Learning To Drive

Learning to drive is a right of passage I take completely for granted these days. Though at the time it consumed me just like it did every teenager starting at age 16. It did not let up until I had received my license sometime after my 17th birthday. Gas was $.50 a gallon and had gone up significantly after the oil shock of 1974. It was still cheap enough that we could empty all of our pals pockets for donations and have enough to cruise around on a Saturday night. Up and down Ridgewood Avenue we would go looking for other people doing the same and possibly word of a party at some unsuspecting parent's house.

In those days it didn't matter if the car only had an AM radio, as long as we were out of the house and moving around we were content. If we could find some girls who wanted to sit in the back seat and drive around with us then that was all the better.

When it was hot the windows would be down and we would hear the sounds on the street as we drove. It was sometimes the best form of communications that we had, and usually it was the only type since we cruised in the era before cellphones. Though 0ur communications could also be non-verbal and be left entirely to the drivers of the cars, especially if we were in a car with some horsepower that could go fast on route 208. It was well known among hot rod enthusiasts that if you hooked up a single white light near your back license plate and flashed it at another hot rod that this was a challenge for a race. I can't say I was in any races ala American Graffiti, but I did on one occasion ride "shotgun" while my driver played a dangerous game of "getting on the rear" of the car in front of us in an attempt to intimidate and show how fast his car could run. In those days we were immortal and split second decisions about safety were usually shouted down by those in the car. It was scary and stupid but all a part of growing up.

Ridgewood High School Alumni Association

Through the years I have received a mountain of requests from my college alma mater for funds. Both of my brothers went to Prep school and they receive requests from Phillips Academy as well as their respective colleges and graduate schools. This is all well and good but it has lately left me wondering why Ridgewood High School doesn't have an alumni association of its own. Here is my suggestion:

The purpose of this non-profit association would be to identify and properly recognize the accomplishments of the alumni, students, faculty and staff of Ridgewood High School. Equal attention would be paid to the academic and non-academic phases of high school activities, in order that a well-balanced picture may be presented to the public.

The Ridgewood High School Alumni Association would strive to sustain friendships and memories of Ridgewood High School days in four ways. Firstly, its membership database would help graduates stay in touch and would facilitate class reunion efforts by offering advice and a refined methodology for organizing and supporting class reunions. The association's second mission would be to preserve RHS mementos and to create a permanent record of alumni accomplishments; at first collecting achievements and posting them on its website, and then ultimately by the acquisition of a permanent space for a Ridgewood High School Alumni Museum/Information Center, created and operated by the Association. The Association's third mission would be to use its website and FaceBook page to provide information about RHS alumni and association activities. The fourth way the association would fulfill its primary mission would be by awarding scholarships annually to deserving graduates.

In this age of Cloud Computing this seems to me an obvious use of technology for the common good. Nobody would be included who didn't want to belong and the RHS Alumni Association would create its own database of names.

142 Glenwood Road

I lived at 142 Glenwood Road from 1961-1978 in a single family house built in 1937 on .21 acres of land adjoining Willard School. It always amazes me when I see how the house has appreciated since that time. I don't believe the first mortgage my parents had on the house was as large as the property taxes the current owner pays in a single year.

According to the Zillow web site the house last sold in 1995 for $420,000.

Today they estimate a 30 year fixed mortgage at about 4% with 20% down payment would leave you paying $3459 a month.

Tax History

Year           Property taxes        % Change            Tax assessment            % Change

2011           $18,281                       5.3%                 $968,800                      --
2010           $17,361                       4.0%                 $968,800                      --
2009          $16,692                         --                     $968,800                      --
2008          $16,692                         2.9%                $968,800                    59.4%
2007           $16,228                         --                     $607,800                      --

139th Annual Harvest Fair

139th Annual Harvest Fair

Old Paramus Reformed Church
10am to 4pm - Free Admission - Come early for holiday shopping, have lunch and bring friends. 660 East Glen Avenue at Rt. 17. Garage Sale - Gift Basket Raffle - Attic Treasures & Collectibles - Furniture - Jewelry - linens - books - toys - Homemade Baked Goods - & soup - Farm Stand Country Kitchen Refreshments & Lunch!

From their website a bit of history:

Old Paramus Reformed Church has a rich past. The congregation was formed in the year 1725. During the American Revolution, the Paramus Church was the site of a Continental Army military post for four years during which clashes between American and British forces took place. It was also in the original church building that General George Washington held a session of the court-martial of General Charles Lee who disobeyed orders at the Battle of Monmouth in 1778. Washington had his headquarters here at the church a total of ten times during various days from 1778-1780.

Other noted Revolutionary War figures such as Alexander Hamilton, the Marquis de Lafayette, Anthony Wayne, Richard Henry Lee, and Aaron Burr also were here from time to time during the war. From early colonial times, slaves were members of the church congregation, the upper galleries on both sides being designated for their use during services.

