Tag: Ridgewood Library

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Ridgewood Library presents Reel Voices Film Festival

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NOVEMBER 6, 2015    LAST UPDATED: FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2015, 12:31 AM
BY MATTHEW SCHNEIDER
STAFF WRITER |
THE RIDGEWOOD NEWS

The Ridgewood Public Library’s 13th annual Reel Voices Film Festival concludes next week with the showing of “In Transit.”

The documentary, which will be shown on Friday, Nov. 13 at 7:30 p.m., offers an in-depth look at the passengers riding Amtrak’s “Empire Builder” train line, the company’s busiest, as it moves about the northwestern United States.

“I like to think of ‘In Transit’ as a documentary portrait of America,” the film’s director Lynn True explained in a recent interview. “Through the stories of passengers aboard trains traversing the country, we’re given unique access into the hearts and minds of everyday people, learning about their histories, hopes and dreams, ultimately giving us an intimate snapshot of our country today.”

While the movie was directed by True, it was actually the idea of famed filmmaker Albert Maysles, who died in March.

https://www.northjersey.com/arts-and-entertainment/movies/film-fulfills-pioneer-s-dream-1.1449854

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Halloween events planned in Ridgewood

Happy_Halloween_theridgewoodblog

OCTOBER 29, 2015    LAST UPDATED: THURSDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2015, 11:49 AM
BY BY MATTHEW SCHNEIDER
STAFF WRITER |
THE RIDGEWOOD NEWS

With Halloween taking place tomorrow, a number of village organizations have put together events for the spooky holiday.

https://www.northjersey.com/community-news/clubs-and-service-organizations/halloween-events-planned-in-ridgewood-1.1444261

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Turns Out That Students Like Real Books, Not Electronic Ones

Pile-of-Books

Annie Holmquist | October 19, 2015

Increasingly, many school referenda are based on the need to buy iPads or other tech devices for students. These devices, it is implied, will diminish achievement gaps and bring learning to new heights.

However, research has shown such “needs” to be misguided, particularly as “there is little solid evidence that greater computer use among students leads to better scores in mathematics and reading.” And as reading expert Nancie Atwell recently noted in The Washington Post, the tactic most likely to set students on the path to success is the good old-fashioned technology of a book.

“As reading researcher Richard Allington put it, ‘If I were working in a high-poverty school and had to choose between spending $15,000 each year on more books for classrooms and libraries, or on one more [teaching assistant], I would opt for the books … Children from lower-income homes especially need rich and extensive collections of books in their school …’

And they need actual books, not electronic devices that store books. Real books don’t require electricity or batteries. They survive rapid changes in technology and digital storage. While my students did experiment with e-readers and Kindles, all of them reverted to paper books. They said they missed the sense of geography they enjoy with a real book, where they’re aware of how many pages the author has left to resolve the plot, and when they can flip back with ease to clear up a confusion.”

https://www.intellectualtakeout.org/blog/turns-out-students-real-books-not-electronic-ones

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Ridgewood Library ready to ‘Party like Mad’

Ridgewood Library

OCTOBER 16, 2015    LAST UPDATED: FRIDAY, OCTOBER 16, 2015, 12:31 AM
BY MATTHEW SCHNEIDER
STAFF WRITER |
THE RIDGEWOOD NEWS

The Ridgewood Public Library is encouraging people to come “party like mad” tomorrow night.

The “Party Like Mad Gala,” which encourages attendees to dress like characters from the popular AMC TV show “Mad Men,” will feature live music, catered food and even a blackjack tournament in order to give it a 60s theme.

The event’s theme was chosen by Library Director Nancy Greene, according to Betsy Giordano, president of the library foundation.

“The Mad Men show finale was approaching, and we decided it just couldn’t be over,” she explained. “Who doesn’t like playing dress up?”

Proceeds from the event will be used to support the library’s “excellence far into the future, and ensure state-of-the-art learning opportunities and technology for residents of all ages.”

“We promise you’ll be amazed at this magical one-night transformation — the service desks will be our bars and all upper levels will be extravagantly decorated to bring the Mad Men era to life,” Giordano said. “We’re offering gourmet food from a premier Manhattan chef, a bourbon bar, silent auction and entertainment from one of New Jersey’s hottest bands (Total Soul),” among other entertainment.

“The auction will also have unique opportunities, with the chance to win a private plane ride up the Hudson, a long weekend at a Windham ski house, a premium catered box for ‘Disney on Ice’ and so much more,” she said. “We guarantee this party will be fun —not stuffy at all.”

