JULY 17, 2015 LAST UPDATED: FRIDAY, JULY 17, 2015, 12:31 AM
BY MATTHEW SCHNEIDER
STAFF WRITER |
THE RIDGEWOOD NEWS
Camp Sunshine, held each summer at the Duck Pond on East Ridgewood Avenue, is a great place for children and young adults with special needs to spend time. The well-organized camp, under the direction of Cathy Telerico, gives participants the opportunity to experience the kind of fun and freedom that other young people enjoy.
The camp features a variety of activities for its attendees, including swimming in the facility’s pool, playing in the field, doing arts and crafts, and helping to make lunch, among other things. Camp Sunshine also has themed days in order to keep things lively. A recent one, for example, was Italian Day, when that country’s food was served.
While the camp is structured in a way to keep the participants safe, it is also a relatively free environment where the campers are encouraged to enjoy themselves during their time away from school.
“I think it’s important that the campers have a break, because in school, everything is so structured, and we do have some structure here, but it’s a little bit more limited,” Telerico said. “I mean, they’re kids too … they want to come here and have some fun, and that’s what we’re all about.
Ridgewood NJ, On Saturday, July 11th, Ridgewood Parks & Recreation, in cooperation with Jacobsen Landscape Design and Construction Inc. of Midland Park, hosted the Great Ridgewood Duck Derby at Graydon Pool. Residents came out and embraced the national “Come Alive Outside” campaign and joined in for an afternoon of fun family activity.
This event featured an array of different types of entertainment. There was a number of different kinds of activities throughout the day such as beach games, a sand sculpture contest, duck decorating, face painting, and ultimately concluding with an exciting rubber duck race down the Ho Ho Kus Brook.
Ridgewood NJ, As you know, Kings’ Just Picked Promise Program is back in full swing again this summer, bringing Ridgewood customers locally grown, farm-fresh fruits, vegetables and herbs within 24 hours of being picked.
Like many of you we were a bit skeptical with the “farm fresh “claim , so we reached out to Kings and they offered us a behind the scenes look at the people who make this program possible…the farmers.
Meet John Ploch the farm owner of Ploch Farms in New Jersey, located south of Ridgewood in Vineland NJ and is just one of the farms that play a huge role in giving shoppers the benefits of a local farm stand in the convenience of their neighborhood food markets.
John Ploch from Ploch Farms shares his day-to day experience explaining how, “Every day is something a little different, especially if we received weather overnight. We start our day at 5:00 a.m. assessing the harvest and assigning responsibilities to our crews for the day. We’ll then spend the remainder of the morning planting and bringing in produce that is going out that evening or the next day. By midday we have to be in the packing house due to the heat because we can’t harvest when it’s hot out. We finish up reviewing orders for the next day and trying to get as ahead as possible.”
John notes that his farm history goes back to the 1800s with his great grandfather who moved from Germany to Northern New Jersey and started a dairy farm, where they were only a nine acre farm back then. Today, they farm about 250 acres, between the main farm and rented property.
The farm provides Kings’ Just Picked program with greens, including arugula, chard, collards, dandelion greens, kale, lettuce, and spinach as well as its herbs, including basil, dill, mint, and parsley.
When asked what his most rewarding part of his job is, John said, “Working with my father. We both have a great work ethic and work well together – you really can’t beat it.”
Its local farmers like John allow Kings’ Just Picked Promise Program to bring its customers the freshest, seasonal products over the summer months.
Great Duck Derby at Graydon – Join the Famiily Fun – July 11th
Third annual, Great Ridgewood Duck Derby
Ridgewood NJ, On Saturday, July 11th, Ridgewood Parks & Recreation, in cooperation with Jacobsen Landscape Contractors of Midland Park, will be hosting the Great Ridgewood Duck Derby at Graydon Pool. Come out and embrace the national “Come Alive Outside” campaign and join us for an afternoon of fun family activity. This event will feature an array of different types of entertainment. There will also be a number of different kinds of activities throughout the day such as beach games, a sand sculpture contest, duck decorating, face painting, and ultimately concluding with an exciting rubber duck race down the Ho Ho Kus Brook.
This is a catered event pre-registration is a must and the deadline for advance sales is July 10th. The cost to take part in this fun family event is $10 per person ($20 per person non-residents) which includes one rubber duck, a SACK Picnic lunch of sandwich, beverage, chips and cookie.
The “Come Alive Outside” campaign started in 2010 by Jim Paluch in hopes of combating the sedentary, indoor lifestyle that is contributing to a multitude of adverse effects in our society. Playing outside has more benefits than just the physical, outdoor play can help children develop social skills, reduce stress, and increase their self-confidence. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, 60 minutes of free play outside daily is essential for a child’s development which is why it is the “Come Alive Outside” campaign’s mission to create opportunities for children to get outside for some good healthy fun. Other events that have been hosted by the “Come Alive Outside” committee have been the award winning “Fire and Ice – A Winter Festival”, Bike, Hike and Discover and the Harvest Moon Family Hoedown, and the annual Duck Derby.
