file photo by Boyd Loving
Ribbon cutting at renovated Ridgewood Community Center at the Village Hall
WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 3, 2012, 10:54 AM
BY DARIUS AMOS
STAFF WRITER
THE RIDGEWOOD NEWS
Unlike relentless flood waters that engulfed the first floor at Village Hall one year ago, the rain subsided just in time for last Friday’s grand reopening of the Ridgewood Community Center.
A subdued ribbon-cutting ceremony and the first program inside the renovated Annie Zusy Youth Center marked the official unveiling of the municipal building’s new main level.
Flooding during Hurricane Irene caused hundreds of thousands of dollars in damage to the entire first floor and temporarily displaced several village organizations that had regularly used the space.
“This area is the heart of the community in terms of activities. It was pretty devastating for the communities, especially for children and seniors, when the flooding destroyed this,” said Mayor Paul Aronsohn. “It’s nice that we can welcome them, and everyone, back here.”
An extensive, months-long rehabilitation project had been ongoing throughout the summer. The work included the installation of two types of waterproof concrete blocks inside the hallways and meeting rooms. Blocks were stacked more than 5 feet off the ground, exceeding the height of the former wallboards that were damaged during the flood.
The Village Council bonded $400,000 to cover the construction costs. This sum did not include the initial clean-up bill, which hovered around the $90,000 mark. Federal assistance from FEMA was expected to help fund the project.
