the staff of The Ridgewood Blog
Ridgewood NJ, readers of The Ridgewood blog have much to say about alleged harassment they’ve suffered at the hands of Healthbarn USA’s owner. All of this is said to have occurred while these readers were trying to use PUBLIC PARK facilities at the Irene Habernickel Family Park, which was partially paid for with State of New Jersey Green Acres funds.
Read these first-person, verbatim, unedited accounts that were recently posted on The Ridgewood Blog:
“Have you ever gone into the park during one of her camps? Because beware the owner might start yelling at you for being in the park looking at your phone.”
“First of all she isn’t the owner of Habernickle, let’s get that straight, she is a TENANT. No yelling is acceptable and this should be reported to the village attorney as borderline harrassment of residents trying to access and utilize a PUBLIC outdoor space. This favoritism with this mayor, majority council, Nan Bigos and Richard Brooks has to stop before it spirals out of control. residents need to start taking back the village. If you pay taxes you are allowed to use a public pard. period.”
“Been there done that. All true. She has yelled at kids walking their dog,. Kicked groups out of the park. Shocking what actually happens.over their with that business owner”
“I have heard of many people being confronted by the owner just for being in the park, kids. An old man. Neighbors. Small organized events such as scouts told to leave the park”
The staff of the Ridgewood Blog suggests an immediate police investigation of the alleged harassment campaign on the part of Healthbarn USA’s owner is now warranted.
Tell your story #TheRidgewoodblog , #Indpendentnews, #information, #advertise, #guestpost, #affiliatemarketing,#NorthJersey, #NJ , #News, #localnews, #bergencounty, #sponsoredpost, #SponsoredContent, #contentplacement , #linkplacement, Email: Onlyonesmallvoice@gmail.com
Hmm sounds like its time for a huge family reunion picnic
I’d suggest a few busloads from Paterson to enjoy .. part of the ‘fresh air fund’ group. Bring those boom boxes with loud bass music
Agreed. Police should investigate these allegations. If found to be true, her lease should be terminated.
If residents are being sent away from a public park, they should start a petition or delve into the details and write to the council. The Mayor, P&R and anyone else cannot allow a tenant to dictate peaceful enjoyment of the park grounds within reason. If they are conducting camp or an activity and you are not in the way, it should be fine for everyone to peacefully co-exist, right? Healthbarn does not get to tell residents to get off of the property.
What’s the owner’s explanation of her alleged improper behavior? Just a Karen, or does she feel threatened when other adults are in the park?
She doesn’t care. She is protected by director of parks and rec, the mayor, feed the front lines and the new VM
Bitch with a capital B.
Get it on film….
I will just say this, if any Healthbarn person comes for me or being verbally abusive, it will not be welcome. The park is for everyone. This mayor and council have elevated the level of entitlement so that Healthbarn and the sports organizations think that they run this village and they are constantly being catered to. Do you think the $350k pavillion is for the residents to enjoy? No, it is to bolster Healthbarn’s business ventures. So the way I see it, is that Healthbarn thinks they “own” the property and they don’t welcome outside involvement. May we remind them, that they are a tenant and not an owner and the park is public. Period.
Amen
Post of the day !
Let’s find out her summer, camp schedule, and then we’ll all head over to the park and do our own thing walk our dogs toss a ball around, play some music and see what she does.
Everyday 9-3 I read somewhere
See below. It is 9-6:30 mon thru sat and 2 nights a week they can stay til 9, not every night. We need to keep tabs on what they are doing and make sure they are abidding by their lease agreement which is a legally binding document. Any supposed harrassment or rude behavior to tax paying ridgewood residents will not be acceptable and should be reported. It is the only way for this to succeed.
Dogs are not permitted on the fields (trail only!). And, ensure they are on a leash…
Not sure that dogs are allowed in town parks or on school property.
Otherwise agree with idea.
Dogs are allowed in the town parks. They’re not allowed on the school fields. Habernickel is a town park.
I believe dogs are allowed on the walking path. Probably not the field, obviously. Who is this person and what gives her the right to yell at anyone? This is outrageous and totally unacceptable. It sounds hostile and harrassing.
She is probably going to be sorry she has been rude (or good judgement would tell you so) but now that this is under the microscope things may change. People are watching now and bad behavior, regardless of who she is friends with, will not be tolerated and will be reported.
Again she doesn’t care. Some how she is more protected by the council than the tax payers are.
We already know that they operate outside of their hours as agreed to in their lease and many residents have complained. I believe according to their lease, Healthbarn employees only are entitled to access the property one hour prior to their designated start time. The late hours are ONLY Wednesday and Friday not everyday and not on weekends, although when I was there they were hosting a private birthday celebration several hours after they were supposed to be closed.