Giordano said that the foundation is expecting around 350 people, explaining that ticket sales “have been quite strong, with the totals running into the hundreds, and more responses are arriving daily.”

“We are so grateful for this tremendous support from fellow Ridgewood residents,” she added.

https://www.northjersey.com/community-news/clubs-and-service-organizations/library-ready-to-party-like-mad-1.1434015

 

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Ridgewood Library film festival spotlights ‘Reel Voices’

Ridgewood Public Library Reel voivces

Last Days in Vietnam

OCTOBER 2, 2015    LAST UPDATED: FRIDAY, OCTOBER 2, 2015, 9:14 AM
BY MATTHEW SCHNEIDER
STAFF WRITER |
THE RIDGEWOOD NEWS

A popular annual event for film buffs is set to return to the Ridgewood Public Library starting tonight.

The Reel Voices Film Festival, now in its 13th consecutive year, is scheduled to open at 7:30 p.m.

Roberta Panjwani, the librarian in charge of the event, explained the process she takes when choosing the films. She views around 50 before selecting about five films.

“Each year I attend many documentary screenings at the Tribeca Film Festival” in New York City, Panjwani said, explaining that by doing this, she “can get a good sense of which films are really strong and those that will resonate with our community.”

Panjwani said that she also views films from other parts of the metropolitan area, in addition to obtaining preview copies from films shown around the country and internationally.

“The common thread is that each [film] takes on a humanitarian issue,” she said via email, “whether it be the aspect of the Vietnam War from all perspectives (‘Last Days in Vietnam’), the power of film in saving people from isolation (‘The Wolfpack’), the role of sports in opening up a future to inner-city students (‘In the Game’), or the unique connections made between unlikely strangers on a train (‘In Transit’).”

The event came about after Laura Barney, a member of the Friends of the Ridgewood Library, attended the American Museum of Natural History’s Margaret Mead Film & Video Festival, according to Panjwani.

https://www.northjersey.com/arts-and-entertainment/movies/film-festival-to-highlight-reel-voices-1.1423994

 

Admission is $5 per program, paid either online or at the door.

For more information, visit ridgewoodlibrary.org/ #!reel-voices-2015/c1f3v.

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Ridgewood resident named Project Literacy’s top volunteer

Library-Books

SEPTEMBER 11, 2015    LAST UPDATED: FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 2015, 12:31 AM
BY MATTHEW SCHNEIDER
STAFF WRITER |
THE RIDGEWOOD NEWS

Ridgewood resident John Katzianer will receive the Volunteer of the Year award from Project Literacy of Greater Bergen County at a presentation scheduled for Sept. 17.

“It feels great,” Katzianer said about being chosen for the award, adding that working for the organization is “absolutely rewarding.”

Project Literacy, which teaches adults valuable learning skills, is run by volunteer tutors. Each year, awards are given to those who go above and beyond, and this is Katzianer’s year.

“The awards ceremony recognizes outstanding accomplishments in the field of adult literacy and honors individuals, companies and organizations for their dedication in providing the gift of literacy to adults who confront life in Bergen County without the skills to effectively communicate,” the organization said.

“This is the 27th year the award has been given to a volunteer tutor who has excelled in bringing the light of literacy into the darkness of illiteracy for an adult by working one-to-one with students who have basic educational needs,” said Christopher Stout, executive director of Project Literacy.

Katzianer, a 26-year veteran of Verizon, “is a seasoned math teacher and has been volunteering his skills to provide one-to-one tutoring at Project Literacy since 2012,” the organization said.

https://www.northjersey.com/community-news/clubs-and-service-organizations/resident-selected-as-top-volunteer-1.1407802

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Ridgewood Library cafe hopes patrons pour in

Ridgewood Library Cafe

SEPTEMBER 8, 2015    LAST UPDATED: TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 2015, 10:14 AM
BY MATTHEW SCHNEIDER
STAFF WRITER |
THE RIDGEWOOD NEWS

The vacant space at the Ridgewood Public Library café was filled last week, with Flo’s Nook taking up residence.

Flo’s Nook, an offshoot of Flo’s Depot (a coffee shop at the Ridgewood train station) and Flo’s Market (a store in Hawthorne), will offer a variety of food and drinks for sale.

“We offer it all,” said Barbara Agnello, one of the owners. “The beauty is that [it is] an extension of our store. I’m going to bring sandwiches and salads; I’m going to bring a hot meal each day.

“But the beauty is that anybody can go online to (our website) and order out special lunch from our store if they wanted a larger menu, and we can have it delivered here by noon if the order is made by 10 a.m.,” she said.

