November 23, 2011 THE VILLADOM TIMES II • Page 23 Ridgewood Notes Newcomers host Holiday Boutique YWCA Ridgewood Newcomers will host a Holiday Boutique on Thursday, Dec. 1 from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Christ Church, 105 Cottage Place in Ridgewood. The boutique will feature over 20 vendors including jewelry, accessories, hostess gifts, children’s items, and more. There is no admission for this event. For more information, contact Tori Schoeler at torischoeler@gmail.com, or Jenn Murphy at fjkate@gmail.com. Those interested in becoming a member of the Ridgewood Newcomers may e-mail anne_mcdonnell@yahoo.com. Carreras offers ‘Les Paul: Musical Genius’ Jazz genius Les Paul and his impact on modern American music will be remembered on Nov. 30, when Charles Carreras of the Mahwah Museum presents a 7:30 p.m. lecture at the Ridgewood Public Library, 125 North Maple Avenue. Carreras will share Paul’s history and contributions. Jim Wysocki, a friend of Paul’s, will share some of the technical aspects of the music and instruments and bring some items to display. Carreras is professor emeritus at Ramapo College. He is vice president of the Mahwah Museum and chair of the museum’s new Les Paul exhibit, which will run through June 2012. The program, held in conjunction with the Hermitage Roundtable, is free and registration is not required. ‘Christmas Joy around the World’ at OPRC The Women’s Guild at Ridgewood’s Old Paramus Reformed Church will present “Christmas Joy around the World,” a celebration of traditions, symbols, and music on Wednesday Dec. 7 at 1:15 p.m. Featured will be the area’s well-known harpist Penny McCulloch, a choral ensemble, flutist Nancy Surridge, and narrator Avis Fleckenstein. The congregation and friends and guests from the wider community are welcome to attend this unique celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ. The event will be held in the church’s barrier-free Education Building at 660 East Glen Avenue at Route 17 South. For more information, call the church office at (201) 4445933, or access www.oldparamus.org. Emmanuel hosts classes Emmanuel Baptist Church will offer a four-week study for Advent on Tuesdays from 7:30 to 9 p.m. beginning Nov. 29. The group will study Marcus Borg and John Dominic Crossan’s “The First Christmas.” This book tells the story two of today’s top Jesus scholars who join forces to show how history has biased our reading of the nativity story as it appears in the gospels of Matthew and Luke. Borg and Crossan help readers to see this well-known narrative afresh by answering the question, “What do these stories mean?” in the context of both the first century and the 21st century. Books are available and refreshments will be served. The Thursday theological reflection group will launch a six-session study, “Liberty and Justice for All: Faith and American Politics,” on Dec. 1. The group will meet from noon to 1:30 p.m. The curriculum is DVD-based and includes student workbooks. The goals of the course are to introduce a set of skills designed to raise the level of respect and civility present in conversations involving faith and politics, to provide a basic overview of social and faith values derived from major historical documents, and to increase awareness of the importance of people of faith being involved in conflict resolution and the political process. The course does not endorse any denominational point of view, specific political issues, or candidates. Rev. Linda Hart Green will facilitate both classes. All are welcome. Emmanuel is located on East Ridgewood Avenue at Hope Street. The facility is ADA compliant. For more information, call (201) 444-7300 or e-mail ebc1@verizon. net. YMCA’s Christmas Tree Sale begins The Ridgewood YMCA’s annual Christmas Tree lot will open at 6 p.m. on Nov. 25 with a selection of balsam, Fraser fir, and grand fir trees in sizes to fit any home. Wreaths, roping, and other holiday items will also be sold. Hours for the tree lot are Fridays from 6 to 9 p.m., Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., and Sundays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The lot will remain open until Dec. 23. All proceeds from tree sales benefit the Ridgewood YMCA Good Works Programs. Through its Good Works Programs, the YMCA strives to serve everyone, regardless of ability to pay. The Ridgewood Y Christmas Tree lot is located at 112 Oak Street. West Side offers new worship services West Side Presbyterian Church is offering new worship services to meet the needs of the community. One new offering is “The Saturday 5:55 p.m.” This 45-minute service is informal, participatory, and familyfriendly. Designed to engage mind, heart, and body, the service will initially be offered on a monthly basis. The new service will be held on Nov. 26, and Dec. 17. A 45-minute service starting at 8:45 a.m. in the chapel is now available. The traditional Sunday service will continue to be offered at 10 a.m. At both the 9 and 10 