20230421 - Ridgewood Access Committee Minutes

Ridgewood’s Community ACCESS Committee

Meeting Minutes April 21, 2023

The ZOOM meeting opened at 2:03 pm.

Present: Ines Bunza, Robin Ritter, Paul Vagianos, Karen Sheehy, Deanna Schablik, Joanne Van Sant, Joanne Stolfo, Surbhi Kapadia, Ashley Loria, Jan Philips, Erica Dunckley

Item 1: Welcome

Ines welcomed everyone to the meeting. Minutes from the March meeting were approved. Motion by Robin, Second Ashley and motion carried.

Item 2: Report from Village Liaison

Siobhan couldn’t be here but Paul attended in her place. Ines said that Siobhan has been working diligently in getting the bakery set up in town and asked if she had reached out to Paul about it. He said that she was interested in utilizing the Schedler House but that no progress has yet been made on its renovation. It will need a tenant. However, the neighborhood may not welcome the idea of a bakery/retail store. Siobhan also discussed the train station.

Surbhi had discussed the idea with Marisol who works for the fire dept. and is on the LSHSA. She had 2 suggestions for a possible location: 1) the Methodist Church on Dayton Street but it doesn’t have a storefront for engagement with the special needs people and 2) a bakery at 223 Chestnut Street. According to Robin, it was formerly the Ridgewood Culinary Institute. There is parking and it’s within walking distance of town. 

Paul asked about how many square feet they’re looking for. Ines said they didn’t really specify that. But she said that it would have a storefront and enough room for a few tables and chairs. Also, a commercial kitchen is needed. She mentioned that Shari does have 2 portable ovens. Shari has also reached out to Glen Rock because the rents may be more generous to the special needs community than the Ridgewood landlords. Ines said she would really prefer that the bakery opens here in town because we have been at the forefront of activities in our area for the special needs community. The council woman in Glen Rock, Paula Gilligan, has been actively seeking possible locations there and talking to the real estate people there. But what’s really important is that it’s located nearby for easy transportation.

Ines asked how we would find out how we would find out who owns buildings. Paul would need to know how many square feet would be needed and he can investigate it. He is very familiar with the properties in the CBD and also knows the landlords. Paul also suggested following up with Marisol directly.

Jan added that the owner of the former Culinary Institute location is: 400 Main St. Associate LLC.

Item 3: Treasurer’s Report: no expenses for this month.

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Item 4: Old Business

Ines had planned to introduce Mary Micali, the Federated HSA president and any LSHSA members who may have attended. However, Mary had a child who needed sudden medical attention and other members weren’t able to attend. Perhaps the timing wasn’t good or they didn’t know about the meeting in enough time to plan.

Ines explained that Surbi’s been meeting with various learning services members. We’ve realized that ACCESS Ridewood has been mainly dealing with our older young adults and that the school children get handled by the HSA, whether it’s the regular HSA or the LSHSA. They get info from the school systems that are basically related to school. But when they reach the high school level, then it’s graduation and then they’re on their own. Unless you are invited to a meeting, like Ines was, with Robin who is a wealth of knowledge regarding our special needs adults and the benefits that are available to them, like Social Security, Medicaid and many others. Once your child receives his diploma, he is severing his relationship with the BOE. And then he does not receive any more benefits after he graduates. If they wait to receive their diploma until they’re 21, they have the ability to open up to various opportunities that the BOE has to support this child.

Robin had suggested Springboard and Dougie was there for 3 years. He loved it. He learned to cook, ride public transportation, to sew! And now he is living on his own, like Robin’s daughter. And when he reached 21 he received his diploma from Ridgewood. 

So, we encourage the young parents to be a part of ACCESS in order to learn about these programs and issues that are important for their children as they age out of the district.

Robin also said that we’ve invited Michael, the transitional coordinator from the high school to our next meeting. We would like him to explain STEPS, another program. Surbhi reached out to Michael, but he hadn’t responded yet. Hopefully the next meeting or one soon. Ines said that Surbhi’s email to the parents at learning services certainly had an effect because she received several emails in response. The schools were closed today so possibly people had made plans with their families. This could be why the parents (and Michael) didn’t attend our meeting. 

