>Merchants, businesses, village officials, residents and the Ridgewood Chamber of Commerce all contributed something to bring the village Christmas tree back
‘Community’s tree’ journeys to train station
Friday, December 3, 2010
BY MICHAEL SEDON
The Ridgewood News
STAFF WRITER
Returning a tradition takes a village, with holiday “green” sprinkled into the mix.
https://www.northjersey.com/news/111245544__Community_s_tree__journeys_to_train_station_.html
Merchants, businesses, village officials, residents and the Ridgewood Chamber of Commerce all contributed something to bring the village Christmas tree back to the spot it occupied for 22 years at the train station.
The village planted a live tree in Van Neste Square Memorial Park two years ago and moved the annual tree lighting celebration from its original spot at the train station. Residents debated the move, and many discussed the possibility of getting it back for the event’s 25th anniversary.
The effort was led by resident, business owner and chamber member Paul Vagianos, but required donations and volunteerism from many inside and outside of Ridgewood. Vagianos first met with Deputy Mayor Tom Riche to discuss some of the issues involved with putting the plan into motion. Riche told Vagianos that if he could garner the Chamber of Commerce’s approval and raise the $6,500 necessary to move the tree, the deputy mayor would support the idea.
“During the election campaign of 2010 when I was running for office, at a lot of the coffees with all of the things we have going on in Ridgewood, it seemed to always come up,” Riche said of returning the Christmas tree to the train station. “I kind of made a commitment that I would do the very best I could to fulfill the wish of what seemed like a large percentage of people in Ridgewood at the time.”
The chamber’s board of directors unanimously approved the idea, and several local merchants donated a total of $8,500 in about three hours, Vagianos said.
“The one who put it over the top was Capital One Bank who gave us $2,500,” Vagianos said. “Everybody wanted to give money. I had people walking up to me wanting to give money on this.”
Armed with the full backing of the chamber, Riche’s support and $8,500, the tree’s return to the station seemed like a slam dunk — but the effort was just getting started.
lots more: https://www.northjersey.com/news/111245544__Community_s_tree__journeys_to_train_station_.html
Residents can donate to the Ridgewood Christmas Tree Fund c/o Capital One Bank, 9 E. Ridgewood Ave., Ridgewood, NJ 07450.
E-mail: sedon@northjersey.com
https://www.northjersey.com/news/111245544__Community_s_tree__journeys_to_train_station_.html
