Tag: Ridgewood Elks

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Ridgewood Water to Bid on Ridgewood Elks Property

ridgewood elks

file photo by Boyd Loving

July 1,2017

by Boyd Loving

Ridgewood NJ, During this past Wednesday evening’s Village Council Work Session (06/28), Ridgewood Mayor Susan Knudsen announced Ridgewood Water’s intent to acquire, via outright purchase, the building and property located at 111 North Maple Avenue, Ridgewood, which is currently owned by the Ridgewood Elks Holding Corporation.

Mayor Knudsen further stated that Ridgewood Water would make improvements to the Elks Lodge building to permit the relocation of water utility operations currently housed in Midland Park, and at Village Hall in Ridgewood.

No information was made available during the aforementioned meeting as to whether the Midland Park property would be sold when vacated, nor what would be done with the water utility’s space at Village Hall once the utility leaves it.

Ridgewood Councilwoman Bernadette Walsh and Councilman Jeffrey Voigt both stated their opposition to the purchase. Councilman Ramon Hache said that he’d initially been opposed to the plan also, but now viewed it as a good idea.

Costs for property acquisition and building improvements are said to be in the neighborhood of $3 million, according to Councilwoman Walsh.

Further public discussions about the proposed plan with take place later in the summer, as per Mayor Knudsen.

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Reader says Yes, a sad day that another Elks lodge is gone but even sadder that this one could have been rescued

Ridgewood Elks

Truly sad. This Lodge while once in not the best of shape was making improvements by leaps and bounds. A new group of dedicated and excited officers took charge and were taking a no prisoners approach in their efforts to get the Lodge back on track. They had won awards for membership gains (I believe over 40 new net new members in a year), started an Antlers group that was very active in the community, had won several community awards for their local efforts. Looking at the decision from the GF, losses were cut by 81% in a single year (yes a single year) which by definition means revenue was significantly higher (by tens of thousands actually). All signs that the lodge was on the rise in a major way.

This Lodge could have been salvaged. When objectively looked at they were one, maybe two years at the most away from meeting all the requirements of an All American Lodge. That is how far they came in a very short amount of time. Can you imagine that story in the national magazine?

Just look at the effort they put into saving their charter to see how much love and dedication they felt for their Lodge. They never gave up on the Elks or what the Elks stood for. They worked hard to right all the past wrongs, they put their hearts and souls into the place and were making real and accountable progress.

Yes, a sad day that another Elks lodge is gone but even sadder that this one could have been rescued and then been held out as an example that when a team works TOGETHER anything is possible. I say this is an opportunity lost to showcase a potential success story of how to climb that mountain and reach the top.

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Ridgewood Elks No Longer

ridgewood elks

file photo by Boyd Loving

December 8,2016
the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, After years of on again off again probation culminating in the seizure of the property and a lengthy court battle, by Executive order the Charter of the Ridgewood Lodge has been revoked .

Basically , the Grand Elks found the Ridgewood lodge had violated too many lodge rules  such as meeting times and missing audit deadlines as well as it committed bad business practices leading to the lodges insolvency .

It’s a sad demise to a long time Ridgewood Institution . The Ridgewood blog will be keeping our ears open to see who wants the building and liquor license and follow the money.

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Ridgewood Elks Have Their Day in Grand Lodge Court

ridgewood elks
September 20,2016
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, so the Ridgewood blog has received some new updates as to the Ridgewood Elks situation and court battle.
The Elks had what is called a “grand forum hearing” which is heard by a judge who happens to also be an Elk in Tennessee. It was well attended by 40 members of the Ridgewood lodge. The feeling was that the hearing went well for the locals and now the trial transcript will be read by 5 Grand Forum Justices in November who will rule on the fate of the Ridgewood Elks at that time.