Flo’s Nook will also offer a place for library patrons to read the materials they borrow.

https://www.northjersey.com/community-news/library-caf%C3%A9-hopes-patrons-pour-in-1.1405363

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Artist shows ‘beautiful world’ at Ridgewood Library

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AUGUST 21, 2015    LAST UPDATED: FRIDAY, AUGUST 21, 2015, 12:31 AM
BY EILEEN LA FORGIA
STAFF WRITER |
THE RIDGEWOOD NEWS

“It’s a Beautiful World,” original oil paintings by Bob Rizzotti are on exhibit at the Ridgewood Public Library during August. The artist attempts to depict this beauty on canvas so that the visions are meaningful and permanent.

“We see so much conflict and strife yet this earth is truly a place of color and beauty,” he said. A Waldwick resident for 43 years, Bob and his wife Ginny have traveled widely. This exhibit invites the viewer to see these beautiful scenes captured in oil paintings.

“It’s a Beautiful World” will remain on view through the end of the month at the Ridgewood Public Library located at 125 N. Maple Ave. Call 201-670-5600.

https://www.northjersey.com/arts-and-entertainment/art/artist-shows-beautiful-world-at-library-exhibit-1.1395939

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Ridgewood Library offers summer reading club for adults

Pile-of-Books

AUGUST 21, 2015    LAST UPDATED: FRIDAY, AUGUST 21, 2015, 12:31 AM
BY MATTHEW SCHNEIDER
STAFF WRITER |
THE RIDGEWOOD NEWS

The Ridgewood Public Library has hosted a number of interesting events aimed at all age groups over the summer.

A brand-new program that proved to be very popular was the Summer Reading Club for Adults.

“We had 100 adults register within the first week,” said librarian Kerri Wallace.

In addition to being a good place for adults to meet and discuss literature, the club also served as an opportunity for its participants to earn rewards for reading.

“Participants received a raffle ticket for every book/magazine/ audiobook/ebook that they read or listened to,” Wallace said. “We had weekly drawings for prizes like a new bestselling novel and computer class passes.”

While the club didn’t follow an exact theme, it did offer a few events focused on famed author Harper Lee.

“We ran a week-long series to celebrate the release of ‘Go Set a Watchman,’” Wallace said.

The club also hosted a book discussion on “To Kill a Mockingbird” and showed the film.

For children, the library has been following a theme for many of its events called “Every Hero Has a Story.”

 

https://www.northjersey.com/community-news/reading-club-joins-adult-league-1.1396017

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Ridgewood is seeking respite from the heat

Bike_Ridgewood_Public_Library_theridgewoodblog

AUGUST 20, 2015    LAST UPDATED: THURSDAY, AUGUST 20, 2015, 2:40 PM
BY MATTHEW SCHNEIDER
STAFF WRITER |
THE RIDGEWOOD NEWS

The village has been experiencing some seriously hot weather recently, with temperatures venturing past 90 degrees.

Though it had yet to be officially declared a heat wave by Tuesday, the temperatures were still scorching, necessitating the use of “cooling stations” around Ridgewood.

These locations offer an overheated individual the opportunity to rest and take a respite from the heat until they are feeling back to normal. Two such locations are the Ridgewood Public Library and the Community Center at Village Hall.

Nancy Greene, director of the library, said the doors “are open seven days a week throughout the year, except for major holidays.”

“We are one of the few libraries in Bergen County that maintains Sunday hours all summer – and we find that summer is our busiest time,” she said. “Hundreds of adults and children arrive every day and often stay for hours.”

These amenities make the library a desirable destination for those looking to cool off.

https://www.northjersey.com/news/weather/residents-seek-respite-from-the-heat-1.1395778

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Reader speculates running total for Village Projects $60 Million plus

school_ construction_ projects_theridgewoodblog
 Anticipated Estimates of 3 projects

$40 + Million for BOE Ridgewood Schools All renovations
$15 Million for VOR Parking Garage bonded by public funds
$5 Million for Ridgewood Library renovations (mix of private / public funds)
$ ? Millions ? Unknown for Performing arts center Building next to library/VOR
Running Total Estimates so far at $60 + MILLION

Estimates are just that, estimates, and tend to go over.
Lots of questions need to be asked about the funding of these Wish Lists projects. Detailed answers to specific financials, the percentages of NJ State funding/ VOR / public funding needed to be appropriated for these projects, as well as the County and NJ Transit in the case for the parking garage with the expected/ projected parking revenues. What would be the time line for all these debts to be paid off, and the breakdown on the taxpayers.

