Ridgewood November 23, 2011 THE VILLADOM TIMES II • Page 3 Village police work on unrelated accident cases by John Koster A 24-year-old Ridgewood woman whose car struck a six-year-old girl when the woman drove over the grass to go around a parked vehicle has not been charged. At press time, the investigation of the case was still under Ridgewood High School Principal Jack Lorenz has submitted his resignation and will leave the district Dec. 31. “I had hoped to stay a little bit longer, but we had some differences about philosophy and the best way to do things,” Dr. Lorenz said Friday. “I love the kids, and the support I got from the parents was outstanding. I found the staff, from the administrators to the teachers to the custodians, to be top quality. I’ll miss Ridgewood.” Dr. Lorenz came to Ridgewood from Highland Park High School in Illinois, where he also served as a high school principal. One of his first moves in Ridgewood was a survey to find out what problems the district had. He said he discovered that while problems with drugs and smoking were not inordinate or as serious as some students felt they were, there was a serious drinking problem among students which he attempted to address. His appreciation of the high quality of Ridgewood students and the school’s high academic profile was apparent. He was especially impressed by Ridgewood’s advanced Principal Jack Lorenz resigns from post academic programs and found the Asian Festival staged every spring to be immensely impressive, something seen nowhere else in his experience. Recently, Dr. Lorenz was honored at the Bergen County level for reaching out to students with special needs, winning an award from the Bergen County Division of Disability Services. He was generally popular with the students at the high school. “Jack is one of the most creative, committed, and visible school principals with whom I have had the pleasure to work,” said Superintendent of Schools Dr. Daniel Fishbein. “In his time at Ridgewood High School, we have seen an increase in programs for all students…I am sure that, with Jack’s love of learning and commitment to the education of all students, he will be extremely successful in his next endeavor. I wish him well.” Dr. Fishbein and the school board will immediately develop transition plans. J. KOSTER way. Ridgewood police reported that the motorist drove up a driveway at 426 Overbrook Road at 5:34 p.m. and crossed the grass to go around a vehicle parked in the driveway. The six-year-old girl was playing in front of the parked vehicle and was struck and seriously injured. The Ridgewood Ambulance Corps transported the child to Valley Hospital. The child was pronounced dead on the way to the emergency room. In an unrelated case, police have filed charges of reckless driving and driving on the sidewalk against a 41-year-old Ridgewood woman. On Nov. 4 at 7:44 a.m., a Ridgewood Department of Public Works crew was removing storm litter from Fairmount Avenue when the motorist drove around the busy road crew -- over the sidewalk -- and struck a Ridgewood employee who was on the sidewalk. The worker was transported to Valley Hospital for injuries that were described as non lifethreatening.