Its seems most of the “evidence” presented against the Ridgewood lodge was found to be inadmissible because is was procured after the fact  by the NJ Grand Lodge from documents taken from the offices of the Ridgewood Lodge after the seizure of the Lodge . While some Grand Lodge representatives contradicted themselves during testimony, one flat out lied.
Nothing is settled yet ,but the Ridgewood lodge member’s could hold there head up high for putting on a good defense .
Before the Ridgewood lodge was seized it was revitalized and growing .Which takes us back one more time to the fact that this still appears to be nothing more than a land grab by the Grand Lodge of New Jersey .
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Ridgewood Elks the Recent Back Ground and History

Ridgewood Elks

June 12,2016

the staff of the Ridgewood blog with a little help from our friends

Ridgewood NJ, The Elks has been under probation for many years. As with other Elks clubs closing, it is for a lack of memberships. Many are combining.My Elks in Florida has a thriving membership, but as the years went on, it dwindled and was merged with another lodge.Per the bylines of the Elks, they do have the right to take all assets under that Lodge.But, and this is a big but, the leadership in Ridgewood may have the rights to the building. As many know, our town hall was the original Elks. Ridgewood gave the the Elks and one stipulation. I think was that it would not be a private club. I believe the Ridgewood Elks is 1 of only 2 lodges in Jersey that is open for non-members. July 4th was always great there to see the parade.

According to a member, Ridgewood Elks grew membership 43% in the last 3 years and closing the lodge was a “done deal” no matter how well they were doing. The trumped-up charges are being appealed by members in an Elks Grand Forum case and the building ownership is being contested in a Superior Court litigation. The property is owned by a separate Holding Corporation. There is recent legal precedence fighting the Elks Grand Lodge successfully in a similar case – Elks Building Corp. of Norwood vs. BPOE. Austin TX Elks, now “The High Road”, is also successfully suing Grand Lodge for their property.

donate https://www.gofundme.com/28aa6n62

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HELP SAVE RIDGEWOOD ELKS!

ridgewood elks

file photo by Boyd Loving

June 10,2016

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, The Ridgewood Elks Lodge, a long-standing village foundation established in 1922, has lost its charter recently. Our venture to restructure the lodge has come to an abrupt halt.

We provided countless charitable programs to our community, and many go unnoticed.

The Grand Lodge of Elks came in and took our charter off the wall and changed our locks, with no good reason other than a greedy property grab!

Sadly, our teen Antler volunteer program consisting of 22 youths can no longer function either, through no fault of their own.

We require substantial attorney fees to defend our positions, which we are asking all of our benevolent friends to assist us with.

Any amount donated is very greatly appreciated!

We hope to be back in our building and servicing our community with our wonderful charitable works, but will need your help!

With your kind contributions, we look forward to celebrating with you all on our beloved Fourth of July.

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Reader says Elks Grand Lodge has been Gunning for Ridgewood Elks for Years

ridgewood elks

file photo by Boyd Loving

 

Ridgewood Nj, a reader says ,”The (Elks)club membership is dealing with over zealous state reps ( in very fancy tuxedos mind you) who have been gunning for the lodge for years. It’s not business, it’s personnel. The membership has retained councel who will defend their interests. This includes the building that does NOT belong to ANYONE other than the clubs membership via a holding corporation to protect it from situations just like this. So forget your theory’s , forget about the library and forget about ANYONE getting anything that belongs to the lodge.”

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Ridgewood Elks the Plot Thickens

ridgewood elks

file photo Boyd Loving

March 31,2016
the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, Reader say it is a well know fact in Village Hall circles that Ms Green and the Library Board has been looking at the Elks property for some years. If you recall a post here that the L:library Board have been talking about plans for a Performing Arts center in our around the Library. Im sure you could go to the Library Board past minutes and fine that .
Its just to much of a coincidence that this comes up with everything going on in town.I don’t trust these three. Also check current and past board member you will see that 2 Council people were on the board and our mayor was the representive from the Council to the Library. Then there in one of the developers that also was a former member of the board along with one or two of the finical board members. Check it out you will surprised who is involved

Ridgewood Elks assessed value was cut in half in 2014.Their assessed value went from $1,169,300 in 2014 to $584,600 in 2015.
As someone near retirement and looking to cut fixed costs I would like to have that deal. What other taxpayers had their property taxes cut in half? What brought this change about?

Just when you thought you’d heard it all the fly has learned that . . .In Uncategorized on March 1, 2007 at 2:59 pm
Library Board members have proposed buying the Ridgewood Elks Lodge building at 111 North Maple Avenue for library expansion purposes (additional parking and building expansion). Just what we need; another property taken off the tax rolls.
A Graydon Pool Improvements Committee has been formed. Reportedly, one plan under consideration by committee members is converting the existing facility into a year round “mini country club” and imposing significant fees for membership. Can you say “exclusively elite” 10 times fast? Hold onto your wallets tightly ladies & gentlemen!

