20231117 - Ridgewood Access Committee Minutes

Ridgewood’s Community ACCESS Committee

Meeting Minutes November 17, 2023

 

The ZOOM meeting opened at 2:03 pm.

 

Present: Ines Bunza, Robin Ritter, Lisa Gardner, Paul Aronsohn, Anika Davis, Siobhan Winograd, Surbhi Kapadia, Caroline Meier, Jaimie Davis, Jesse Schwartzmann, Lela Alter, Carolyn Holt, Jan Philips, Erica Dunckley

 

Item 1: Welcome

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

 

Item: 2: Executive Board Reports

Treasurer: Lisa Gardner - The $500 that is in our account is last year’s deposit. The $300 was last year’s. The $85 for the banners is in the process of going out. It hasn’t gone out yet, but they do know about it. The $500 definitely came in but it didn’t hit our account yet, so Lisa assumes there’s a process to that. Siobhan said that she is waiting for Bob, our CFO. The $300 was paid. He has assured us that Bob from Ridgewood Press had been paid but they need to reclassify the money and then we need to find out where the check is. Siobhan told Lisa that it was good and that she wanted to look at the ledger. Bob had said that there was no activity for 2023. Siobhan asked if Lisa had written him back this morning. Lisa said she would after today’s meeting. Siobhan said we need the $500 to show and the reclassification of the banner to hit us.

Jan asked if Lisa has the breakdown of what our expenses were. Lisa said we have no activity for 2023 at all, expenses or income. This is why she asked for the ledger to make sure the banners were paid for because that was requested from her a while ago. We have a balance of $4,493.34. 

Ines asked if Erica had anything she needed to address with the committee regarding the minutes. She thanked Erica for her accuracy in reporting the minutes. 

 

Item 3: Report of Village Liaison - Siobhan Winograd

This past week Siobhan attended the League of Municipalities in Atlantic City. She described it as a municipal trade show, attended by all the NJ municipalities. They look at options, case studies and best practices of what other people are doing. As public officials, they get training. She went to a couple of talks on people with disabilities. She met up with Jesse Schwartzmann. She also connected with a man named Frank Latham, who’s been an advocate for a long time. He knows Jesse and Paul Aronsohn and she invited him to attend our January meeting and she hopes he can come to talk about all the good things he’s done and sees as potential next steps for Ridgewood. The trade show floor is organized in sections. He is very aware of Ridgewood because she thinks Paul brags about us a lot. Siobhan then turned it over to Jaimie Davis and commended her about the event at The Steel Wheel. Glen said that he is going to donate money back to us!

Jaimie: It was a phenomenal turnout. Steel Wheel gave them the entire dining room. They had 72 RSVPs. Attendees also included Siobhan, Paul Vagianos, Lorraine, a patrolwoman, a 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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member of the Fire Dept., so a total of 60-70 total. She received wonderful feedback from the families during the event. For some, it was the first time they’ve tried to dine out in several years. Some younger families said they had never tried to eat out, due to being too scared or nervous. One friend said her 2 children were asking when are they going to do it again. Students from the STEPPS program made centerpieces in Solo cups with hard candies to weigh them down and balloon flowers. The restaurant was amenable to the STEPPS students coming before the event to set up and to check out their surroundings. It was a Wed. from 4-6. It was a win for the restaurant too because they served 60-70 dinners that they wouldn’t have normally done. Jaime offered to send an email to all the attendees. They responded by saying they would like to make a $750 donation to SEPAG, which was completely unexpected. Glen, as president of the Chamber, said you should do this every month. He would be happy to talk to us about which restaurants would be good environments for the kids. Paul, too, offered his help as  well. Jaime said let’s get a monthly event on the calendar. As of this morning Paul has been in touch with Ahmed, the owner of Parisa East. So Jaime has booked a second dinner there for Mon. Dec. 11. The restaurant is normally closed on Mon. And he is giving us the entire restaurant, at whatever time we want. She is hoping to coordinate a tree lighting during the same time that the group is dining there. Possibly doing a couple of lightings to accommodate the times the families will be there. The STEPPS students also made placemats with mazes that the kids could color. For this next event Jaime is going to ask them to make non-denominational holiday cards that can be colored in. And then maybe give them to the Village Mgr, who collects cards to give to people in the Village, like Ridgecrest, or housing for special needs adults. 

Surbhi mentioned that the Stigma Free Committee is running “Cards of Joy” and there are 3 collection boxes, one set up in Village Hall, main floor and 2 at the Library. The Health Dept. will deliver them. 

Jaime, in her conversation with Glen and Siobhan, emphasized to him that once these families feel comfortable at a restaurant, they will become loyal customers. The restaurants are helping the families and vice versa. 

The First Responders arrived with light-up bracelets for the kids. Jaime will use some of the donation to buy things that the kids can play with at these events, like crayons, etc. They also got a donation from the KofC. Jaime thanked the committee and Siobhan for our support. She said that, in conversation with Paul, that once they hit the restaurants, she would love to work with the Chamber to do something similar with the young adults in town. 

Ashley joined Kiwanis International a few months ago. It is a new organization in Ridgewood. They have been looking for ways to let people know about them, and would like to donate crayons to restaurants. They do programming and fundraising for children’s programs, so she will find out if they can donate some of those funds for our group.

Ines thanked Jaime for all her hard work. And she told us that her daughter, Catherine, told her friends that when they return from college for the Thanksgiving weekend they are all going to the Steel Wheel. Jaime is thrilled because it is an idea that she’s had for 3 years and it has now come to fruition!

 

                                                                       

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Item 4: Presentation: Anika Davis, Director of Bergen County Division of Disability Services

Ines explained the background of the Steel Wheel event. And she said that perhaps it’s something that other towns may be interested in doing as well.

