20230630 - Ridgewood Access Committee Minutes

Ridgewood’s Community ACCESS Committee

Meeting Minutes June 30, 2023

The ZOOM meeting opened at 2:01 pm.

Present: Ines Bunza, Robin Ritter, Siobhan Winograd, Deanna Schablik, Joanne Stolfo, Lisa Gardner, Ashley Loria, Surbhi Kapadia, Jan Philips, Michael Kilcullen, Caroline Meier, Mary Micale, Erica Dunckley

Item 1: Welcome

Ines welcomed all to the meeting. She asked if anyone had any changes to the minutes from May. Deanna mentioned that the Unique Athletics DDD program is in our Parks and Rec program, not Arts & Rec. Minutes were then approved; Motion by Robin; Second by Joanne.

Ines explained to the new attendees that during the summer the focus of our meetings is predominantly on the ACCESS Weekend planning. Everyone is welcome to attend but if some are not able to make the meetings due to vacation plans, there is no need to feel guilty.

Item 2: Report of Village Council Liaison, Siobhan Winograd

Siobhan met with Jaimie Davis, the incoming president of the LSHSA. She and another mother from Ridge School whose children are in the RISE program are very interested in having a Sensory Night. They’re writing an approach letter and they want to begin taking steps to approach the business committee with either pre-events like the walk-thru or silent walk-thru or events specific to them. The general concept would be that they would partner with the Steel Wheel. On a night when the business is slow, it would be from 5-7, and it would allow the families to have dinner and also allow the restaurant’s staff to see people who are hesitant to come when general business is too overwhelming. So those two mothers are working on that. They are continuing the partnership with Federated and they want to be involved with us. They have a lot of energy and they will be back in Sept.

In February, Siobhan had written to the Bergen County rep, Anika, about our committee and invited  her to come to a meeting, and she responded that she will meet with us in the fall. So our committee should think about what we want to address with her. A constant theme that Siobhan has been hearing is, now that we have the housing issue addressed, we have the work issue. And, because several of our roads are county roads, the issue of pedestrian safety is another topic.

She met with the Rising Above Bakery, and Amy Ferrante Martin, who grew up here, and is on the council in Glen Rock and is very supportive of the idea. They ended up at the Ridgewood Public Library, whose space is vacant. But the Council doesn’t make those decisions. It goes to the Library board. She has given the connection to Evan to talk to the library board with no assumption that it could happen. Siobhan likes the train station idea but thought it might be a little overwhelming for our young adults. Sheri is losing her bakery’s lease in Nyack. Siobhan thinks she is scrambling a bit to find a new space.

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This past Wed. Siobhan met with Michael Kilcullen, our transition coordinator with the STEPSS Program. She circulated his presentation to the Council and staff at Village Hall. Siobhan is also on the Shade Tree Committee and this past weekend she organized Mulch Madness, where volunteers spread mulch in the plant beds in the CBD. When she met with Michael he talked about his students making connections in the community and integrating more. He mentioned to Siobhan that he had seen everyone mulching and said that they would love to do that next year. Siobhan was very enthusiastic about the idea. It would be great to have them working right in the CBD to feel ownership in the community. Also, having some aides there as extra adults would be very helpful. He is going to take partnerships with us. Another Shade Tree project, which happens in the fall, is the Adopt a Sapling. Mr. Stroker heard about Mulch Madness and emailed Siobhan and now wants to partner with us as well. Siobhan expressed that she feels that our committee should almost be a subcommittee of every committee that all of the council sits on. She talked about Doha and his newsletter. Michael will send us the link to his newsletter and the form for partnerships and volunteering. Deanna suggested that in the fall we should involve the Civil Youth Corp as well. 

Caroline asked if there might be any paid jobs in the Village for our young people. Siobhan said that we do not have the budget for it this year, as the budget is frozen. A possibility would be a grant. 

Siobhan made a point of saying that in addition to having the young adults helping out, as  with the mulching, it’s great to have their aides as additional adults to assist the organizer. The more adults, the better. And Siobhan also thanked the Parks Dept. for their help.

Ines asked if we had had any success with the vendors in town. Has Glenn from Steel Wheel reached out to anyone for job opportunities for our young adults? Siobhan said she believes he’s taking office on July 1. She has spoken with him. When Jaimie and the  mothers from Ridge have their plans set for the Monday dinners, she will approach him with that idea. His restaurant has 2 spaces which would be ideal for our purposes. When we have the content for an email about this idea, we can send it to the League of Women Voters, the Rotary, Stablehands and then the Chamber and the Guild.