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Readers suggest Ridgewood Library poll users

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Before anything is done they need to research this. This is not about wanting a light and airy library and it is not about the director wanting a renovation, this is taxpayer money. They have clubs meeting there and tutoring taking place. Is this what we want in the library or should the focus be on access to books and information?

Who are the current visitors to the library
How often do they visit
What do they use it for

For residents who do not go to the library
What do they want in a library
Is there something missing that keeps them from using the library

For all residents – how many times a week/month/year do they visit the library
Is the library serving the needs of all residents

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Ridgewood library studying $5M renovation project

Bike_Ridgewood_Public_Library_theridgewoodblog

JULY 24, 2015, 4:42 PM    LAST UPDATED: FRIDAY, JULY 24, 2015, 4:51 PM
BY CHRIS HARRIS
STAFF WRITER |
THE RECORD

RIDGEWOOD — The village library’s interior is being studied for a makeover that could cost an estimated $5 million.

The Ridgewood Library’s Board of Trustees has met with three architects this month to discuss potential upgrades to the high-traffic facility, according to the library’s director, Nancy Greene.

“We hope to make the library building more bright and welcoming in the busy central circulation area,” Greene said.

Any plans would “open up more inviting areas throughout the library, especially for teens and adult reading, study group projects and discussions,” she said.

The board also wants to expand the teen center at the library, and provide additional “reader seats with natural light,” Green said.

The Ridgewood Library’s trustees hope to have initial designs for the interior update this fall, along with concrete cost projections.

A recent estimate put the project’s potential cost at $5 million, to be paid for with a mix of private and public funding.

https://www.northjersey.com/news/ridgewood-library-studying-5m-renovation-project-1.1380609

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Trustees begin talks on renovations to Ridgewood Library

Bike_Ridgewood_Public_Library_theridgewoodblog

JULY 21, 2015    LAST UPDATED: TUESDAY, JULY 21, 2015, 9:35 AM
BY MATTHEW SCHNEIDER
STAFF WRITER |
THE RIDGEWOOD NEWS

The Ridgewood Public Library will likely get a makeover in the near future.

Earlier this month, the library’s Board of Trustees discussed potential interior changes to the building and listened to renovation ideas pitched by architects.

Nancy Greene, the library’s director, said there are three major needs for the new library. The first, she said, is a more efficient use of the floor space.

“A lot of the space is used by book stacks, and we want to condense the stacks and turn the space where they are into open public space,” she said. “We don’t have enough tables for people to study.”

The added floor space will allow the library to expand its children’s and teen sections, Greene said, noting that the library “doesn’t have a great facility for them” in the existing space. Additional space will also open the opportunity to create more meeting rooms.

“People come in to meet, and the library doesn’t have enough to offer them,” she said.

The library’s second need is improved natural light.

“Nowadays, people don’t come take out a book and go home. They stay in the library,” Greene said, explaining the need for “welcoming” light.

Third, she said the board needs “to identify the cost once they identify the architect,” giving them an estimate of how much the whole project will cost.

Once they find out which plan is best for the community, the board can request municipal funding from the council.

https://www.northjersey.com/community-news/library-officials-begin-talks-on-upcoming-renovations-1.1377781

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Artist’s saw gives people something to see at Ridgewood Library

Manfred_Wegner_theridgewoodblog

MAY 22, 2015    LAST UPDATED: FRIDAY, MAY 22, 2015, 12:30 AM
BY EILEEN LA FORGIA
STAFF WRITER |
THE RIDGEWOOD NEWS

Manfred Wegner creates wooden cut-outs of historical sites, famous icons, family and other familiar faces.

The artist’s saw-cut scroll art is being shown at the Ridgewood Public Library’s Bolger Auditorium during the month of May.

Peter Mullany, a professor of English literature and a frequent visitor to the library, called the exhibit “quite fascinating” and “very impressive work.”

Wegner was introduced to scroll art when he was 6 years old by his father in Germany, but did not become seriously involved with it until two years ago. He moved to the United States from his native country in 1961.

He has worked with other forms of media, including watercolor, pencil drawings, paper cutting and photography. Wegner said he likes scroll art because it’s more hands-on.

His technique for scroll art begins by drawing an image he would like to re-create. He then transfers the image to plywood, using black marker to outline the areas he will cut out with an electric saw.

Wegner has created about 60 pieces this year – he made more than 100 last year.

https://www.northjersey.com/arts-and-entertainment/art/artist-s-saw-gives-people-something-to-see-1.1340385