To register for the Great Ridgewood Duck Derby you can either stop by the Stable, 259 N. Maple Ave and complete registration or go online at www.ridgewoodnj.net/communitypass (Graydon Pool). The rain date for this event will be on Sunday July 12th. Please call the Parks & Recreation Department at 201-670-5560 for further information.
A man and his son caught a strange species in Swedes Lake in South Jersey that turned out to be a rare Amazonian fish known in South America as the “Nutcracker,” according to reports.
The pacu is native to the Amazon
By David Lawler, Washington
9:08PM BST 24 Jun 2015
A species of fish best-known for attacking human testicles has apparently invaded America.
A father and son were fishing in New Jersey when they got a bite from an unfamiliar fish with a startling array of near-human teeth. It was a pacu, a relative of the piranha that is native to the Amazon.
The pacu has accumulated some colourful nicknames – nutcracker, ball cutter – and a sighting in Sweden in 2013 led to a warning for male swimmers to keep their trunks on.
This time the catch came not in Sweden but in Swede’s Lake, a man-made body of water near Philadelphia. Fortunately for Ron Rossi, this particular fish went for the bait.
Mr Rossi knew as soon as he “scooped” the fish that he had “never seen anything like” it. He originally thought he had caught a piranha.
Henrik Carl, a Danish fish expert, said that was a common mistake.
“They are almost identical to the piranha, you couldn’t even tell from the outside,” he explained after the Scandinavian pacu sighting. “It’s just that they have different teeth. Flatter and stronger, perfect for crushing.”
“The pacu is not normally dangerous to people but it has quite a serious bite, there have been incidents in other countries, such as Papua New Guinea where some men have had their testicles bitten off,” Mr Carl said.
The freshwater fish can grow up to 90 centimetres and weigh up to 25 kilograms.
Photo credit: Boyd A. Loving
Another beautiful day at Graydon
June 24,2015
Boyd A. Loving
Ridgewood NJ, Ridgewood Councilman Michael Sedon and his 17 month old son Hunter enjoyed a morning of play at Graydon Pool on Wednesday, June 24.
Village resident Anne Loving and her grandson Declan, who is 23 months old, joined in on the some of the fun.
Graydon Pool Memberships and Aquatic Programs
Please visit the Graydon Pool homepage at www.ridgewoodnj.net/graydon to learn about membership rates, program offerings and pool amenities. Be sure to bookmark our Graydon homepage on your computer for future special events and program offerings. Opening day for Graydon Pool was Saturday, June 6th.
2015 season memberships may now be purchased online via Community Pass at www.ridgewoodnj.net/communitypass. Be sure to refer to your online confirmation when purchase is complete for detailed information on how to obtain your photo identification badge.
Aquatic programs, including the Graydon Swim Team and instructional and recreational swim, are also available online at Community Pass, or you may review levels and print program registration forms from our Graydon homepage referenced above. Meet the Aquatic Staff and learn more on the following dates at the pool: Saturday, June 6th, 10 am to 1 pm, and Saturday, June 20th, 10 am to 1 pm.
American Red Cross Waterfront Lifeguard Training (recertification/bridging and new) is available through Ridgewood Parks and Recreation. Details/registration are also available on the Graydon Pool homepage.
Please visit the Graydon Pool homepage at www.ridgewoodnj.net/graydon to learn about membership rates, program offerings and pool amenities. Be sure to bookmark our Graydon homepage on your computer for future special events and program offerings. Opening day for Graydon Pool was Saturday, June 6th.
2015 season memberships may now be purchased online via Community Pass at www.ridgewoodnj.net/communitypass. Be sure to refer to your online confirmation when purchase is complete for detailed information on how to obtain your photo identification badge.
Aquatic programs, including the Graydon Swim Team and instructional and recreational swim, are also available online at Community Pass, or you may review levels and print program registration forms from our Graydon homepage referenced above. Meet the Aquatic Staff and learn more on the following dates at the pool: Saturday, June 6th, 10 am to 1 pm, and Saturday, June 20th, 10 am to 1 pm.
American Red Cross Waterfront Lifeguard Training (recertification/bridging and new) is available through Ridgewood Parks and Recreation. Details/registration are also available on the Graydon Pool homepage.
Here is the schedule for you to make plans for the upcoming 2015 Entertainment Under the Stars at the Kasschau Shell on Vet’s Field in Ridgewood. All programs are free. Just bring a chair or blanket and enjoy the music!