Item 4: New Business

Bakery: Karen Sheehy spoke about Cafe Joyeux in France. 70% of their employees have developmental disabilities. However Karen doesn’t think it’s the right fit for Ridgewood. Certainly it’s a great model but the seed money to start something like that is about $2 million. They go in and restructure everything. It’s also based on being in the cities. It’s not a mom and pop type of operation. It’s corporate-structured. But it is spreading and they know someone who’s opening one in NYC. They’ve spent 3 years working on it and they just broke ground on Lexington Ave. But there are a couple of other places in CT, a group called Prospector Popcorn. And they’ve taken over the Ridgefield movie theater. They sell them there and they run the theater. They 

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have 125 employees and 75% have disabilities. Another place called No Limits Cafe in Red Bank - a breakfast and lunch cafe run by volunteers and employs people with disabilities. And also the Kindness Cafe in Manasquan. It’s an existing business in town that lends to a group of students to come in on Mon. mornings. 

Joanne Van Sant mentioned Ethan &the Bean in Little Falls. This is very close and pretty popular. Joanne Stolfo mentioned that Diane has been there. 

Karen said that Barbara at West Bergen Mental Health expressed interest in participating. Karen said that this idea can use a lot of heads to bring it together.

Ines also said maybe the space that was used by Kurth Cottage could be a possibility for the future. Joanne said that Diane worked at Kurth in high school but they were pretty stringent in allowing her to do many things. Maybe because it’s a hospital they have stricter rules about food. Joanne Van Sant said she could pursue the idea - she knows the Chaplain at Valley.

Erica brought up the idea of the train station and asked what the problem with that was - is it because they don’t have a commercial kitchen? That has the walkability feature that we felt was important. Paul wasn’t sure if it was a possibility but said it would be a great spot and he knows the landlord. And he is the kind of landlord that we could really work with. And it would have a steady stream of clientele and wouldn’t be out of the way. He said he would look into it. Erica said that Sheri could start off with her portable ovens and then if something else opened up with a commercial kitchen she could move there. Joanne S mentioned that traditional bakeries are usually closed on Mondays so our bakery could open then. 

Paul said that when you employ people with disabilities, your customers are thrilled about that. The idea is a home run. Karen reiterated that about Cafe Joyeux. They use the bakery for meetings on the 2nd floor of the building and it affects the dynamic of the meetings, makes them more positive. 

Parks and Recs: Deanna said they’re going into their next LEAP program which will begin in May. It’s going to be at Unique Athletics in Fair Lawn. Open on Community Pass. Ages 12-24. She sent a flyer over to the high school to put in the RPS News and she got an email back from the new public information officer, Christine Corliss. Apparently, her flyers are not ADA-compliant. Christine will help us get them compliant. Back in Jan. the governor ordered that anything posted to the website must meet very particular standards so Deanna will have Nancy reach out to her and see some samples of what she means exactly. Robin knows something about this after working with a consultant. It could mean fewer words and fonts that help people with dyslexia. Deanna will work with them.

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Bakery/Cafe: Paul asked if the coffee stand at the library is occupied right now. And it is not. But Robin said that there isn’t a commercial kitchen but that is definitely something we could explore. It would have the traffic. He asked about the rent - probably very moderate. He likes the idea of the smaller places with amenable landlords. He already texted Heather about the train station. There would be great interaction. At the train station, people are usually in a hurry. But at the library, they’re not rushing and would be more inclined to stop and chat. There are tables. And Joanne VS said there is less competition for business. Robin will take to Laurie right away.

Joanne S had asked about the cafe at the library and she was told that the patrons didn’t like the smell of food. But Robin said who doesn’t like the smell of baking bread and cookies.

ACCESS Weekend - the train trellis. Robin said we’ve never been able to get it. She reached out to Janet Fricke, but she is out on leave. Ines said that we had one made but we’re unable to locate it. Surbhi will get the details and report back.

Medicaid - the deadline of April 28 was brought up by Joanne S. Diana never received the postcard about insurance. Neither did Ines or Robin.

Joanne and Robin will attend the webinar next Thurs night given by Beverly Roberts about Workability and Ticket to Work. 

Go to the State of NJ website and see what it says about Workability. Earning potential has greatly expanded as of April 1. The $2,000 limit may have gone away.

Pedestrian Plaza: Joanne VS said that Oct. 9 is the last weekend. We had talked about using the stage for the fashion show but there won’t be a stage or sound system. Paul said that if we needed one he could arrange that. A discussion of the park ensued.

The meeting ended at 3:05.

The next meeting will be on May 19 at 2:00 pm via ZOOM.