file photo by Boyd Loving
Anne LaGrange Loving
Ridgewood NJ, Every year, the Village of Ridgewood is responsible for cutting down a perfectly healthy spruce/ fir tree for its annual Christmas tree lighting. These old and huge trees, 65+feet high, are felled simply to become an attraction for a few weeks.
This wasteful practice adversely impacts our much needed tree inventory, green initiatives, wildlife habitat and the felled tree no longer provides filtration against increasing pollutants. Additionally, there is an immense carbon footprint of transporting these roughly 6 storey-tall trees and then artificially erecting it near a train station.
I would like to see the Village of Ridgewood return to the past practice of using the beautiful evergreen tree in Memorial Park at Van Neste Square as the official Christmas Tree for the
“Downtown for the Holidays” celebration and throughout the holiday season. My reasons are twofold:
1. Using the living tree in the park would save a healthy tree from destruction. Evergreens provide oxygen, reduce toxins, and are the only trees doing so throughout the fall and winter. It makes no sense to me that a tree should be destroyed each year when the perfect tree thrives in the park, and it was planted years ago for this express purpose. We must do our part, one tree at a time, to help save our environment.
2. The location, Memorial Park at Van Neste Square, is much more sensible for the nighttime celebration, as it is a park with benches, not a busy street. Then, through the days and nights leading up to and after the Christmas holiday, everyone can visit and admire the tree without any concerns about traffic, with benches to sit on, and with the added bonus that the Santa Claus house is in this park. As we have seen during the summer, Van Neste has space for a stage, performances, vendors, and myriad fun activities. The dangerous intersection of East Ridgewood Avenue and Broad Street is not compatible for any of this except on the one night that the area is closed to traffic. The Menorah is in Van Neste at that time of year as well.
For those who are interested in signing the petition to return to using a live tree for the Ridgewood celebration, here is the link:
Anna must have a lot of spare time on her hands….
Agree
Vagianos just wants it is full view of his restaurant. It is all about him.
Never going to happen as long as Paul Vagianos is Mayor of Ridgewood.
This is all about his restaurants and collecting crowds near those locations.
For those who are interested in signing the petition to return to using a live tree for the Ridgewood celebration, here is the link:
https://chng.it/WPy9MWQjP9
I signed the petition. Time to stop the Green Washing. This is an excellent idea.
save yourself. the planet is fine.
This is such a smart idea! Had no idea that tree was planted at the park to be used as a permanent Christmas tree.
Maybe it isn’t as large but better to save than cut down a carbon capture mature tree.
This is such a stupid idea! Had no idea the crazies thought planting a tree at the park should be used as a permanent Christmas tree.
Maybe it isn’t as large but better to destroy 100 years of Ridgewood tradition than cut down an old tree that the owner was going to cut down anyway so we can force our oversimple climate theories on others.
This would be a smart move. In addition to Van Neste, there is also a lighted live tree at the train station on the west side. I hope many residents sign the petition.
This would be a stupid move. We already have on Garbage Tree in Van Neste, there is also a lighted live tree in most homes of Ridgewood residents even those who are not Christian. I hope many residents oppose the petition.
Nope
When they used the live tree in the park a few years ago, it was terrible. The tree is set back too far to be enjoyed as you go through town. Decorating it with recyclable stuff didn’t help either. I’m no fan of the current Village gvt, but the current location is best. As for using a live tree, we’re talking about cutting down one tree once a year. As I recall, it’s usually a donated tree that would be cut down anyway. Perhaps planting a new tree closer to Ridgewood Avenue is an option??
#RIdgewoodGarbageTree
Feel free to bash the Catholics! Just keep your hands off the menorah.
and how many trees are they planning to cut down in schlinder park to make the baseball field?????and people are worried about one xmas tree each year
i always thought the tree farms grow the trees to be cut down and they usually have an ample supply
esp since so many people want PLASTC trees ug and everyone is environmental friendly???
really???? PLASTIC TREES??????