The present church building was built in 1800. An interesting feature is that the pews are numbered. The members of earlier days rented them on an annual basis. The most expensive were numbers 50 to 57 at $52.00 per year while the least expensive were numbers 38 to 100 at $4.00 per year. Needless to say, the less expensive pews are at the rear of the sanctuary.

On each side of the pulpit, there are three pews placed at right angles to the rest of the pews in the church. These were reserved for the Elders and Deacons (on the left and right respectively). These persons collectively are known as the Consistory, which is the governing board of the church. It was their duty to sit in these pews each Sabbath with their Bibles and copies of the day's sermon to check on the "Domine" as to his conduct of the service as well as sticking to his sermon! That tradition (as to seating) is kept alive in Old Paramus by current members of the Consistory who sit in the first pew facing the pulpit each Sunday.

The decorated organ pipes in the rear of the chancel (choir loft) behind the pulpit date back to 1892. In that year they were installed when the church received the gift of a new organ from a congregation member.

At the top of the arch over the pulpit, there is a Dove of Peace. The dove is made of wood and is hand-carved. The exact date of origin of the dove is unknown. One authority claims that, "The bird is an eagle and was a donation by Dr. Garret D. Banta in 1800." Records from the Consistory minutes read: 1874, Aug. 3rd: Resolved that the Consistory thankfully recognize the kindness of Mrs. Catherine Wessella for repairing and regilding the Dove, which has been a part of the decoration of the old church."

There are three flags on the pulpit - the American flag, the Christian flag and the flag of The Netherlands, the last representing our Dutch heritage. In a similar vein, the Dutch flag is flown under the American flag on the staff in front of the church.

There are several plaques on the inside walls of the church. Some honor the ministers, and others honor the various Consistories since 1725. Another just inside the front door notes that this Church has been placed on the National Register of Historic Places. In display cases you will find various bits of memorabilia concerning our history.

When attending Old Paramus Reformed Church, you will have come to a warm and comfortable historic church, but the service is up to date, alive, and nourishing to your whole being.

On the church campus, you will find the modern Educational Building which houses the church offices and facilities needed for Christian nurture. Another building is the one-room, church-like schoolhouse. This building houses the Ridgewood Historical and Preservation Society and is known as The Schoolhouse Museum. It was built in 1872 and was used as a school until 1905. It contains many items of historical note to this area. Make it a point to visit this museum during visiting hours. You should find it to be a very interesting and rewarding visit.

So, what kind of a church is Old Paramus Reformed Church? It is affiliated with the Reformed Church in America, the oldest Protestant denomination with a continuous ministry in America. The first church was established in New York City, then known as Nieuw Amsterdam, in 1628. The Collegiate Churches presently represent the origins of that original congregation. The best known is Marble Collegiate Church, which is where Dr. Norman Vincent Peale was the minister for fifty-two years. The Reformed Church in America (RCA) is an historic denomination coming out of the Reformation when the Church was "re-formed" and re-organized according to the teachings of the Word of God, the Bible. The Reformed Church is Biblical in doctrine, semi-liturgical in worship. Presbyterian in government, and evangelical in practice.

This year, Old Paramus Reformed Church celebrates 286 Years of God's Loving Spirit. Come join us next Sunday at 10 A.M. We would be most happy to see you, and you will surely feel rewarded for the experience.

Call For Pledges: Promote Your Business and our 35th Reunion Weekend

To all potential sponsors of the RHS Class of 1977 35th Reunion Weekend:

With our 35th Reunion Weekend some nine months away, plans are take shape nicely, and we are now in possession of the approximate costs of all the weekend's events. Our goal is to raise $1000, that's ten pledges of $100 from businesses with a presence on the Internet and from individuals.

By giving to this event you'll be helping defray expenses for things such as door prizes, decorations, the Reunion program, and the rental fee for use of The Stables for our Sunday Farewell Picnic. Your donation will be recognized in several ways. As a business sponsor you'll have a link to your web site on our web site in the sidebar on every page, and on our new page dedicated just to sponsors. Your donation will also be acknowledged in in all press releases, advertising materials, and banners which publicize the weekend, as well as announced verbally at our events.

We hope that we can count on you to support our 35th Reunion Weekend. If you have any questions or concerns please feel free to contact me privately via FaceBook or via my email address: paulmccubbin@gmail.com.

Thank you in advance for your consideration!

To date the following people have made pledges of money, prizes, and/or their time.

The ladies first:
Francesca Cavallaro Wall
Rebecca Deetz Haskell
Laura Fleming
Joanne Hunter Currey
Deborah White Bryant
Penelope King Quirk
Suzi Baxter-Beene
Susan Raymond
Carrie Stewart
Cindy Neidig Myer

The men:
Jeff Roberson
Hank Bordowitz
Gypsies on Parole
Jim Velordi
Schweinfurth Florist
Chet Douglas
Karl Olsen
Peter Branigan
Paul McCubbin
Tim Daly