North Jersey .com July 2015 : A couple of library board trustees said they want to move ahead with the original plan, which called only for the renovation of the library, and add in the construction of a performing arts center next to the library and village hall. This would turn the library and its surrounding area into the cultural hub the members are seeking.

From the Mayors web site : Approximately 40 Ridgewood residents, members of the business community and arts enthusiasts met with Aronsohn and Deputy Mayor Albert Pucciarelli two Saturdays ago to gauge interest in establishing a new performing arts center and the feasibility of turning the idea into a reality. The former bank site was mentioned several times during that meeting.

From the Ridgewood Blog : Also the wife of Glenn F.Jorgensen, founding president of the library board has been appoint chairwoman of the new tiger team (  Financial Advisory Committee ) Looks like the library is set for awhile.

And don’t forget PETITION SIGNING LOCATIONS ELKS CLUB
(111 Maple Ave-next to library-across from Kings)
SATURDAY FEBRUARY 20TH
11:00AM-4:00PM

Board of Trustees 2016 ( round up the usual suspects )

Associate Directors

·       Glenn Jorgensen, Founding President

·       Harlan Coben

·       Daniel Cumming

·       Tony Damiano  *

·       Elia Desruisseau

·       Thomas Dougherty

·       Paul Goldberg

·       Joshua Grunat

·       Jacques Harlow

·       Gwenn Hauck *

·       Phyllis Heilborn

·       Teresa Hutchins

·       Jeffrey Karpf

·       Michelle Lenhard

·       William Meakem

·       Barbara Moreira

·       Joan Popkin

·       Deborah Primiano

·       Albert Pucciarelli *

·       Ellen Quinn

·       Catherine Redlich

·       Fred Strype

The Members of the 2012 Financial Advisory Committee (alphabetically)
Rich Barclay
Bayard DeI\/Iallie
Ed Feldsott
Nancy Johansen *
Charlie Kime
John Maxwell
Jim McCarthy
David Sabath
Jim Schimmei
Fran Shovlìn
Roberta Sonenfeld *
Bob Zeller

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Ridgewood Elks Struggles to Reestablish Lodge

ridgewood elks
photo by Boyd Loving
March 29,2016
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood Nj, as many of you noticed the Ridgewood Elks lodge was closed down by an Elks Grand Lodge executive order which revoked the Elks Charter .

The Ridgewood Eks had been on probation for a long time and was working on the probation terms . The seizure of the Ridgewood lodge came with out warning and was quite a surprise to its growing membership. The Ridgewood Lodge has less than 10 days to file and appeal in Elks court  with the Grand Lodge called , The Grand Forum .

 While many outsiders speculate some sort of subterfuge is going on. It just does not make sense that the National Elks would pull the charter of a growing lodge that carries on so many great programs for the community . Perhaps the lure of real-estate in downtown Ridgewood has some looking to exercise their 3066 options now that the Brake o Rama property is also available.
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Ridgewood Elks welcome younger members

Ridgewood Elks

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Ridgewood Elks welcome younger members

JANUARY 16, 2015    LAST UPDATED: FRIDAY, JANUARY 16, 2015, 12:31 AM
BY LAURA HERZOG
STAFF WRITER |
THE RIDGEWOOD NEWS

The newest members of Ridgewood’s Elk Lodge 1455, ages 12 to 18, are redefining the stereotyped organization from a mysterious “drinking men’s club” to what it really is, members say – a community service organization open to all.

The young recruits, called “Antlers,” could also help repopulate the Elks’ ranks, which have dropped over the years.

In exchange, the young people get opportunities for fun, Elks note: membership in an adult organization and, notably, a lodge gaming space of their own, complete with an arcade game, pool table and air hockey.

They also get a chance to engage in the Elks’ meaningful community service activities helping veterans of foreign wars and children with special needs.

“I would recommend it to kids who are interested in community service, because the Elks have a lot of great programs such as the Hoop Shoot and scholarships,” noted Antler President Andrew Setten, whose parents are also Ridgewood Elks. “They do patriotic activities like Flag Day and they help veterans. Plus we have a nice, spacious lodge we can go to and plan the charity activities that we would like to do.

https://www.northjersey.com/community-news/clubs-and-service-organizations/elks-welcome-antlers-to-the-herd-1.1196403