Anika introduced herself. She has been in this position since July, 2020. She thanked Ines and Siobhan for inviting her to the meeting. Ines was one of the first to reach out to her directly and to encourage her participation. She provided some videos for ACCESS and attended the ACCESS Weekend Fashion Show last year, which she said was wonderful. And this year she was able to attend the Seeing Eye presentation. She really enjoys coming out to Ridgewood.

Anika then gave us a general overview of what her office does and provides. 

Her office assists Bergen County residents with permanent or temporary disabilities to achieve their full potential and encourage their involvement and inclusion in  all aspects of their everyday living. Their program promotes and really advocates to ensure that individuals are able to receive the services they’re looking for but also that they can live in their least restrictive environment, keeping them at home and keeping them active and working, in community engagement as they so choose. Their services are:

ADRC: Aging and Disability Resource Connection. (Resource and Referral). If their agency doesn’t provide the service or resource, they will connect the caller with alternatives. They collaborate with many agencies within the county.

PASP: Personal Assistance Services Program. Program funded through the State, where they provide up to 40 hours of personal assistance per week for qualifying individuals aged 18 and over. They must have a permanent physical disability, or volunteering 20 hours/wk or going to school. Anybody that applies must apply for Medicaid or Workability first. Once they get that denial, then her program can help them. 

All Abilities Adult Support Group Program: It is free and is for individuals 60 and older or disabled 18 and older. It provides the socialization, educational and recreational components of these groups. Currently there are 4 groups. There is one in Maywood and Englewood. They are operating in person and meet weekly and 2 that are virtual, meeting monthly. 

Meals on Wheels: for ages 18-59. Once they’re 60 they transfer over to senior services. They’re reassessed every 6 months.

Respite Care: provides a short break for caregivers. There are income eligibility requirements.

In-home Caregiver Education Program: Free to any caregiver in the county. They have an agency they contract with. The patient will have an initial assessment by an RN. 5-6 sessions are provided to the caregiver. Many different healthcare providers can come to the house.

If we need more info on the PASP or the Respite Care programs, she can have those specific coordinators come and speak. 

Ines asked if anyone had any questions for Anika. 

Located on the County website. Go to Human Services and drop down to Disability Services. Jan has the telephone #. It is 201-336-6500. Jan asked Anika if she was the author of “Meditation of a Mother’s Heart.” She said she is!

Siobhan asked if there was a social media platform where the information on the disability services would be easy to access. Anika said they have great flyers that are eye-catching as 

                                                                       

 

 

 

 

 

 

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well as several hyperlinks that she can send us. Siobhan said we would take everything. We want to have more of an awareness in the community.

Ines thanked Anika and said she will put her on our email list. So if something comes up on the county level, she can share it with us.

Ines apologized for not getting to Carolyn Holt who is the Federated president. She had to leave the meeting.

 

Item 5. Discussion/Recap of ACCESS Weekend

Deanna - couldn’t attend the meeting as her grandmother just passed away. But she let Ines know that she wanted us to put out the dates for next year’s weekend. They will be Oct. 4, 5 and 6.  We are not doing it Columbus weekend as we have in the past because those are the Jewish holidays next year. The Village is on board with those dates, as is Pastor Joanne.

Ashley - technical issues? She said everything went smoothly after getting the system up and running.

Robin noted that this was the 13th year of our weekend and it was the first that got rained out for the patio party.

Jan noted that the Sunday service and party at the Church were amazing. Ines asked Paul Aronsohn if he had anything to add about Sunday. He said that for him, the faith component is important and in conversations at the event he and others would like to see the clergy in town become more involved. He enjoyed being at the meeting.

Erica/Lisa: Erica asked Jan how the food component worked out at the Sunday event. Jan said that it would be good if the flier listed the Sunday event. She felt that we could do better than leftovers. Also it was difficult for Joanne, not knowing what food was coming from us, to know  what she needed to solicit, and so by the end of the day there was a lot of food left over. Lisa mentioned that we can’t ask our restaurants what to provide. Jan said that we could distribute differently. Reserve some of the food for Sunday. Lisa said it depends on how many people attend the patio party. Robin suggested that we field this question for now and discuss it at the planning meeting for the 2024 weekend. 

Siobhan mentioned that the Sunday event was noted on all the social media about the weekend. She too said that we could discuss it at the next meeting. She mentioned that the Sunday event was really lovely. Joanne also had some support from her own clergy. She addressed the flier issue and it was realized that the flier Jan had was specific to the Sat. library event, which is why the Sunday event wasn’t listed there.

Lela had a question asking for assistance about her son who is at Bergen Community College working for a degree in Social Work. He is looking for an internship for the spring semester. If anyone can assist him in any way, he would very much appreciate it. Since he has special needs, it’s challenging. Jesse put his email in the chat and if you send him an email he may be able to help you. He has great connections.

 

Caroline jumped in to go over the fashion show. It was a fabulous event, although there weren’t as many participants as usual. She’s going to touch base with Jaimie in order to get more 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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younger kids involved. She recognized the 2 RHS students who helped out behind the scenes. Robin and Ashley let the kids see the auditorium ahead of time, which was terrific. She thanked         them. Rachel, who does the video, wasn’t able to due to getting Covid. Ashley and Robin stepped in and did a great job. 

 

Ines reminded everyone that we will not have a meeting in Dec. but that we’ll reconvene in Jan. She thanked Paul A. for coming to our meeting. She’s looking forward to having Paul be our speaker at that meeting, letting us know what he does as Ombudsman. Paul said he will be there. There was a problem hearing him very well. He said that it was his home computer but that he would rectify it for the Jan. meeting. Ines wished everyone a Happy Holiday. The meeting ended at 3:06.

 

The January meeting will be on Jan. 19 at 2:00 via ZOOM.