Page 6 THE VILLADOM TIMES II • March 17, 2010 Emmanuel asks... JOIN THE Can You Help? Ridgewood CELEBRATION! Maple Avenue & Pine Street Bike path opponents voice more objections by John Koster Village residents presented the Ridgewood Council with another round of objections to Bergen County’s proposed plans to extend the bicycle path along the Saddle River – and past many of their back yards. “There is little chance that the path will ever be extended to the New York State Line,” said Linda Reik, one of the keynote speakers. “Upper Saddle River residents blocked a similar proposal in the 1990s.” Reik and other neighbors questioned why Bergen County would budget $950,000 – and probably end up spending $2 million – to extend a bike bath for a quarter mile when the path is already 12 miles long and would never get any longer. “We question the need to spend more than $2 million on a short path when a full-length path is available,” said Robert Guttierez, another objector who noted that he has bicycled more than 4,000 miles on the existing path and found it entirely adequate. He added that the encroachment of manmade and impermeable objections in natural surrounding would drive away wildlife and compromise the natural environment. “We ask you: What is the future of the park?” he said. “Will our council protect the Saddle River wetscape?” “Do not build another half-mile of path extension for what will be $2 million,” said Steven Roth. “This is a natural wildscape area. Animals will be driven away if people and their pets enter the Paramus conservation lands.” Roth said that the county’s $950,000, or any available part of it, should rather be used to fix the leak in the liner of the county-owned Duck Pond and to plant park areas with low-maintenance local plants to attract and nurture wildlife. Ellie Gruber said that Bergen County appeared to be punishing Ridgewood for previous resistance by foisting worse and worse plans off on the county-owned land within Ridgewood’s borders. She urged firm resistance to the path extension. “I don’t see what more they can do to punish us,” Gruber said of the county. “If you give in to them, I just think it’s the wrong thing to do.” Ridgewood Grand Opening • Saturday, March 27 • 10am–3pm Refreshments • Entertainment • Giveaways t Check Ou Our Great 4-29-09 karen/janine CD Rates! EmmanuelHelp3x.75(4-29-09) 3 x .75 Regalo para cuentas New Account Gift Get a $25 TD Bank Gift Card when you open a Checking account with $250 or more. Offer valid through April 12, 2010 at the Ridgewood-Maple Avenue Store. Only new, non-interest bearing Checking accounts with initial deposits of $250 or more are eligible. Bonus offered to new Personal Checking Customers only. Cannot be combined with any other offer. One bonus maximum per household. Bonus will be given at time of account opening and will be reported as taxable income. Grand Prize Drawing Cash Drawing $ Beauty & Design Interiors Drawing Date: April 12, 2010 Need not be present to win. No purchase necessary. Void where prohibited. Must be 18 or older and a legal US resident to enter. Drawing rules available at the Ridgewood-Maple Avenue Store. Prize awarded in the form of a $1,000 TD Bank Gift Card. Shopping Spree 1,000 SALE OFF ACCESSORIES through 2/13/10 WIN Drawing Date: March 27 • 2pm Must be present to win. WINTER CLEARANCE No purchase necessary. Void where prohibited. Must be 18 or older and a legal US resident to enter. Drawing rules available at the Ridgewood-Maple Avenue Store. Large Specializing OPEN Selection 7 DAYS • LEGENDARY SERVICE • HASSLE-FREE BANKING In UP To Complete TO Choose Interior From Design ALL IN STOCK 50 % Advanced swimmers, ages nine through12, who are seeking to get in shape for summer swim teams or stay in shape after the winter swim season, are welcome to register for the Ridgewood YMCA Aquatic Spring Training course. The course will be held March 22 through June 13 at 112 Oak Street in Ridgewood. The 12-week program will meet on Wednesdays from 7:45 to 8:30 p.m. and on Saturdays from 1:45 to 2:30 p.m. Swimmers perform conditioning and endurance drills and work on competitive strokes and techniques. For registration information, contact YMCA Aquatics Director Sue Ludzki at (201) 444-5600, extension 392, or at sludzki@ridgewoodym.org. For a complete schedule of YMCA swim programs, visit www.ridgewoodymca.org. Swim team training offered 2010 grants (continued from page 3) grade teacher; Elizabeth Holley, first grade teacher; and parents Chantel Veenhof and Ivana Gaillard for grant funds for presentations from the Liberty Science Center in assemblies at Willard as part of this year’s Math and Science Theme Day. REF awarded Willard $975 for this grant. The Ridgewood Education Foundation thanks all the applicants who participated in this grant cycle. Applications for the fall 2010 cycle will be available soon at www. ridgewoodedfoundation.org. The mission of the Ridgewood Education Foundation is to enhance the quality of education in the Ridgewood Public Schools. Since 1989, the foundation has awarded more than $425,000 in grants for special projects. REF is able to do this through the generous support of donors. The foundation receives no government funding and is solely supported by its members. REF is a 501 c(3) not-for-profit. & FURNITURE Window Treatments, Fine Furniture & Accessories, Reupholstering Service & More Due to local ordinances, Paramus and Wyckoff offices are not open Sunday. | TD Bank, N.A. Beauty & Design Interiors Visit our showroom at: Maria Zampieri, Certified Interior Designer, Allied Member ASID 103 E. Main Street • Ramsey • 201-760-1234