Page 6 THE VILLADOM TIMES II • September 22, 2010
Village debates location for 2010 Christmas tree
by John Koster The annual December tree lighting in Ridgewood’s downtown shopping district will be celebrated for the 25th time this year, but the exact location of the holiday tree is open for debate. Paul Vagianos of the Ridgewood Chamber of Commerce spoke enthusiastically and at some length about a proposal to relocate the tree and the tree lighting ceremony to the site at Ridgewood Avenue and Broad Street – using a freshly cut tree that would be visible from both sides of the railroad and a longer section of Ridgewood Avenue. Two years ago, the Ridgewood officials planted and illuminated a permanent evergreen tree at Van Neste Park, a venue that karen/janine crowd to watch the tree lighting, 4-29-09 allowed a larger but placed the tree in a location Vagianos said renders it all EmmanuelHelp3x.75(4-29-09) but invisible from a large part of the shopping district. “The 3 x .75 tree is barely visible to people who shop, dine, and travel on Ridgewood Avenue,” Vagianos said. “I probably talk to 150 people a day and a lot of them say, ‘It’s a shame that the town doesn’t put up a tree any more.” He said that he and other Ridgewood Chamber of Commerce members had collected $7,500 in a very short amount of time to offer to Ridgewood so a tree could be cut and installed at the original location at Ridgewood Avenue and Broad Street, where he said it would be more visible. Mayor Keith Killion said the council would be willing to discuss the concept with Vagianos and Ridgewood Chamber of Commerce President Scott Lief at the next work session, but Killion and Councilman Paul Aronsohn asked how firm and broad the desire is to have the tree at the old location. “This is the first time I’m hearing about this as a unanimous Chamber of Commerce vote.” Aronsohn said. “We need to reach out and see what the rest of the community feels.” Mayor Killion asked for e-mails from Ridgewood residents as to whether they prefer a live tree at Van Neste Park or a cut tree at Ridgewood and Broad Street. Killion also asked that, if the location is changed, the Chamber of Commerce establish a perpetual tree fund. Resident Roger Wiegand, a regular at council meetings, said he thought the live tree and the present location were an improvement and should be left in place.
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Ridgewood
“It not only saves money, but it saves cutting a tree down every year,” Wiegand said. “I happen to like trees, and I am happy to be referred to as a tree hugger. Do we have to look into who is donating money for this tree? Do they have any business before this town?” Resident Boyd Loving added, “It is clearly visible when you walk up and down Ridgewood Avenue.” He said that using a live tree at Van Neste saves a tree and some money and eliminates road hazards for fire and emergency vehicles at Broad Street. “I think the council made the right decision,” Loving said. “How about planting another live tree, but overlooking Ridgewood Avenue?” asked resident Leonard Eisen. Gary Cirillo, president of Ridgewood’s Project Pride, suggested that Ridgewood install the most visible tree possible, but should also put up a statue of David Bolger, who had donated millions of dollars to various municipal improvements before he was offended by the donation ban which he felt targeted him personally. “I think we need to recognize him for all that he has done,” Cirillo said. “(He is) the greatest philanthropist (continued on page 15)
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