v5-5--Living To Connect
Ho-Ho-Kus Brook Riparian Restoration.
The Ridgewood Maroon Vol. 5… No. 5
Wednesday, April 23, 2025
“Bringing us all to a place we don't want to lose."
Observer: Living To Connect
Macky’s New York: We Only Scratched The Surface
William Peay: Tales From The Wood…
RHS Athletic Hall Of Fame: Portrait Gallery
Project Arrow: The Online Home For RHS Arrow Yearbooks
RHSAA: RHS Graduation – June 19, 2025
Mark Porro: A Cup Of Tea On The Commode
M + A NYC: Mighty Are We As One
RHS Class Of 1974: Ho-Ho-Kus Brook Riparian Restoration
James Stroker: Hope Coach
Jim Schoneman: Rock Hound
Siobhan Crann Winograd: Around The Village
Kathy & Ross Petras: You’re Saying It Wrong
Ridgewood Village Manager: Municipal Taxes
Observer
Living To Connect
I live with the conviction that the RHS Athletic Hall Of Fame is the single best alumni-initiated project in the over 125 year history of RHS. If you doubt me then look through all the RHS Arrow Yearbooks and give me a better one.
You might also check out an alumni endeavor I am excited about. It’s a project with a lofty title: Ho-Ho-Kus Brook Riparian Restoration. Initiated by the RHS Class of 1974 at last year’s Homecoming, it addresses the flood control issues surrounding the HoHoKus Brook. The same brook which we all remember over flowing its banks on too many occasions to count.
The RHS Class of 1974 pretty obviously reflected upon the more than 50 years of inconclusive efforts to stem the flood waters of the HoHoKus Brook, and decided to collaborate with esteemed RHS teacher Mr. Luo, and theRHS Green Club to create a new environmental project: Ho-Ho-Kus Brook Riparian Restoration.
As part of this project, students helped protect newly planted trees along the Ho-Ho-Kus Brook by Stevens Field by installing protective fencing. They also planted sedge plugs along the brook to help prevent erosion caused by flooding. Together, these efforts further the school’s commitment to sustainability and student-driven impact.
Let’s also give a shout out to the new leadership of the RHS Alumni Association (RHSAA) who are sponsors of this HoHoKus Brook project. They possess the same enthusiasm as RHSAA founders Keith Dawkins, Siobhan Winograd, and Tom Gorman. Glad to see the RHSAA has got its Mojo back and that they are using their long neglected web site to announce & promote their current projects.
Macky’s New York
Matthew Cortellesi Photography
April 21, 2025 - Astoria
We Only Scratched The Surface
The scratched and somewhat smudged surface of the glass provides a nice reflective quality giving a beautiful glow to what might be an ordinary perspective.
Shot in the 2nd to last car of the W train looking north through the back window to the last car as we pull out of Ditmars Blvd.
Time 8am
William Peay
Tales From The Wood…
Currently Enterprise Rent a Car on the Ho Ho Kus border.
RHS Athletic Hall Of Fame
The Ridgewood High School Athletic Hall of Fame was established in 2004 to honor the athletic achievements of Ridgewood High School student-athletes, coaches, teams and individuals who are deemed to have had a major and lasting impact on the athletic program at RHS. The purpose of this commemorative body is to unite the school’s athletic history with the functions and goals of the present day school district. The Hall of Fame promotes sportsmanship and citizenship, as well as athletic and academic accomplishment, through the recognition and selection of deserving individuals and teams into the Ridgewood High School Athletic Hall of Fame.
RHSArrow.org
The Online Home For RHS Arrow Yearbooks
The Arrow Yearbooks from 1898 through the 2021 are now online. This collaboration between the Ridgewood High School & the Ridgewood Public Library is inspired by Jeff Yearing, who has long used the Arrow Yearbooks as a reference for deliberations regarding potential RHS Athletic Hall Of Fame inductees.
Ridgewood High School Alumni Association
RHS Graduation – June 19, 2025
For the first time ever, the Alumni Association will have a dedicated tent at graduation, welcoming our newest alumni into the alumni family and sharing details about our newest capital campaigns. We will also have RHS merchandise available for purchase—perfect for graduation gifts!
The centerpiece of Homecoming Weekend on 18 October 2025, the Distinguished Alumni Ceremony honors graduates who have made meaningful contributions to society through their personal endeavors, professional achievements, talents, and community service.
As part of this annual celebration, each inductee, or their representative, receives a Distinguished Alumni Award, and has their name permanently in the dedicated commemorative space at Ridgewood High School’s original front entrance.
Mark Porro
"A Cup of Tea on the Commode" has won two more literary awards. That makes ten so far. The latest, the 2024 NYC Big Book Award. We are thrilled and honored and we will start spreading the news.
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
RHS Class Of 1974
Ho-Ho-Kus Brook Riparian Restoration (2025)
The Class of 1974 marked their 50th reunion during Homecoming Weekend 2024—and chose to celebrate with a lasting legacy. Led by reunion co-chairs Pam Perron and Gail Leach Ansheles, the class came together to make a meaningful gift to the Ridgewood High School Alumni Association (RHSAA), raising more than $2,200 in support.
The donation was earmarked for student-led environmental initiatives at RHS, under the guidance of Environmental Science teacher Mr. Miles Luo and the RHS Green Club. This collaboration between Mr. Luo, the Green Club, and the RHSAA led to the creation of a new environmental project: Ho-Ho-Kus Brook Riparian Restoration.
Jim Schoneman
Rock Hound
“Eventually, all things merge into one, and a river runs through it. The river was cut by the world’s great flood and runs over rocks from the basement of time. On some of the rocks are timeless raindrops. Under the rocks are the words, and some of the words are theirs.
I am haunted by waters.”
-Norman Maclean
Siobhan Crann Winograd
Around The Village
Wanted to share this write up about this important parcel of land and our next steps to remediate the property.
https://www.northjersey.com/.../contamina.../83047319007/...
Kathy & Ross Petras
Ross & Kathy’s podcast: You're Saying It Wrong looks at what we get wrong—and what we sometimes get right—when it comes to this English language.
Ridgewood Village Manager
Municipal Taxes
I am writing to you today to address the disinformation that has appeared on social media regarding the 2025 Village of Ridgewood Budget.
Here are the facts:
• This year’s municipal tax increase is slightly over 3%.
• The Village added more than $200 million in new property assessments this year over last. The majority of the increase is due to The Valley Hospital property being added to the tax rolls.
• Prior to its move to Paramus in 2024, The Valley Hospital, as a nonprofit hospital, was exempt from property taxes. Since the move, the former hospital, located on Linwood Avenue, is now subject to property tax.
It has been suggested in certain social media posts that, as a result of the added assessments of $200 million, the increase in property taxes far exceeds 3.14%. This is simply not true.
I understand that, as taxpayers, you are looking at the bottom line.
Here it is: In 2024, municipal taxes on the average home of $710,168 were $4,760.84. This year, they will be $4,910.47 - a difference of $149.63 - just over 3%.
These are the facts and the math surrounding the 2025 Village of Ridgewood Budget. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out to my office.
Keith Kazmark
Village Manager