If you go to the beach, it’s probably crossed your mind at least once: Shark attacks can happen.
It’s hard not to think about it since they’re in the news every summer. The latest terrifying story is of two teens who were attacked by sharks on Sunday in two separate incidents along the same stretch of beach in North Carolina.
According to the Associated Press, a 12-year-old girl lost part of her arm and suffered a leg injury, and a 16-year-old boy lost his left arm a little more than an hour later. Even scarier, both were in waist-deep water.
The most recent attacks weren’t the only ones the area has seen. A shark bit a 13-year-old girl’s foot a few days before, about 15 miles away.
There were 52 reported shark attacks in the U.S. last year, none of which were fatal, says Andrew Nosal, Ph.D., a marine biologist at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography. California, Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Texas are where they happen the most often, he says.
While that number seems low when you think about everyone who hops in the ocean each year, any shark attack is one too many. Should we be worried?
Probably not, says John Carlson, Ph.D., National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Fisheries shark expert. “While we can’t downplay the tragedies that occurred with these teenagers, we have to emphasize that shark attacks are an extremely rare event,” he says.
Carlson also points out that sharks don’t usually seek out humans and only attack when they confuse us for their natural prey.
RIDGEWOOD SUMMER DAY CAMP – DEADLINE FOR ENROLLMENT IS MONDAY, JUNE 15TH
Registration is ongoing for Ridgewood Summer Day Camp, with the deadline for acceptance on Monday, June 15th. After that time campers will be waitlisted and accepted as space allows.
The camp is best described as days filled with fresh air, sunshine, new friends, fun, games, and special memories. Favorite annual events include a talent show, Graydon Pool splash party, carnival and special theme days. New events will include a visit from EquiShare/PonyShare, complete with pony stations to learn about grooming and feeding, with introduction to instructional riding. U.S. Sports Institute will offer a fun olympic event, Total Golf Adventures will provide golfing instruction, UnderGround Skateshop will provide exciting skateboard demonstrations, and we will offer a Day Camp Movie Night on the Beach at Graydon (free to all campers and their families).
The 2015 summer season will begin on Tuesday, June 30th, and run for six weeks through Friday, August 7th. Village children entering grades 1 through 6 will enjoy arts and crafts, organized games, swimming, special events and optional trips. Camp will be held at The Stable, Graydon Pool, Maple Park, Veteran’s Field, the Community Center at Village Hall and Leuning Park, Monday through Friday, from 9:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Children are to bring/purchase* a lunch and beverage. Bus transportation from Village locations is available to all. Locate the Parent Manual on our Recreation homepage at www.ridgewoodnj.net/recreation. This important source of information should be reviewed with your child to avoid confusion and concerns children may have.
*New this year, a variety of healthy sack lunches will be available for purchase from the Water’s Edge Café at Graydon Pool with daily delivery to camp. MUST PRE-ORDER. Visit the Recreation homepage referenced above to view details on how to order, as well as the variety of lunches offered.
The registration fee for camp is $525.00, which includes two camp T-shirts and optional bus transportation. Off-site trips are optional with limited space; prices vary and registration will be accepted on a first-come, first-serve basis. All campers must possess a 2015 Graydon Pool membership badge. Visit www.ridgewoodnj.net/graydon to purchase online via Community Pass.
Don’t wait as camp is filling quickly. You may register online at www.ridgewoodnj.net/communitypass (payment by Visa/Mastercard). For registration assistance and/or special needs, please visit the Recreation Office at The Stable, 259 North Maple Avenue, or call the office at 201-670-5560.
Bucky Pizzarelli Quartet will return to the Kasschau Memorial Band Shell on July 16.
JUNE 8, 2015 LAST UPDATED: MONDAY, JUNE 8, 2015, 9:56 AM
BY AIMEE LA FOUNTAIN
CORRESPONDENT |
THE RIDGEWOOD NEWS
The 57th annual free summer Entertainment Under the Stars concert series kicked off on Thursday at the Kasschau Memorial Band Shell.
“Tunes in June,” featuring groups from Ridgewood High School, was the first show of the season.
“It’s been a tradition that it starts off with the RHS band,” said Jo Delaney, chairman of the Kasschau Memorial Shell Committee. “This has been going on for 50 years and they’ve been associated for forever.”
The Orpheus Club, The Ridgewood Choral and The Ridgewood Concert Band are also regular performers.
“These three groups have been part of the history since beginning,” Delaney said.
This year’s lineup is “an eclectic group of musical experiences by professional artists,” Delaney said. “We’re really across the board. There’s something for everybody.”
