November 21,2015
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, Residents are very concerned with what is going on between the Village of Ridgewood Council and the Health Barn USA, Inc.
The fact that the Habernickel property was purchased in partnership with NJ DEP Green Acres and Bergen County Open-Space funding mandates very specific rules and regulations that have been completely overlooked by the VOR. On the contrary, the VC is setting up a For Profit Corporation on the Park. This is in complete contradiction with the Green Acres rule.
The official record of the Public Hearing in Ridgewood on November 4, 2015 clearly has Tim Cronin, Director of Parks and Rec, stating that the Village will NOT be administrating the business of Health Barn.The President and CEO of Health Barn, Stacy Antine, stated that nothing will change with her website and registration methods.
Further the Health Barn Website now says that winter programs will be held at The Stable?
The following quote is from an article on NorthJersey.COM dated October 14, 2015
HealthBarn USA moving into Ridgewood house
OCTOBER 14, 2015 LAST UPDATED: WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2015, 9:03 AM
BY MARK KRULISH
STAFF WRITER |
THE RIDGEWOOD NEWS
Antine said the site was ideal for her organization because the house has more classroom space than HealthBarn currently has. Also in the works are plans for a proper kitchen to have demonstrations and teach nutritional eating through learning to cook in that manner.
Another factor in the decision to come to Ridgewood was the nature of the horse farm and its conversion to an outdoor recreation area, which will allow Antine and her staff to install a children’s production garden. Antine said the facility is “perfectly matched” with the curriculum.
Residents say there is NO doubt that this is growing business and as good as it is, it does NOT belong on a neighborhood park.
There are many other issues that are being uncovered by a growing group of concerned neighbors that will be brought to the State and County level of government in the next few weeks. Issues with County OPEN-SPACE rules and regulations. Issues with the Park / Village Deed of Conservation.
This is NOT the place for a Year Round School / Camp that quite literally will put a strangle hold on the accessibility of the Park by citizens as well as make our community a traffic nightmare.
Worse yet Parks and Recs department has agreed to host Health Barn who is going to run a for profit business out of the The Stable assuming many if not most its patrons are not residents Ridgewood taxpayers are paying for the upkeep, the overhead and the oversight of Health Barn . Residents are failing to see the benefit to the Village of Ridgewood.