3. ACCESS Weekend - Preliminary Discussion - Robin and Ashley

Robin thanked Surbhi for the railroad trestle contacts. We’ll have it for the 2 weeks before the weekend. The banner is done. Years ago we had a big banner in the auditorium but now we can just have it on the screen. Robin thanked Caroline for doing the hybrid version of the fashion show and entertainment. They decided to continue to have the in-person and virtual. A banner on Maple Ave. and at the parking lot entrance. Our real challenge is the lobby of the library is slated to be renovated but we don’t know when. Even if it is that weekend we can make the patio area accessible. It’s not ideal but we’ll still have accessibility. We’ve never been rained out 

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of the courtyard. We can always do something with the Ann Zusy hall if need be. Caroline said the entertainment is in progress. 

Siobhan asked if we get the banners from Ridgewood Press. Yes. She said we should be asking him for jpeg images of all the stuff we are promoting and we can put them on official social media from the Village. Ashley said she had created the images and she can send them to Siobhan on whatever platform she needs. If she could send them to the entire committee, that would be great. If we could create a new press release on the Weekend and send it to the 2 news organizations and possibly get a story out of it. We could get more donations and vendors.  

With the entertainment, what’s really driving social media now are microfilms because nobody has any attention. If we have the release and some of the performers could give a little video, we could drum up attention in that way. Caroline said absolutely. She can have Manny do it. She’ll get the young adults to help out with that.

We have $500 from Freedom Bank. We did do the banner. Lisa said he gave us a very good price for all the banners.

Do we have the letter for the donors? Siobhan has the original one. She will send it to Paul. 

4. Old Business - no issues.

5. New Business

Deanna said that Katie Frey asked her to mention that, similar to last year, as long as there are enough lifeguards at Graydon, they’re planning to do a LEAP lifeguarding program, where they take the older kids into the pool and let the lifeguards help them out with a little swimming, letting them play lifeguard for a day for a couple of hours in the evening. They really enjoyed that last year. The pool manager is enthusiastic about it. It’s not just for the LEAP program registrants but it is part of the program. So once it’s in place anybody can sign up for it. Katie has also been talking to an ADA specialist to possibly take over the LEAP program. And she is planning to do some socialization programs for younger kids. Most of our programs have been for the 12-24 age group, so this would be something for the younger ones. It probably will start sometime in the fall.

Her seniors would like to do a kind of carnival day rather than listen to a presentation for ACCESS Weekend. Similar to last year. They really enjoyed it and have been asking for it. She may need 3-4 volunteers though because it’s earlier in the day on a Friday - just to man a table.

Jan brought up the 11 residents at Ridge Crest that Deanna has arranged to have free access to Graydon. But they also have people with disabilities that are not 62 or older. Can they have 

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the same opportunity? Deanna said that those folks were overseen by Age Friendly Ridgewood and Sheila Brogan was speaking to each of them. SNAP and PAD programs were mentioned here. Deanna suggested speaking to Sheila and the new Village Manager, Keith Kasmark. Deanna asked Siobhan to speak to him as well. There is a disability badge. Certain qualifications need to be met. Robin said that the SNAP and PAD programs were based on income. Deanna felt Nancy Bigos should be included on that. Siobhan suggested to Jan that when she writes the letter to give an idea of how many people have been helped by the Age Friendly program, which her son Liam initiated back in 2017. She mentioned that Keith’s start date is July 10. Siobhan is feeling very positive about his qualifications and enthusiasm.

Joanne Stolfo - asked if we want to pursue the water from Ridgewood Water this year. It was difficult last year. Joanne described the large board they provided with spigots and they gave us water bottles. Siobhan feels that it’s an important asset for the Village and we have just spent $60 million to improve its quality in bringing wells online. The more we can encourage spigot use rather than plastic bottles, we should. She thinks they will do it. Caroline said that because we’re still having issues with the water and the kids with disabilities may be more sensitive to the contaminants, that maybe we should consider not using it. 

Siobhan then spoke about Ridgewood Water and how the State of NJ has lowered the standards for the PFAS and PFOAS and RW is working to comply with those standards. She said the water is safe to drink. Joanne asked if she should copy Siobhan in her email to Jill F. at the water dept. and Siobhan said yes. Deanna said that if we are not able to get the water board from the water dept. she has large water coolers that she can put the inside water in with ice. We still have cups from ACCESS that we can use. 

Deanna mentioned to Jan that she will speak to Nancy Bigos about the Graydon badges for those under 62.

The meeting ended at 2:50. 

The next meeting will be via ZOOM on Thurs. July 21, 2023 at 2:00.