“We tried to have all sorts of groups so people have all kinds of music to enjoy and hear something new,” Delaney said. “Expose yourself to something you haven’t heard before and open yourself up to music.”
photos by Boyd Loving
Graydon Pool Opening Day
June 7,2015
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, the 2015 Graydon Pool season kicked off with opening day Saturday, June 6th. The weather was a bit cool but that didn’t stop many Graydon enthusiast from hitting the beach.
GRAYDON POOL MEMBERSHIPS and AQUATIC PROGRAMS – GRAYDON OPENS June 6 @10AM
Graydon Pool Memberships and Aquatic Programs
Please visit the Graydon Pool homepage at www.ridgewoodnj.net/graydon to learn about membership rates, program offerings and pool amenities. Be sure to bookmark our Graydon homepage on your computer for future special events and program offerings. Opening day for Graydon Pool is Saturday, June 6th.
2015 season memberships may now be purchased online via Community Pass at www.ridgewoodnj.net/communitypass. Be sure to refer to your online confirmation when purchase is complete for detailed information on how to obtain your photo identification badge. Preseason in-person assistance will be available at the Graydon Pool Badge Office (on-site at the pool) on Saturday, May 9 and Saturday, May 16, 10 am to 12 noon each date.
Aquatic programs, including the Graydon Swim Team and instructional and recreational swim, are also available online at Community Pass, or you may review levels and print program registration forms from our Graydon homepage referenced above. Meet the Aquatic Staff and learn more on the following dates at the pool: Saturday, June 6th, 10 am to 1 pm, and Saturday, June 20th, 10 am to 1 pm.
American Red Cross Waterfront Lifeguard Training (recertification/bridging and new) is available through Ridgewood Parks and Recreation. Details/registration are also available on the Graydon Pool homepage.
Summer is fast approaching, so sign up now. For more information please call 201-670-5560.
JUNE 5, 2015 LAST UPDATED: FRIDAY, JUNE 5, 2015, 9:58 AM
BY DARIUS AMOS
STAFF WRITER |
THE RIDGEWOOD NEWS
This weekend won’t be a summer scorcher, but Saturday will still be the first official beach day of the season in Ridgewood.
Just as the unseasonable chill that struck earlier this week eases into residents’ afterthoughts, Graydon Park’s beach and pool will open for the 2015 swim season. By mid-afternoon Saturday, real feel temperatures will approach 80 degrees under partly sunny skies, according to AccuWeather.com reports.
Patrons returning this season won’t see many new physical features at the pool nor will the Wibit make its return; instead, Graydon this summer will be about old-fashioned fun under the sun with more programming, said Deputy Director of Parks and Recreation Nancy Bigos.
Pool and beach goers can take advantage of the park’s familiar features. The shaded playground and shade kites, water play fountains, picnic and charcoal grilling areas, Adirondack chairs and sheltered pavilion are among the many amenities.
For those who enjoy summer activity, Graydon offers plenty of space for beach volleyball, basketball, shuffleboard and hop-scotch, among other games. Volunteers will also help run the “Storytime Under a Tree” program for children.
Expanded swim and diving instruction for patrons of all ages and skill levels are offered, as are various lifeguard training and recertification classes. Spots on the Graydon swim team are also available.
We are very sad to see the loss of a Jersey Shore icon , Surf Cub .
I saw this picture on Jersey Joel’s post last night & it struck me for a reason. I spent every summer working & playing there from the time I was 9 years old. I vividly remember walking on that beach for the 1st time after my Dad bought the place. I have all kinds of memories there, great, good, & bad. That’s Life. I personally would love to see the place rebuilt, but that decision is not up to me. My family has been moved by the all the pictures shared by people we know & don’t know. We miss summers there terribly and I personally made my livelihood there, working with some very creative people to do some really cool entertainment events like SurfStock, The Flying Mueller Bros, Saturday Night Disco & Sunday Jam Parties. My fondest memories are from the Teen Nights when my sons were old enough to run them and work on the themes with me. We were all so proud of the place and my Father for creating such a loving & wonderful work place to be in. I use to laugh to myself when people would say you should remodel and make the place more like this place or that place. They didn’t get it. It wasn’t about what the place looked like, it was about the 3 generations of families and beach/club goers who came there. So I guess we’ll see what happens from here. God Bless.Joey Jr.
WASHINGTON, D.C. – That piece of chocolate bar and marshmallow – key ingredients in the s’more – are just too unhealthy for Michelle Obama’s food police at the USDA and they want you to eliminate them.
The government has now reinvented the s’more and they’re urging us all to change our ways.
Thank goodness the Feds have ISIS on the run and can now focus on more important things. Like all those portly campers getting tubbier because they haven’t sampled the bureaucrats’ latest creation.
“This quick, easy, and mouth-watering recipe is a perfect afternoon snack for the early days of summer,” the USDA writes on its recipe page.
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