place and look up and up and up into the heavens as the cumulus clouds move about in the sky. It would be a moment hard to forget. Years afterwards students & teachers alike might even be compelled to think back on all these kind of moments they enjoyed together, especially those which instilled an appreciation for wondering about the imponderables of childhood. Hard to say if it would make up for all the pandemic-related tensions we are currently living through.
I offer this pedagogical suggestion as an outsider looking in. No guarantee it would have any effect at all on how people remember their school days. It is a “Freeware” observation. I do know that even now when I lay in the grass and stare at the sky, I am carried back to the first time I viewed the world in this way. It always seems to lessen my stress level and makes my day feel a bit lighter in that most special, child like way.
This is a good place to be sometimes when I see our society too quick to reject older, working adults for newer, cheaper alternatives, based on spreadsheet calculations, with little regard for the wisdom, experience, and perspective these people bestow everyday. The repercussions of this short-sightedness extends beyond how we regard each other, our shared history and connections. Capriciously determining who is useless for employment does tremendous psychological damage and erodes our cooperative spirit. When I experience one of these Ageist moments firsthand, it chills my bones more than our usual winter weather and makes me long for the warmth of spring, and some sunny days out in my garden staring at the clouds. Recreating a well regarded youthful moment always makes more sense to me than spreadsheets ever will.
Macky’s New York
Matthew Cortellesi Photography
January 7, 2022 - Union Square
What A Drag
A man leans forward and drags his feet as he reluctantly makes his way to work on a snow filled morning.
This is a pure reflection shot into two different tile patterns on Union Square west at 16th street looking north west.
Time 830am.
#mackysnewyork
William Peay
Tales From The Wood…
RHS Athletic Hall Of Fame
Open 24/7
RHS Athletic Hall Of Fame Nomination Form
Visit The RHS Athletic Hall Of Fame
Cucina Cortellesi
New Cucina Cortellesi Flag
Matthew Cortellesi wrote this some years back:
December 30, 2016 - I shot this today with brother Paul while visiting Pops for Friday lunch - I think it might be the new flag of Cucina Cortellesi - what is it?..fresh pasta made by my dad earlier today and a Camembert from Normandy which sits on a Pan Am plate we got back in the 70s - the idea that my dad spent an hour plus making me and my brother lunch is why I am honored and grateful to fly this flag - please join us next week...same day...same time...new year
M + A NYC
Block Print Corner T Pixelated Stripes 18" Square Pillow
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
An old Ridgewood friend of mine sent me this print a few years ago. It’s not a very good photo of the print, but I couldn’t find a better image online, so I did the best I could. We have it hanging in our bedroom, and we just love it. The lighting and subtle colors, as well as all the action, really draws you into the scene.
Of course, it’s a winter scene of the old Graydon Pool, with happy ice skaters doing this and that. The giant sycamore tree is there, and that tells you the artist’s easel was set up somewhere near the corner of Maple and Linwood.
The artist is Dorothy Warren. There is a very good obituary of her that can be found online. She was a lifelong resident of Ridgewood, and died in 2005 at the age of 102. She was very active in the Ridgewood art scene. I am sure that our dear neighbor on California Street, Anita Loughry, would have know her, as Anita was about the same age as Dorothy, and she was also involved with other Ridgewood artists and spent a lot of time at the art barn. One of my prized possessions is an original oil on canvas that Anita did of an anthurium plant she had in her house.
I am wondering if anyone on this Facebook page knew Mrs. Warren and could tell us more about her? She was a fine artist.
Siobhan Crann Winograd
Around The Village
Below is a copy of the statement I made last night at the council meeting and sent to the paper. Important to note that one of the main contributor to our 4.3% tax increase was excessive spending. Placing an unwanted toddler playground at Kings Pond is not only financially irresponsible it underscores the council's complete lack of commitment to Schedler (where we have no plan in place). PS since crafting my note the cost went from 102 to 111K a 10% increase.
_____________________________________________________________________
Subject: Broad Street Diversion and Schedler are Financially Tied
In the early 1980s, when I was a student at Orchard Elementary School, there was a small park on the west side of South Broad Street with a lovely play scape. For a myriad of reasons in the mid 1980s, the Village of Ridgewood removed the park and built housing on that acreage. In 2015, the State of New Jersey conducted a park inventory and determined that this action was a serious violation—known as a “diversion”—and significant penalties were assessed. The initial penalty was a requirement to replace the park land at a 6:1 ratio (for every acre of land inappropriately taken by the Village, six additional acres would need to be added back in as Green Space) and to replace the playground elsewhere within Ridgewood's boarders. In addition, our pipeline of cash from Green Acres (approximately $750K) was frozen. Essentially, Ridgewood has been in a park funding “time out” ever since.
This issue came into focus again in 2019 as Broad Street and Woodside Park became the adjacent sites of some large-scale developments. At that time, it emerged that Green Acres had reduced the 6:1 ratio to 2:1 and that the land didn’t have to be one contiguous parcel. As of today, replacement land (totally slightly less than one acre) appears to be in the works thanks to former Mayor Ramon Hache’s efforts; however, the playground, which is budgeted at $102K, is still an open issue. This fall the Village Council proposed a replacement playground at Kings Pond, although there was no request for a playground there from the public, and the presence of water and waterfowl in that area is problematic.
Meanwhile, a play structure at Schedler is wanted and long overdue. The Village has owned Schedler for 13 years and at every step has intended to put a playground in. The plan proposed by the Schedler Ad Hoc Committee and approved by the Village Council and the public four years ago included a playground. But that plan was materially altered before its submission to SHPO (State Historical Preservation Office) and has since been rejected TWICE by SHPO. Finally getting a plan approved will resolve the Broad Street diversion, save taxpayers the extra $102K for a Kings Park playground that makes little sense, and finally get a playground in an area that needs and wants it.
Please join me in requesting that the Village Council partner with SHPO to develop a plan for Schedler—including a playground—that can finally be approved and implemented this year. Ridgewood has waited too long for this commitment to our parks, our children, our environment, and our taxes.
Jack Zerbe
Sidney Poitier
Spending time with Sidney Poitier, plus writing and delivering a tribute that introduced him to a record setting audience is one of the greatest honors of my life.
Peace