>New Year, new solutions: Let’s pitch in
THURSDAY, JANUARY 19, 2012
By BETTY WIEST
This is the year for change. And some of it won’t be easy. I don’t want to be the bearer of gloom and doom (there are some bright spots!), but we must be ready for some new ways of doing things.
In light of the major weather-related incidents we have experienced in this region in recent years, the Village of Ridgewood and residents alike must acquiesce to looking at and processing the way we approach and react to carrying out village ordinances. The saying: “We have met the enemy… and he is us” (Walter Kelly, 1970 Pogo poster for Earth Day) holds more truth now than ever.
For instance, take the most recent storm that came through in late October. It was devastating and made Hurricane Irene look weak by comparison, with the effects of the bizarre storm lasting for months. The monumental amount of branches, limbs and trees that came down added to the already burgeoning leaf piles on every street in Ridgewood. And now we begin to see the problems. Simply put, the Village of Ridgewood’s equipment and manpower could not keep up with the cleanup. And there are several reasons why, but most of them stem from residents themselves, me included.
