Page 8 THE VILLADOM TIMES II • February 22, 2012 Ridgewood School officials report that the Ridgewood Board of Education will honor a unanimous resolution voted on Dec. 19 and will continue to hold school trustee elections and the budget vote in April rather than in November. Board members said they wanted the voters to have more of a say in the school election, and thought the board candidates might be lost in a general election. Districts that move their elections to November do not have to submit their budgets to the voters, as long as those spending plans are within the state-mandated cap, which is now set at two percent. The board had considered the initiative by Governor Chris Christie to change the school elections to coincide with the general election in November, but decided to keep the April elections for Ridgewood candidates and the vote on the school budget on the traditional date. This year, the school election will be on April 17. School officials noted that, with no Ridgewood Board of Education meeting scheduled before the Feb. 17 deadline to shift the election to fall, the December vote to retain the April school and budget elections was operative. The Board to retain April school election date Ridgewood board had gone on record against the concept of moving the school vote to coincide with the general election. Since the option to move the school trustee elections to November was signed into law in January, a number of other districts, including Glen Rock, Wyckoff, Northern Highlands, Allendale, Ho-Ho-Kus, Saddle River, Upper Saddle River, Waldwick, and Mahwah have decided to combine the school and general elections as a cost-cutting measure and to attract the largest possible turnout of voters. A one-day retreat with The Rev. Barbara Crafton, priest and author, will be held Feb. 25 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Christ Church, located at 105 Cottage Place in Ridgewood. Crafton will present “A Closer Walk with God,” and will explore the many kinds of spiritual practices available today. Attendees should bring a bag lunch. Beverages will be provided. A $20 donation is recommended. Register in the cloister or call (201) 652-2350. For more information, visit www.christchurchridgewood. Crafton to present retreat Girls State alumnae speak Four local women gave a presentation about their experiences at Girls State, a program in which participants get hands on experience about how the democratic process works. The speakers’ visit was sponsored by American Legion Post 53 (Ridgewood/Ho-Ho-Kus) and the American Legion Auxiliary of Post 57 (Waldwick). Pictured: Nancy Nielsen, president of the auxiliary; Emily Gurian (Waldwick); Jessica Giordano (Waldwick); Jocelyn Milch (Ridgewood); Lauren Tedeschi (Ridgewood); and Bob Paoli, commander, Post 53.