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Ridgewood residents clear debris leftover from Irene
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2011
BY KELLY EBBELS
STAFF WRITER
THE RIDGEWOOD NEWS
Barbara Ferrante, a member of the Women Gardeners of Ridgewood, was walking her dog with her husband three weeks ago when she came upon a mess at Maple Park: trees and debris lodged between the riverbank and the bridge, roots exposed on the path, silt everywhere.
Concerned, she reached out to her gardening club and to Deputy Director of Parks and Recreation Nancy Bigos, who is a member of the club, to organize an effort to clean up the riverbank.
Last Sunday afternoon was no day off for about 20 Ridgewood residents, who volunteered their time and labor to take on the arduous process of cleaning the area. The effort brought together the Women Gardeners of Ridgewood, the Ridgewood Wildscape Association and the Preserve Graydon Coalition.
“It’s just public-spirited people that have come down here to help,” Ferrante said, rake in hand, as she and the other volunteers busily cleaned up the area with tarps, rakes and ropes. Ferrante’s dog, tied to the wheelbarrow, looked on.
