6 TIMES • MAY 14, 2015 FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT www.timesnewsweekly.com Ridgewood getting its first Onderdonk House raises the roof BY ANTHONY GIUDICE [email protected] @A_GiudiceReport A virtual who’s who of Ridgewood and Bushwick joined the Greater Ridgewood Historical Society (GRHS) in celebrating the completion of the historic Vander Ende- Onderdonk House’s new roof during its Raise the Roof event on May 7. Those in attendance included Councilman Antonio Reynoso, C o n g r e s s w o m a n Grace Meng, Vincent Arcuri and Gary Giordano from Queens Community Board 5, Commissioner of the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs Tom Finkelpearl, Deputy Brooklyn Borough President Diana Reyna and Queens Borough President Melinda Katz, among several others. The push to get a new roof for the Onderdonk House, located at 1820 Flushing Ave., began in 2009 when the GRHS held a fundraiser to help get the project started. “We were able to raise over $25,000, really pretty impressive for one night, but well short of the working estimate of over $350,000 to restore the roof,” said Linda Monte, president of the GRHS. “That’s when our super women, Diana Reyna and Elizabeth Crowley…sprang into action. They were able to add member items to the New York City Capitol Budget.” This allowed the Onderdonk House to get the additional funding to repair the roof. “Although we had a delay in the construction of the work, we fi nished this past fall, under budget,” Monte added. “Tonight is to thank you, recognize our major donors, offi cially declare the roof restored and have a great time.” Guests were allowed inside the Onderdonk House to tour the restored attic to get a look at the wooden shingle gambrel roof. During the ceremony, the GRHS dedicated a plaque to the major donors who helped fund the Onderdonk House’s brand-new roof. “It gives me great pleasure to have joined with Council member Elizabeth Crowley to support those landmarkings for historic districts in Ridgewood,” Reyna said. “Historic preservation does not only mean preserving old buildings, it means preserving the entire identity of the neighborhood. The fact that the Onderdonk House exists is a great illustration of what we can accomplish with participation from community and government.” In lieu of a traditional ribboncutting ceremony, the GRHS gave each of the major donors of the project their very own hammer, which they used to ceremonially hammer in a nail of the newly constructed roof. The Onderdonk House was built in the late 18th century and is the oldest Dutch Colonial stone house in New York City. With the help of federal, state and local funds, it was opened to the public in 1982 and in June of 1996, it was given city landmark status. The house now serves as a museum for a permanent exhibit on the archaeology of the Onderdonk site, as well as having changing exhibits relating to history, the arts and culture. Starbucks BY CRISTABELLE TUMOLA [email protected] @CristabelleT Starbucks is setting up shop in Ridgewood later this year, according to the coffee company. After initially saying that there were no immediate plans to announce a store opening in the area, a Starbucks spokesperson later confi rmed to The Courier on Friday that the chain will be opening a location at 329 Wyckoff Ave., on the Bushwick border. “We are committed to being a good neighbor in Ridgewood and to having an open dialogue with the community,” Starbucks said in a statement. “We look forward to acting as a gathering place for citizens and visitors of the community for years to come as well as sharing strong connections with the community both inside and outside our stores.” The coffee place will be the fi rst Starbucks in the neighborhood. Currently, the closest Starbucks to the area is in Glendale at The Shops at Atlas Park. Ridgewood Social, which fi rst reported the opening, said the Planet Fitness on Wyckoff Avenue near Myrtle Avenue is renting out its space and being converted into the coffee shop. The gym has the same address as the one given by Starbucks for the future Ridgewood location. “The construction/remodeling is well underway” and has been “confi rmed with the manager of the Planet Fitness,” according to its website. The gym declined to comment on the opening of the Starbucks to this paper, but said there was construction going on in its building. RIDGEWOOD TIMES/Photo by Angela Matua Construction can be seen on the lower level of the Planet Fitness. RIDGEWOOD TIMES/Photos by Anthony Giudice The Onderdonk House which recently received a new roof. Tonight is to thank you, recognize our major donors, of cially declare the roof restored and have a great time.” --Linda Monte, president of the GRHS.
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