photos courtesy of The Village Manager Keith Kazmark
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, the Habernickel or Healthbarn pavilion was delivered today and installation is scheduled to begin next week. The Village Manager Keith Kazmark called it ,” another important investment in our open space here in Ridgewood”
Last year The Village knocked down the old dilapidated barn at Habernickel Park, which according to Mayor Paul Vagianos was in such poor condition it should’ve been razed years ago.
Despite an admission on the Council’s part that there are several other athletic fields/parks in the Village devoid of “storm shelters” and nearby permanent restrooms (e.g., Citizen’s, Lower Hawes), and without undertaking a prioritization process/needs analysis to determine where to build first, Ridgewood’s governing body is set to allocate $340k of taxpayer funds for the construction of an outdoor pavilion with permanent restrooms at Habernickel Park.
Village Council Budget Meeting, Parks & Recreation Director Nancy Bigos previously stated publicly that once the pavilion is in place at Habernickel, and despite it having been fully funded by Ridgewood’s taxpayers, Healthbarn USA (a privately owned business) will be authorized to reserve the pavilion regularly for its own (commercial) use without charge.
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W T F is going on here?
How TF is a private business getting priority over the taxpayers who PAID for the structure???
Because that’s how it works in the real world.
Under these council people that’s how it works. Definitely not the real world. We just don’t know why all the favors for this business only? Very odd
Money talks, nobody walks.
What money. That is a private business.
Maybe the business if paying someone? Who knows. Because there are way too many privileges granted just for this one business. There are many of us that would love to know why?
that private business facilitated funneling of 4M in grant money to the Mayor’s restaurants!
Truth!!!! In her pockets or his I wonder. Who got more?
Wake up it’s been going on for almost 10 years. Favor after favor. And Nao spans knows why. Now we tax payers coughed up $350,000 pavilion to protect the 50 plus kids whose parents pay the big bucks to the privately owned business that takes over Habernickel park all Summer. Don’t be fooled it is NOT a shared endeavor with the town. Not at all!!! I mean the least we could do is provide shade for them because there is nothing else there. It’s hot hot hot just sitting around in a field all day. Imagine no shade or water all day long. Kidding not kidding. Why are we paying for the success of a business that takes takes takes from the town, the park and the neighbors peace!!! Ridiculous. I don’t go near that place in the summer .
Meanwhile the rest of the village is falling apart.
Yep. It’s gross. But the really question is why??! Why this business. It’s our tax dollars. Why I wonder??!!!
I love it, well this is what’s been going on dirty business to what I say not as I do. He’s got all his puppets in line. Call the Attorney General. I’m doing investigation. Boy they spend money like it’s nothing. They must be borrowing a lot of money . They are worry about bullshit like this, and meanwhile, the taxi stand is falling through its ass, the bus station is falling apart, a few village buildings are in need of repair. But that’s what they worry about the sports group ballfields Health enjoy. enjoy your tax money at work. I drove onto the trestle today and it was filthy leaves, debris, litter, don’t they sweep both sides of the curb anymore. Embarrassing, who’s inspecting, who’s in charge, no oversight, wow, and yet we pay big money for stipends for certain individuals. Is the manager riding around looking. Or is he on strings from the mayor. Is he not busy or too busy which is it?
But why all these favors for Healthbarn with our money? Does anyone care? Why are we giving away the park and now a brand new pavilion. There has to be a reason??? Who is doing who favors?
It’s not for sports it’s for Healthbarn. It’s almost time for her 60 summer campers to who need shade. Wake up people
Since this hasn’t been any snow and it’s warming up a little bit, we hope the village manager is having the crew clean out these ditches
Is Nancy going to stand guard and keep the people who actually paid for it out? Are we paying security to keep the tax payers out? Who the hell does this business owner think she is to take more from us. Nancy and Keith already have her the park. Just how are they going to keep park users young and old from the sun and rain protection of the pavilion that they pay for from using it. ???? Makes no sense
we can’t have other important upgrades but paying 350+ (bathrooms for health barn coming next) and Frank proudly stated that we have had a wonderful 10 year relationship with Healthbarn so they deserve the pavilion (maybe this is like an anniversary present) because the activities keep expanding and now Kamark will handle Healthbarn lease and business privately, wasn’t discussed publicly. Hmmm wondering why. Dirty bird of a feather flock together.
Why is he privately handling this lease?. That’s another red flag. What actually goes on in there? I thought the house was just to be used for little kid classes. Now I see adults constantly going in and out. I see lights on at night time. Who is there and why Keith’s keen interest in this business and its owner? Ht else is that building used for?