The Ridgewood Maroon Vol. 5… No. 17
Thursday, July 17 2025
“Bringing us all to a place we don't want to lose."
Observer: No More Homework
Macky’s New York: Gas Lit On Minetta
William Peay: Tales From The Wood…
Ridgewood Public Schools: Artificial Intelligence In The Classroom
RHS Athletic Hall Of Fame: Portrait Gallery
Mark Porro: A Cup Of Tea On The Commode
M + A NYC: Mighty Are We As One
Siobhan Winograd: Women Gardners’ 100th Anniversary
James Stroker: Hope Coach
Jim Schoneman: Rock Hound
Cindy Myer: Ridgewood Moving
Howard Liverance: On The Up & Up In Ridgewood
Kathy & Ross Petras: You’re Saying It Wrong
Observer
No More Homework
I am not a fan of homework for K-12 students. If asked about homework, I would mention my own dread of doing assignments, both in Ridgewood Public Schools (RPS) and later while I completed a Liberal Arts degree.. These moments of self-imposed pressure then procrastination sometimes had me getting up at 3:00 AM on Monday mornings to finish projects. In college they were jokingly called all-nighters. In K-12 I didn’t know any better, just that if I didn’t finish by the time school began I would be in a world of trouble.
Admittedly, things are different these days. Artificial Intelligence (AI) can and will be used to complete homework assignments for those so inclined. AI can also auto-summarize class reading assignments and produce legitimate study guides with ease. AI has legitimate as well as illegitimate uses.
Current RHS Principal Jeff Nyhuis has taken an enlightened approach on the subject of AI & its appropriate academic purposes. He consulted his teachers as well as having enlisted student voices. The student involvement has been a hallmark of his approach since he began his time in the RHS Guidance Office in 2008. The result of these deliberations were presented recently by students to the Village Board of Education. The Superintendent of Ridgewood public schools, Dr. Mark Schwarz, was so impressed that he is making sure the rest of NJ knows about it. See below for the YouTube video.
Macky’s New York
Matthew Cortellesi Photography
July 6, 2025 - Greenwich Village
Gas Lit On Minetta
As I walk east up Minetta...the sun rising behind me hits a pool of water on top of a gas utility grate and in the reflection I see a sign...could one of the New York's best cheeseburgers be in my future or am I being gas lit by some diabolical entity - only time will tell.
Shot on Minetta lane just west of Macdougal looking south east into a gas untily grate with Minetta Tavern neon sign in the reflection.
Time 745am
William Peay
Tales From The Wood…
Ridgewood Public Schools
Artificial Intelligence In The Classroom
RHS Athletic Hall Of Fame
Mark Porro
The Art of Imperfect Adulting:
Arrived in bookstores everywhere on Mother’s Day, May 14, 2023.
M + A NYC
M + A is a Lifestyle brand known for handcrafted, ethically made, modern home decor and wearable accessories. Artisanal | Small Batch | Designed in NY
Siobhan Winograd
Women Gardners’ 100th Anniversary
James Stroker
Grit. Gratitude. Growth.
Thats the message i bring to every school, every stage, every team.
From packed gyms to leadership retreats—my mission is the same: help people remember who they are and what they’re capable of.
Booking keynotes now for schools and organizations ready to go deeper. let’s make it count.
Jim Schoneman
Rock Hound
Reflections in the Pine River, on a quiet evening in the Town of Pine River. A lot of Canadian wildfire smoke in the air again. That's what's making that pink haze.
Cindy Myer
Howard Liverance
For 60 years, I've lived and breathed stories of Ridgewood and baseball, and for the last 2 years, I have crafted a two-volume memoir that captures the heart of a community and the journey of a lifetime. This wasn't just a writing project; it was a deep dive into experiences that helped shape me—a labor of love that demanded every ounce of my energy and resources.
Kathy & Ross Petras
A compilation of musings to motivate and inspire readers in need of a quick pick-me-up. We all want to be the person who marches into a meeting brimming with self-confidence, unbothered by what others think of them right before making a killer speech. But all too often, crippling self-doubt creeps in. This book is a self-esteem boosting collection of pocket-sized pep talks from successful people in a multitude of fields, including Serena Williams, Stephen King, Helen Keller, Julia Child, and so much more—that will give readers a strong dose of self-assurance.
