May 26, 2010 THE VILLADOM TIMES II • Page 3 Ridgewood Officials surprised as Graydon’s makes endangered list by John Koster Ridgewood Village Manager Ken Gabbert said he was as surprised as everyone else to learn that Ridgewood’s Graydon Pool had been listened as one of the 10 most endangered historical sites in New Jersey. The listing was made by a private group, not one affiliated with the state or federal government. Preservation New Jersey, an independent organization, placed Graydon on the annual list and encouraged Ridgewood’s municipal leaders to recognize the significance of the lake and to discuss ways of keeping the lake as natural as possible. The 7.5-acre lake, created in 1926 and expanded in 1936 by the New Deal’s Works Project Administration as a Depressionrelief project of the Franklin D. Roosevelt administration, was the one Bergen County site other than a general listing of historical diners and historical windows in many counties to make the list. The day the story appeared in another newspaper, Gabbert said that neither he nor the council knew about the listing by the private group, and that he would inform council members and learn more about the listing. The listing did not involve any formal implications either to funding or to restraints on future construction since Preservation New Jersey is not a state organization. Graydon was seen as one of the key issues in the municipal election of May 11, in which those candidates who opposed a major expansion or construction of a series of concrete pools won a clear-cut victory over candidates who had supported construction of rectangular concrete pools that would have been easier to maintain – but expensive and environmentally controversial. The aesthetic appearance of the Graydon Pool was a split decision, with some residents favoring the pool as it exists and others arguing that a more conventional pool complex would improve property values and facilitate real estate sales. The public pool’s dwindling membership also led one group of citizens to urge that the site be modernized and the pools constructed in such a way as to appeal to children and their parents and to make control of water quality easier. Those who prefer the traditional lake-like appearance, or deplore the $10-million bonding needed for construction, called this approach “a water park” and argued that a gradual improvement of water quality in the existing pool was already visible. This group also said that more fee-paying swimmers could be attracted with better publicity. Some cited membership at other facilities, such as Crestwood Lake in Allendale, to show that demographics also impact the membership problem. Others have pointed out that the Ridgewood YMCA has a heated indoor pool available all year. After multiple, well-attended meetings last year, the Ridgewood Village Council stepped back from the concept of a fullscale remodeling of Graydon, while approving better water quality and publicity. The expense of the proposed modernization was noted as a primary reason for caution, and the preference a large number of residents for a traditional lake-like pool was also mentioned. NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED LEADER IN CONTEMPORARY VARICOSE VEIN TREATMENT The Ridgewood Public Library is offering Listen NJ NW, a downloadable audiobooks project of the Highlands Regional Library Cooperative. This project will allow iPod and Mac users to download audiobooks from a program called Over- Library offers audiobooks Drive. To begin, visit the library’s website at: www.ridgewoodlibrary.org and click on the “Listen NJ” logo. The library is located at 125 North Maple Avenue. For more information, call (201) 670-5600. CHUBACKVEINCENTER A NEW STANDARD OF VEIN CARE 265 Ackerman Ave. Ridgewood, NJ 201-693-4330 Memorial Day Savings at Great Value! �������������� ������������� Sale $ “WE ARE RIGHT IN YOUR OWN BACK YARD” $ Endless Summer HYDRANGEAS BLOOMS ALL SUMMER! 2995 3 gal. CUSTOM Container Gardens & Window Boxes Farm-Grade Top Soil 40 lb. Bag Reg $2.69 MUST PRESENT THIS COUPON • EXPIRES 6-6-10 LONG ISLAND COMPOST MUST PRESENT THIS COUPON • EXPIRES 6-6-10 Great Deal! ALL SPRING FLOWERING AND ORNAMENTAL TREES MUST PRESENT THIS COUPON • EXPIRES 6-6-10 20 Off % Weeping Cherry Trees FREE DELIVERY With Any Tree or Shrub Purchase • Installation Available �������������������� ����������������������� �������������������������� • Spring Flowers • Fresh Nursery Stock • Professional Landscape Design 2 29 WOW! Sundays OPEN Perennials BUY 2, GET 1* PROPANE *OF EQUAL OR LESSER VALUE MUST PRESENT THIS COUPON • EXPIRES 6-6-10 1 Quart ����������������������������� 201-444-9995 • OPEN 7 DAYS 9AM–6PM Free ������������������������������������������������������������������