a.m. services, children can begin worship with their families and then leave after the children’s message to engage in a Sunday school focusing on Bible stories and the history of the Christian faith. Children may stay and worship with their parents. On Wednesdays, Associate Pastor Rev. Marc Oehler and the congregation welcome everyone to a service in the tradition of Taize. This contemplative service is a form of mediation in worship and takes place in the chapel from 7:30 to 8 p.m. Founded in 1912, West Side Presbyterian Church is a community dedicated to connecting with individuals, groups, and families through innovative ministry that supports healthy emotional and spiritual growth. All are welcome to West Side, which is located at Varian Fry Way, 6 South Monroe Street, in Ridgewood. For more information, call (201) 652-1966 or visit www.westside.org. Letters to the Editor (continued from page 14) taxpayers continue to foot the bill for security around the schools, our street repairs, noise, pollution, etc. It is clear to see that Valley has exhausted the parcel of land it now occupies and can only expand further by drilling through rock underground, removing and hauling tons of soil out of the area, and removing ground water with no legitimate place to send it -- certainly not to our sewage treatment plant as was originally proposed. Valley could better use its financial resources to purchase a new site where development is and will remain an option now and, if necessary, in the future. The Valley Hospital, its physicians and staff, its neighbors and our school children deserve the best hospital, environment, and quality of life Valley’s money can buy and Ridgewood taxpayers can afford. It’s Thanksgiving time. We hope Valley will stop trying to gobble up the village that gave it its birth. Sally Brandes Ridgewood Dear Editor: Through CoatsCoatsCoats, you have helped thousands of children, men, and women. Coats have been provided to needy families who are extremely grateful to keep them and their family members warm. We are now collecting coats, clean, gently-worn or new, to donate locally in Paterson and, upon request, to other areas working with the homeless. Coats, hats, and gloves will be collected until Dec. 21. Please lend CoatsCoatsCoats your help. Search your hearts and your home for coats to help. CoatsCoatsCoats has depended on your great kindness in years past. Donations may be dropped off at Kilroy’s Wonder Market or The Grow-Cery, both on Rock Road in Glen Rock. Thank you and the local merchants who volunteer their help. I also publicly thank the volunteers who choose to remain anonymous for their hard work to make this a success. If you want to volunteer, please contact me at njlawhelp@yahoo.com. I am extremely thankful to all of you. Now would be a good time to pull out the coasts that you want to donate, get them cleaned, and put them in a spot to take them to Kilroy’s or The Grow-Cery. Thomas Ludlum Glen Rock Coat collection begins Don Bosco letters of intent (continued from page 7) he is also a student ambassador, and a member of the Italian National Honor Society and the Italian Club. He is the son of Michael Mecca and Caryn De Pasquale of Ridgefield. Joseph Purritano has signed a letter of intent with Dartmouth University. At Don Bosco, he is an honor roll student and a member of the National Honor Society and the Italian Club. He is a first baseman on the Don Bosco Prep baseball team and has coached baseball for his town recreation program. Puritano is the son of Mary and Joseph Purritano of Woodcliff Lake. Grant Van Orden has committed to attend the United States Military Academy at West Point. He was the winner of the top academic award for Algebra II during his junior year, and is a third baseman for the Ironmen. He is the son of Gregg and Lori Van Orden of Wyckoff. Salvatore Mastriani has signed a letter of intent with Virginia Tech. He is a student ambassador, a football player, and a member of Don Bosco Prep’s wrestling team. He is the son of Salvatore and Jennifer Mastriani of Towaco. Alexander Henthorn has committed to attend Virginia Military Academy. Henthorn is a student ambassador, an attacker on the school lacrosse team, and a member of the football team. He is the son of Keith and Louise Henthorn of Ridgewood. John Petzold has signed a letter of intent with Fairfield University. He is a defenseman on the school lacrosse team and a member of the soccer club. He is the son of John and Lisa Petzold of Ridgewood. Andrew Neggia has signed a letter of intent with Bryant University. He is a member of the school’s swim team, and swam for five years on the Radburn Swim Team. He is the son of Alan and Julia Neggia of Fair Lawn. Don Bosco Preparatory High School is located in Ramsey and provides an education of the total person through a Catholic philosophy of life, fostering the spiritual, intellectual, social, moral, and physical growth of young men who wish to pursue higher education after graduation.