Page 10 THE VILLADOM TIMES II • September 14, 2011 Ridgewood Board receives almost $40,000 for education programs by John Koster The Ridgewood Board of Education has accepted donations for school education and sports programs. These gifts, which total nearly $40,000, were presented by a variety of groups at the most recent meeting of the board. The Somerville Home and School Association donated $7,600 for finishing the gymnasium at the Somerville School. This sum was augmented by an additional $6,500 from Ridgewood Biddy Basketball for the same project. The donation came in the form of payment to Mathusek Flooring. Somerville Dads Night raised an additional $900 to fund a recycling club at the Somerville School. Ralph Gifford donated $300 for stand floor speakers at the Somerville School, and Follett Educational Services donated $68 for the Buy-Back Used Book Program. The Orchard School Home and School Association donated $9,215 to purchase playground equipment to support the physical education program at that school. The Ridgewood Early Development Moms donated $5,000 to pay for athletic equipment for the RED program students. Sunflower Portraits, Inc. donated $213 in portraits for the RED program. Rainbow Media/MSG Varsity donated $3,000 to pay for athletic equipment. Mr. and Mrs. Gregory Tobdizic donated a microwave valued at $100 to the Travell School. The New Jersey Bar Association donated 500 copies of booklets, including the United States Constitution and the New Jersey Constitution, which were valued as a gift in kind with no stipulated price. In other business, Tamara Freeman was promoted from 0.7 elementary school music teacher to full-time elementary school music teacher at the Hawes, Somverville, and Travell schools. Her salary was increased from $79,982 to $114,260, including longevity. Ernestina Gagliano was promoted from full-time to 1.1 home economics teacher at Ridgewood High School, and her salary was elevated from $65,485 to $72,334. Karen Mendez was promoted from full-time business education teacher at Ridgewood High School to 1.1 business education teacher with a salary increase from $64,150 to $70,535. The board of education also appointed Chris- tine Anderson as a 0.6-time mathematics teacher at Ridgewood High School at a salary of $34,5118 parttime, and Jonathan Schmarak as a 0.7-time elementary music teacher for the Ridge and Willard Schools at a part-time salary of $35,626. Elisa Karch was retained as a secretary to the middle school assistant principal of the Benjamin Franklin School at a salary of $35,050, and Adam Brunner was retained as a technology applications coordinator at Ridgewood High School at a salary of $42,000. The Ridgewood Village Council endorsed a volunteer cleanup of Gypsy Pond and Council Member Stephen Wellinghorst urged anyone who has free time on Oct. 2 to join the effort. “The folks who volunteer are doing a great job,” Wellinghorst told Ellie Gruber, the coordinator of the cleanup organized by the Ridgewood Wildscape Association. “Anybody who can get out there is invited.” Gruber said that adequate parking would be provided for the cleanup of the pond in the Lincoln Avenue area of Ridgewood. The hours will be from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Council endorses volunteers’ cleanup on Oct. 2. Groups that have volunteered for the cleanup include the Ridgewood Wildscape Association, the Ridgewood Environmental Advisory Committee, Ridgewood AM Rotary, St. Elizabeth’s Church, United Methodist Church, Upper Ridgewood Community Church, Temple Israel, the Unitarian Society, the Muslim Society, and Arya Samaj Society. Individual or group volunteers are also welcome to turn out and help clean the pond and its vicinity. J. KOSTER The Woman’s Club of Ridgewood will host its Seventh Annual Charity Beefsteak Dinner on Saturday, Oct. 1 at 6:30 p.m. at the clubhouse, 215 West Ridgewood Avenue in Ridgewood. The evening will feature a cocktail hour, dinner, dessert, and beverages. Entertainment will be provided by a DJ, who will feature music from the ‘50s. There will be a prize basket fundraiser and a cash prize contest. Proceeds will benefit Several Sources Club plans Charity Beefsteak Dinner Shelters based in Ramsey. The $55 per person cost includes a $20 tax deductible donation. For reservations, send a check made out to the Woman’s Club of Ridgewood to: The Woman’s Club of Ridgewood, 215 West Ridgewood Avenue, Ridgewood, NJ 07450 by Sept. 24. For more information, call Andrea Falco at (201) 5890926 or visit www.ridgewoodwomansclub.com.