>Catherine Taub met with heavy resistance from Village Council members recently during her formal presentation regarding plans to erect a commemorative near the Ridgewood Public Library in honor of Varian Fry.
Fry, a Harvard-educated classicist and editor who was raised in Ridgewood, helped save thousands of endangered refugees who were caught in the Vichy French zone escape from Nazi terror during World War II.
Ms. Taub, of Wastena Terrace, was visibly stunned by the Village Council’s refusal to permit installation of a plaque near the Ridgewood Public Library, and their hesitation to officially sanction any further ceremonies honoring Mr. Fry (South Monroe Street was officially dedicated in Fry’s name on June 26, 2005).
Deputy Mayor Betty G. Wiest suggested that a more appropriate location for the erection of a commemorative plaque would be at Van Neste Memorial Park, and asked Ms. Taub to reconsider her original request and return to meet Council members at a later date.
By the way, Ms. Taub was planning to personally fund all costs associated with this project. Translation; no tax dollars would have been spent.
The Fly wonders why Ms. Taub got the proverbial bums rush, but when folks stepped forward to fund improvements at Maple Park, Council members welcomed them with open arms.
>Isn’t he one of the brothers that invented the popular Varian business computer of the mid to late 60s.
>Maybe the plaque should be placed on Varian Fry Way. It could either be affixed to the fence for the ball field, or, a monumental marker could be placed at the foot of the street sign. No biggie.
As to the icy reception that Mrs. Taub received, it’s no secret that the Council is not very friendly to outsiders. Unfortunately, almost all of Ridgewood is considered outsiders to them.