The Maroon Vol. 3… No. 55
Sunday, July 9, 2023
Comments & Suggestions: https://linktr.ee/maroonsonline
“Bringing us all to a place we don't want to lose."
Observer: Offices Are Half Open…Or Half Closed?
Macky’s New York: The Joy Of One Last Roar
William Peay: Tales From The Wood…
RHS Athletic Hall Of Fame: Made For & Inspired By RHS Alumni
Project Arrow: Creating An Online Home For RHS Arrow Yearbooks
Mark Porro: A Cup Of Tea On The Commode
M + A NYC: Mighty Are We As One
In Memory Of Our Faculty: Photographs & Memories
James Stroker: Hope Coach
Kathy & Ross Petras: You’re Saying It Wrong
Ridgewood Library Bolger Heritage Center: RHS Graduation Photos
Observer
Offices Are Half Open…Or Half Closed?
Offices which are now half filled with occupants are no less efficient or productive than people who make a commute 5 days a week. The tools have already been created for a world of hybrid offices, where we celebrate remote work. Collective office visits work best when there is an easily understood need.
Obviously, remote working isn't suitable for every profession. Restaurateurs, metal and plastic workers, mining machine operators and highway maintenance workers are all overwhelmingly working as normal.
In the professions where remote work is possible, attention must be paid to making it a more positive experience, mostly by taking as much of the stress & friction out of the remote connection process as possible. Stop assuming everyone’s remote work setup is the same. In fact, every home office is different. What’s more, giving your employees laptops does not guarantee results.
Remote work thrives where there is plenty of communication and support, especially in the 1st month after a home office is setup, and every month thereafter. Although it might stretch some IT budgets, adding a secondary, redundant connection to the Internet for a home office is a sure fire way to mitigate remote office disconnects and the subsequent frustrations.
If the remote work process for connecting to central databases and communicating with co-workers is well-thought out and documented, many of the current aggravations of non-technical people can be eliminated. It comes down to anticipating problems, instead of reacting to them and/or blaming the remote user.
Macky’s New York
Matthew Cortellesi Photography
July 6, 2023 - Upper West Side
The Joy Of One Last Roar
60th Street looking west.
Time 810pm.
William Peay
Tales From The Wood…
Washington Place and West Ridgewood Avenue
RHS Athletic Hall Of Fame
Made For & Inspired By RHS Alumni
Visit the RHS Hall of Fame
Digital Printing for the RHS Hall of Fame provided by Tim Boucher, RHS 1988
Project Arrow
Creating An Online Home For RHS Arrow Yearbooks
Details During Summer, 2023
Digital archiving by Michael Culver, RHS 2002, and his firm 1Row.com
Mark Porro
A Cup Of Tea On The Commode
M + A NYC
Mighty Are We As One
M + A is a destination devoted to art, artists, artisans and design. We are inspired by art as it relates to design: the soul, the spark that ignites beautiful ideas. We are equally as motivated by craft traditions passed down from generations.
Shop home décor and wearable accessories at www.mplusanyc.com
In Memory Of Our Classmates & Faculty
Photographs & Memories
If you would like to contribute a few words about a Ridgewood Public School teacher who was memorable to you, please send it to us. If we don’t currently have a page for the teacher you want to write about, we’ll create one.
James Stroker
Hope Coach
"Okay, today, come with me to the beach. Let's walk or roll through the soft sand and move up to the harder sand near the water where we can draw.
Now, imagine a big vertical line about three feet long. Above the top of the line on the left side, write 'Out of my control!' and on the right side, write 'In my control!'
Let's focus on one thing that we often can't control: other people and what they say or do.
Here are some significant things that I've learned over time. It's important to note that people may have different perspectives, and no matter what I say or do, I can't truly change them. What I can control is my response to them. I have a choice. I can choose to show anger, pass judgment, or talk negatively about them, or I can choose to understand, have compassion, and recognize that they may simply be different from me.
It's natural to gravitate towards those who share our likes and interests, as it validates our own preferences. However, this preference can be driven by our protective ego.
Love can be a powerful force that overcomes fear. We are all human and get upset by others' behavior. However, life is short, and unexpected endings happen. It's better to let go of grudges, battles, or disagreements and live without them. If we don't, we might end up living with deep regret if a life suddenly ends.
One of the hardest things in life is showing empathy, compassion, and love towards those who challenge us. While I can't control what has happened, I can control my response. Brené Brown reminds us to assume that everyone is doing the best they can, just like us, struggling to survive some days.
I've changed a lot from my past, filled with anger and sadness due to my dad's early death. Those emotions only fueled my fear, causing me to get angry at others. However, I've come to realize that their actions were triggering deep-seated fear within me, and I discovered that the problem wasn't others but rather myself.
Controlling our response is crucial. So, when someone says or does something that would normally make you mad or angry, try taking a breath and understanding or empathizing with what they might be going through. It's easier said than done, but it's worth the effort.
As Tom Hanks said in the movie A League of Their Own, 'Hard! It's supposed to be hard! If it wasn't hard, everyone would do it! Hard is what makes it great!'"
Kathy & Ross Petras
You’re Saying It Wrong
Ross & Kathy’s podcast: You're Saying It Wrong is a podcast that looks at what we get wrong—and what we sometimes get right—when it comes to this English language.
This week, we do a "where did it come from?" -- words we often use (okay, so maybe we don't use "bazooka" THAT often ... well, YOU might, but that's your biz), and whether it came from one of the original English sources (Anglo-Saxon or Norman) or from elsewhere. From baboon to kazoo, from lemon to candy -- it's an excursion through the very convoluted roots of English words.
Ridgewood Library Bolger Heritage Center
Elks Club
This image shows the Elks Club (current day Village Hall) in the background. The photo was taken in 1962 and shows the construction of the Ridgewood Library on 125 North Maple Avenue.