The Maroon Vol. 3… No. 57
Sunday, July 16, 2023
“Bringing us all to a place we don't want to lose."
Observer: Ridgewood Shade Tree Commission
Macky’s New York: Billboard Empire
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
RHS Band Alumni: RHS Centennial Anniversary Documentary
Kathy & Ross Petras: You’re Saying It Wrong
Ridgewood Library Bolger Heritage Center: Ridgewood Library’s 100th Anniversary
Observer
Ridgewood Shade Tree Commission
There is a waiting list of people who want to plant trees in Ridgewood. There is no waiting list for people who want to adopt trees in Ridgewood. I imagine it is the lack of recognition in the form of a plaque which creates this sharp discrepancy.
Fortunately, the solution is in the software for the new tree survey being conducted for the Shade Tree Commission. The survey of trees will subsequently allow for the creation of an online database. Once every tree is documented with pictures and a health assessment, then I predict we’ll see more residents, and former residents, decide to adopt a tree by picking it from the online database.
Councilwoman Siobhan Winograd, who serves as liaison to the Shade Tree Commission, said the survey "underscores Ridgewood’s commitment to safeguarding our tree canopy and promoting its vitality for future generations."
"The survey will produce a database that promises to help officials to direct our limited resources to planting and removing diseased trees in the most effective way possible," Winograd said. "This important tree inventory will allow our Village Council to better manage and fund our tree initiatives."
Data gathered from the inspections include the species, location, size and health of the trees. It will be fed into a Geographic Information System mapping tool and database that will provide information "to help the village allocate resources, qualify for financial grant assistance, develop risk management strategies and promote the environmental benefits of trees for the community," Winograd said.
According to the Village of Ridgewood website:
In the early 1900’s, Ridgewood was growing as a commuting community. Most of the area was farmland with few trees. The Village government appointed a Commission for the purpose of planting trees in the business area and eventually the surrounding streets. Thousands of trees were planted over the years. At one point over 50 town employees worked on Shade Tree projects.
For decades, shade trees and plantings were the purview of the Shade Tree Commission. However; in 1964 the structure of Village government was changed and the Shade Tree Commission was eliminated. By the 1980’s, shade tree responsibility was folded into the Parks and Recreation Department. Ridgewood was designated a Tree City, which meant it should have a Shade Tree Department as well as appropriate ordinance, but less attention was paid to trees.
REAC (Ridgewood Environmental Advisory Committee) discussed this problem, researched the Village’s ordinance, noticed how out of date it was, and decided to look at other towns’ ordinances. After one year, a large study was presented to the Council for their comments. A Shade Tree Commission was also proposed, and presented to the Council. In 2014 the Council agreed to appoint the Shade Tree Commission. The commission is in the process of reinvigorating interest, appreciation and investment in Shade Trees in Ridgewood.
Credit: Marsha A. Stoltz, NorthJersey.com
Macky’s New York
Matthew Cortellesi Photography
July 14, 2023 - Flatiron
Billboard Empire
The reflections on street when it's wet sometimes remind me of billboards on the side of construction sites with old advertising peeling off in various states of decline.
Pure reflection shot on Broadway just north of 23rd street in the green bike lane with yellow construction crane just after a furious storm blew threw.
Time 825am
William Peay
Tales From The Wood…
This is music to my ears, the best compliment anyone could give me and it says more than I ever could. It's the missing tale behind the picture.
Lorraine Ford: "OMG THAT’S OUR HOUSE! (well, it was until my family sold in 2004, but I grew up there). My parents bought it in 1966. Nice to see it decked out for the 4th - our family loved the parade and after a cookout we’d sometimes walk over to Citizens and play softball. Thanks so much for reminding me of those happy memories."
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 To Be Available in July, 2023
Digital archiving by Michael Culver, RHS 2002, and his firm 1Row.com
Mark Porro
A Cup Of Tea On The Commode
“This author weaves his stories together,
employing a wickedly humorous skill not unlike that of
David Sedaris and Augusten Burroughs”
Click here to Order yours now. Visit our YouTube channel.
M + A NYC
Mighty Are We As One
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
RHS Band Alumni
RHS Centennial Anniversary Documentary
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.
Ridgewood Library Bolger Heritage Center
Ridgewood Library’s 100th Anniversary
The Ridgewood Library is celebrating 100 years of library service to the Village of Ridgewood. Many changes have occurred over those long years, including a fun random tidbit about how Mrs. Esther Fishler (formerly Ms. Baker) met with developers of a non-glare, pure white, fluorescent light that would "sharpen perception and reduce visual discomfort and fatigue" in the library. Image taken in 1972. #bolgerheritagecenter