May I suggest everyone being menaced by this TENANT at Habernickel Farm, should start complaining( in writing) to the mayor and his buddies . Because they have obviously have given her this power to conduct herself in this shameless manner! This on going abuse of control and power( for some) that has taken hold of this village has gotten way out of control! Habernickel is one of MANY PUBLIC parks our tax dollars paid for, in one form or another, and everyone should be allowed to use them, without being menaced.
Yes, we need to report infractions and incidents in writing to the Mayor, council, Head of ParksRec (Nancy Bigios and Richard Brooks). Or petition to get them removed from the house and property if they are breaking the by laws and lease. They should realize that they are lucky to even be there and the lease was renewed for like a gazillion years. Talk about favoritism. Feed the frontlines is blurring the lines where Healthbarn is concerned, I am guessing.
100 percent. Smoke and mirrors. Started with feed the frontlines during the lease renewal process. Misinformation was spread
Isn’t richard brooks the guys who didn’t pay his taxes? How does he have a say in this? Isn’t his wife pushing the big billboard also? Why would he care?
Yes and yes. Brooks and Price are besties with Mayor Vagianos. He loaned them $47 k last June but proclaimed he did nothin wrong and that is was not unethical even though his best friend is the named partner of the law agency who is pushing the billboard and even though Brooks is the chair of Parks and Recreation. You can’t make this stuff up, people it may be unbelievable, but it is real.
best way to handle is to be at the park in groups every day…going thru the council is a dead end. maybe its time for brig ur dogs to the park every saturday morning
Large groups of tweens and adults should come and just hang out. Thats drives her crazy
From Marsha Stoltz, 2021
HealthBarn was granted a five-year lease for the Gate House in 2016 after the village failed to find a residential tenant for the 10-acre horse farm property it had purchased in 2004. HealthBarn was granted a one-year extension in November, but director Stacey Antine is now asking the village to initiate a new five-year lease bid process to begin in 2022 so she knows whether she can keep the business in the park or must start looking for a new locale.
“This partnership has exceeded all expectations and proven to be mutually beneficial to all,” Antine said in a statement during the Wednesday meeting. “I look forward to continuing the public-private partnership and request that the village provide instructions and details for a reasonable and timely rebid process to secure a new lease at Habernickel.”
Not sure if there was a “rebid” process. Would be interesting to see if there were any other appliations other than Healthbarn. Would need to be advertised as part of OPMA.
OPRA or OPMA, not sure
So that means that they have until 2027. We should find out if anyone else bid on the lease and what the criteria is. This from what I have understood is a money making business and not a charity.
They have until 2032. They took the 5 year lease with the option for 5 more. 10 more years.
If they do not abide by their lease and people can prove it with pictures, video and substantiate, then they should not be renewed. Residents can petition the council and call the press. Once it has visibility, things may change or the HB employees will stop yelling at residents as they DO NOT own the property!
I have to say direct Habernickel neighbors are afraid to speak out. The village has done nothing for the neighborhood as far back as 2016. From what I heard she keeps a log with pictures of people just being in the park. She has taken neighbors to court. I heard she lost ( of course ) but she did it. She is a very mean tenant. She thinks she owns the park
TRUTH
It is not a partnership. Do your homework and see that there are very few, maybe 3 partnership classes a year. Town only makes the rent
According to the village of Ridgewood web:
According to the village of ridgewood web:
https://archive.ridgewoodnj.net/departments/recreation
Recreation:
The mission statement of the Ridgewood Department of Parks and Recreation is to preserve open space and provide facilities and year round recreational activities that meet the needs of all residents.
For $3,900 per month, Healthbarn’s lease gives them 62 hours of operation per week, not to exceed 2 evenings and no later than 9 PM on those 2 nights per week. Old lease had designated Weds and Fri as the late nights til 9. I am sure they think no one is checking.
If you look on the new village website, you will not find their lease, which should be visible to the public. Also it is noted that Healthbarn not Habernickle exists. This should be changed. It is not Healthbarn Park.
The standard hours at no earlier than 9 AM and no later than 6:30 PM Mon-Sat. This has already been violated as private parties are thrown after 6:30 PM witnessed by many residents. Looks like they pay $3,900 per month for full use of the property, along with all of the rooms in the house, washer/dryer, probably central air and heat, community garden that is locked for their use only and tents set up all over the property for summer camp.
Now Nan wants to give them a very expensive pavillion.
Time for a little community oversight on this one. They need to be good neighbors too.
I think we should bus in illegals, came into the border and have a picnic for them. I’ll at the barn on Hillcrest. That would be nice..
Legacy of her pal, former village manager Roberta Sonenfeld, with machinations by then-mayor Paul Aronsohn.
This babe should never have been allowed in, and once in, should have been thrown out when the lease expired. The current lease will also eventually expire and at that time the village must reclaim its property. OUT OUT OUT.
Are you still surprised they run your public works for the benefit of their cozy little private family?