Page 8 THE VILLADOM TIMES II • August 15, 2012 Ridgewood Residents may get insurance savings upon request by John Koster The Ridgewood Fire Department’s success in qualifying for a more advantageous fire insurance rating may enable individual residents to garner some savings on their homeowners’ policies -- but it’s a do-ityourself plan, according to former Deputy Mayor Thomas Riche. “Individual homeowners should contact their carriers to see if they can benefit from reduced fire insurance,” Councilman Riche said at last week’s Ridgewood Village Council meeting. Ridgewood Fire Chief James Van Goor recently advised the council that the department, with the support of Village Manager Ken Gabbert, had qualified for a prestigious Class 2 rating, which could theoretically benefit individual residents once the new status locks in this September. The rating is assigned by the Insurance Service Organization, which at this point recognizes only 10 communities in New Jersey with a Class 2 rating. Within the state, only Hoboken has a Class 1 rating. Ratings range from 1 to 10, with Class 1 being the highest possible rating. Ridgewood would become the eleventh community with a Class 2 rating. Councilman Riche said he had called his own insurance carrier and was told that reduced fire insurance rates were a possibility, but that individuals, rather than the municipality’s officials, should initiate contact with their own individual carriers. Mayor Paul Aronsohn thanked Riche for his effort and urged residents to check with their insurance carriers. The immediately benefit, Mayor Aronsohn said, was the peace of mind of knowing that Ridgewood has such a highly-rated fire department. The Ridgewood Village Council voted last week to accept $185,000 from New Jersey Transit for the remaining “punch list” of items to be completed on the refurbishment of the Ridgewood railroad station. The council agreed to the items and the amount by resolution. The items include an allowance for the repaving of the main station parking lot, replacement of plants in front of the Village to receive $185,000 to complete railroad station transformer, restoration of the roofs of two pedestrian kiosks, the repair or replacement of light fixtures in the station’s pedestrian tunnel, which has already been completed, and the reinstallation of parking meters. Construction crews that reported directly to NJ Transit have completed all the other work to the satisfaction of Ridgewood officials. The work has been carried out at NJT’s expense. J. KOSTER Alumni of Ridgewood’s annual Jamboree event are seeking to reconnect with past producers, directors, crew members, and actors. Contact Diane Loughlin at diane.loughlin@merck.com for more information. Since 1947, Jamboree has been raising millions of dollars to provide scholarships Jamboree alumni to reunite for hundreds of graduating Ridgewood High School seniors. The show is 100 percent voluntary, and over 120 parents and guardians of RHS students sing, dance, and act onstage or work as backstage heroes to put on this four-night show for the Village of Ridgewood and surrounding communities.