A Conversation with Rudy Marconi
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- Details
- Category: First Selectman
- Last Updated on Wednesday, 19 October 2011 08:43
- Written by Terri Garlick
HamletHub had a great sit-down with First Selectman Rudy Marconi on Thursday, and at the heart of our conversation was Ridgefield's biggest asset: its people.
And, with 2,000 plus walking Main Street in costumes at the end of the month... this was the conversation starter. With a home on Main Street, Rudy knows how important having the lights-on on Halloween night is to the many families in town, yet he is always amazed at the generosity of so many residents, year-after-year, greeting the trick or treaters with smiles and candy. He is also aware of the many citizens who donate candy to friends and neighbors on Main Street ~ so no little ones will be disappointed. It's these points that he likes to emphasize the most ~ the helpful nature of community members for the betterment of Ridgefield.
From Halloween, we moved on to talking about the purchase from the Ridgefield Library of the old Ridgefield Playhouse by Val Jensen ~ something he had been asked to help mediate. He sees it as a win-win for Ridgefield, and admits that he's "thankful the Jensen's continued to work towards their goal," and that the Board of Directors of the Ridgefield Library "worked through their issues for a mutually agreeable compromise." Now, the street-scape can be preserved, the Library is closer to their expansion goal, Ridgefield will have a movie theater, and SPHERE will have a home... and we're sure some local merchants will love the foot traffic too! Even local orthodontist, Dr. Katherine Lambert, of Phillips & Lambert LLC, was excited to hear of the purchase. For years, their office had watched the building decay, and now can't wait for it to brought back to its former glory and be a destination for Ridgefielders.
What is obvious from the first two topics is that Marconi is passionate about Ridgefield's youth. In other conversations, he had mentioned his involvement in the Ridgefield Community Coalition Against Substance Abuse and the Search Institute's findings, but today, Marconi mentioned, he felt Ridgefield was "in crisis-mode because parents are becoming desensitized to the loss of so many of our young people, especially in the Class of 2013." Even a local psychiatrist, who treats patients throughout all of Fairfield County, mentioned to him that Ridgefield is unique to Fairfield County because of the many deaths we have had over time due to drugs and alcohol. And Marconi cannot emphasize enough "the need for parents to be involved with your children. Take precautions if you are going out of town, you can trust your child, but can you always trust their friends?" He really feels parental involvement is essential in keeping our youth healthy and safe.
Ridgefield's youth aren't the only ones on Marconi's mind. He realized that there are people and families in town who need help ~ food, electricity, heating oil, mortgage payments, and more. With the cold weather coming, Marconi mentioned that the Ridgefield Food Pantry will have more customers and, therefore, more residents will be asked for help feed those less fortunate.
When asked, how can we help our neighbors, Marconi was quick to offer that no one is turned down, but Social Services does like to see residents working towards goals so they are no longer dependent on the town. He then offered these suggestions:
The Ridgefield Food Panty, managed by the Department of Social Services, is presently low on non-perishable donations. Social Services is on the top floor of Town Hall and is always open for donations- one can, one box, one roll - can make a difference to people who are hungry! If you enter Town Hall from Bailey Avenue, and take the elevator to the top floor, you're there.
The Department of Social Services also maintains the Ridgefield Emergency Fund which is supported entirely by donations. Funds are used to purchase food certificates, home heating fuel, electricity, clothing, and other basic needs for financially distressed local residents. Tax-deductible contributions are always both much needed and much appreciated. Checks payable to the Emergency Fund may be mailed directly to the Department of Social Services, 400 Main Street, Ridgefield, CT 06877.
Let us know your thoughts on our conversation.
