Page 6 THE VILLADOM TIMES II • August 17, 2011 Ridgewood Village residents complete internships in Senate Nikki and Alex Shea, twin sisters from Ridgewood, recently completed a five-week internship in Washington, D.C. in the office of U.S. Senator Pat Roberts (R-Kan.). “I am very grateful for this experience,” Alex said. “It provided me with a unique hands-on opportunity to learn and further understand what goes on in Congress.” “It was very interesting times to be working on the Hill and to watch the debt ceiling debate unfold,” said Nikki. “I had the opportunity to see how things work behind the scenes and how the office, as a whole, works to effect change.” Nikki and Alex are the daughters of Tim Shea of Arlington, Virginia and Tina and Kevin Felix of Ridgewood. The young women will both be seniors at Bucknell University in Lewisburg, Pennsylvania this fall. Nikki is majoring in political science and psychology, while Alex is majoring in political science and economics with a minor in classics. The twins graduated from Ridgewood High School in 2008. As interns, their responsibilities in Senator Roberts’ office included researching legislation, attending hearings and briefings, conducting tours of the U.S. Capitol building, and supporting administrative and legislative staff. Pictured: Senator Roberts with Alex Shea (above) and Nikki Shea (at far right) in his Washington, D.C. office. Salary increase discussed (continued from page 3) Midland Park had agreed to permit Ridgewood to charge a $5,000 hook-up fee for each of the approximately 60 Midland Park houses that would be connecting to the Ridgewood sewer system. Gabbert said that the original agreement was for $2,600 and, when he was approached to reinstate the deal, he demanded a $5,000 hook-up fee and was approved. Gabbert said that since the money had not been budgeted, the $320,000 could go directly into surplus. The other public concern advanced at the meeting was that a developer who owns a partially reconstructed house at 205 Lotte Road in Ridgewood has lingered over the project for seven years, leaving the neighborhood stuck with an eyesore. “If I grew my grass five feet, I think you would have something to say about it,” one neighbor said. The neighbors said that enforcement had been lax and that their efforts to contact or meet with village employees had been unsatisfactory. Mayor Killion pointed out that Gabbert could not be blamed for the situation, since Gabbert had only been in office for 13 months, while the situation on Lotte Road had been around for six or seven years. “I received the same complaints when I was a police officer,” said Mayor Killion. “We have heard you.” The mayor directed Gabbert to set up a meeting with residents who were involved and public officials who were responsible to try to get something done about the matter.