Ridgewood April 27, 2011 THE VILLADOM TIMES II • Page 7 Advocacy group will help promote school issues by John Koster The Ridgewood Board of Education meeting of May 3 will feature the inauguration of a Legislative Advocacy Committee to help citizens understand school concerns and urge legislators to do the same. Parking restrictions approved The Ridgewood Village Council won the praise and thanks of residents when the governing body adopted an ordinance to restrict parking on the west side of North Irving Street and protect the neighborhood from excessive school-related parking. Mayor Keith Killion told Village Manager Kenneth Gabbert to make sure the signs making the parking restrictions official were set up as soon as possible. The ordinance will take effect at the end of the month. “This is important,” Mayor Killion told Gabbert. “Can we make sure this comes to the top somehow?” Gabbert said he would expedite signage for the new restrictions, long requested by the neighbors who live on North Irving Street. The ordinance prohibits parking on the west side of North Irving Street from 8 a.m. until 9:30 a.m. and from 1 p.m. until 2:30 p.m. Monday through Friday from Sept. 1 through June 30 from 50 feet of the north curb of Franklin Avenue to Northern Parkway and on the section of North Irving from Franklin Avenue to East Ridgewood Avenue. The ordinance also restricts parking on North Irving Street from East Ridgewood Avenue to Franklin Avenue to a maximum of three hours from 7 a.m. until 8 p.m. except on Sundays and holidays. J. KOSTER Lynne Strickland, executive director of the Garden State Coalition of Schools, is scheduled to speak about school funding at the upcoming session. She will also provide information for those residents who wish to lobby legislators for more school funding for Ridgewood’s public schools. “What happens in Trenton impacts us here in Ridgewood very directly,” Superintendent of Schools Dr. Daniel Fishbein said. “We hope to develop a group of citizens who want to learn about that dynamic and to understand how to contact our legislators with their opinions. We are inviting all interested residents to join us on the Legislative Advocacy Committee.” Board of Education President Michele Lenhard also urged citizen involvement with Trenton to promote the best interests of the local school system. The Ridgewood Board of Education and the superintendent have historically been active in advocacy groups and individually representing the interests of our school district, Lenhard said. “Participation by community members will increase awareness in our community on important educational issues as well as provide the voice of the local taxpayer to our representatives in Trenton.” For many years, Ridgewood has had an education foundation that assembles private and corporate donations to subsidize enhanced educational programs, and the Home & School Associations make regular donations in cash and in kind so students can have state-of-the-art technology and educational programs without further burden on the taxpayers. The Ridgewood school system is widely known for providing a variety of academic and extracurricular opportunities. Soprano Donna Burdick will offer a program of songs from the all-time Broadway favorite, “Sound of Music,” to the Women’s Guild at Ridgewood’s Old Paramus Church on Wednesday, May 4 at 1:15 p.m. Burdick, well known soprano soloist in the New York Metropolitan area, will be accompanied by Eunjung Ahn, an accom- Burdick to perform favorite songs plished solo performer and accompanist on both organ and piano. The concert celebrates the 45th anniversary of the film. The event is open to the public and will be held in OPRC’s barrier-free education building at 660 East Glen Avenue. A freewill offering would be appreciated. CAPS Cares presents Ellen Sabin, author of “The Autism Acceptance Book: Being a Friend with Someone with Autism” on Thursday, May 5, 2011 from 7 to 9 p.m. The event will be held at Northern Highlands Regional High School, 298 Hillside Ave, Allendale. Ellen Sabin will speak about creating acceptance of those affected by autism and the importance of educating neuro typical children and adults about autism. There is no charge for this event, RSVP by e-mail to CapsCares@optonline.net. CAPS Cares is a non-profit organization established by parents of children with autism in Northwest Bergen County. Autism Awareness and Acceptance Event Rescheduled Harding Pharmacy 4-27-11 pat/janine CAPS3x3(4-27-11) 3 x 3” rev1 Sells Each and Every Greeting Card in the Store for Only Plus... We Have GREAT GIFT MOTHER’S S for DA and More! Y 201-445-7122 305 E. Ridgewood Ave, Ridgewood, NJ Here for you 365 days a year! Monday through Saturday 9AM to 10PM and Sundays 9AM to 2PM DEBIT CARDS ACCEPTED With most pharmacy chains selling their greeting cards for sometimes up to $4.00 each, isn’t it time to show them your independence by shopping with us!. 99 ards t ing C ns Gree Dicke by ¢ each