The tree is not DONATED. The homeowner is not donating it, they are simply permitting a tree to be removed from their property. Vagianos’ best buddy Downes Tree Service assumes the cost of taking down a healthy tree and moving it to the top of East Ridgrewood Avenue. In return for this, Downes places a HUGE and tacky billboard in front of the tree for the entire month of December and into January. So Downes is getting advertising just by doing this . It is disgraceful. If Downes was truly “donating” their services, they would do so quietly without a big fat billboard ruining the look of the tree.
They get a lot of business throughout Ridgewood and they even had their truck in the 4th of July field. Downes is in good with Paul and even cut down the original batch of 3 1/2 acres of trees at Schedler. So many tangled webs we weave, no? Maybe Paul gets a break on trees he owns on the properties he owns throughout Ridgewood, you know, one hand and pay to play.
The current tradition is a good one.
It’s a Christmas tree. Some, sadly, are chronically Grinch-like, and, being that way, reflexively strive to diminish publicly-viewable things that bring Christmas joy and remind residents of the “reason for the season”. This sounds blunt, but it is nevertheless true. In fact, after the “garbage tree” fiasco, so beloved by our grinch-like neighbors, was wisely brought to a well-deserved end, it was touch-and-go there for a few years whether the restored tree at the top of town would continue to be topped with a bright white star.
We should seek to put an end to embarrassing effeminacy and pointless self-hatred in our public life.
This was tried some years back. Huge failure. Keep the tradition going.
They’re coming for your Christmas tree next.
not a fan of the idea at all
they cut down a tree that’s going to be cut down anyway
last time they did this , the decorated the tree with toilet paper it was a total insult
Attention newbie’s
Been there done that.
We’re chopping down at tree like it or not.
We’ve been doing it for years.
GO BACK TO BROOKLYN
TRADITION – some are best changed. This is a great idea. Totally support it
TRADITION – Corrupt politicians like VAGIANOS pushing an agenda solely for their own benefit. He wants it where HIS CUSTOMERS can see it. I call BS
TRADITION – Van Neste is the location for almost all community events and celebrations. From Veteran’s Day to Black Lives Matter to Menorah lighting to fairs and festivals. Keep the tradition going strong by having the tree in the park.
People need to stop referring to the “garbage tree.” It was Councilwoman Annie Zusy who suggested using recycled materials as ornaments. The idea came from a good place. It got messy. Agreed. But this year the tree would just have the beautiful lights and the illuminated owl that my children love to find. The park location is perfect, and by the way the tree has grown a lot in the last 13 years. It is magnificent.
#RidgewoodGarbageTree
Having the tree, In Vain nest will also attract some customers down to other restaurants and shops, not just the Vagianos block. But of course that’s his big objection. What a self-serving asshole.
Other than the night of the lighting, I never ever let my children go near that tree. It’s in a very dangerous location, and with all the distracted drivers, I would not want my children standing at a busy intersection, and by a parking lot to admire the tree. The park is way safer, and more picturesque. I love this idea. I signed, I am on board.
Lock them back up in the basement where they will be safe.
i remember back in the 1970’s some mischievous vandals cut down the tree
When I used to commute to NYC, the tree by the train station was a warm, wonderful “Welcome Home” after a 12 hour day. It reaffirmed why I decided to live in RIdgewood and raise my kids here. All the early morning/late nights on the train were somehow worth it.
I love Mt. Carmel’s tree and the Van Neste Tree but the train station tree is beautiful.
There is a beautiful live tree at the train station that is lit throughout the season to greet train commuters.
You clearly dont take the train.
The tradition IS placing the tree by the train station.
The people who DONATE their tree are looking to cut it down anyway, so there is no harm or destruction to the environment. Are you are looking to police every resident who cuts down a tree in their yard for reasons that are not your business? Also, some trees have been donated in memory of a love one.
Ridgewood tried one or two years to have it at Van Neste (which is not tradition), it was poorly received and most residents were ticked off with the change.