Page 8 THE VILLADOM TIMES II • February 29, 2012 Ridgewood Village student has story published in ‘Highlights’ by John Koster Ridgewood’s Travell School now has a published author among its students. Claire Harris, a fourth grader at Travell, just celebrated the publication of her story, “Spy Cat,” in “Highlights” magazine. “Spy Cat” was inspired by the young author’s own cat. “She is a remarkably poised young lady, and everyone at the board of education was very impressed by her,” Travell School Principal Margy Leininger said after Harris appeared at the most recent meeting of the Ridgewood Board of Education. “It’s been a great experience for her,” said her mother, Kathleen Harris, last week. “Highlights” is an international children’s magazine that features stories for children. Some of those stories are also written by children. “Highlights” encourages children to practice good man- The Ridgewood Village Council is awaiting input from Council Member Bernadette Walsh on whether to set aside Heermance Place, a short municipal road adjacent to Ridgewood High School, as a small parking area that would be restricted to school staff members. At least one resident has asked the council not do carry out that concept. Boyd Loving said last week that he opposed the idea of using a designated Ridgewood street as a parking zone for teachers only. Loving pointed out that the council had not acted on a private business person’s recent request for stricter enforcement under Ridgewood’s Title 39 ordinance on a lot already posted as a tow-away zone. “This is also a matter that the council should not get involved in,” Loving told the council. “Heermance Place is a public thoroughfare. You may not only be impacting the students; you may be impacting other people. It should be first come, first served.” Heermance Place eyed as ‘lot’ for high school staff members Dr. Daniel Fishbein, Ridgewoood’s superintendent of schools, appeared at the work session to explain that teacher and staff parking in the main parking lot at Ridgewood High School is not adequate for the number of teachers, secretaries, and administrators who work at the school. The school provides 195 parking spaces, but has a total of 216 adult staff members who need to park nearby. The Heermance Place initiative could solve most of the problem, and teacher or staff absences would solve the remainder. Loving, however, said that students or commuters who took the time to show up early and grab a space on Heermance Place should have that right, since the road is village property. The council members present said they wanted to hear from Walsh before making even an informal decision. The change, if approved, would have to be implemented by an ordinance introduced, advertised, and voted by the Ridgewood Village Council at a public meeting. J. KOSTER Claire Harris ners, and to read voluntarily by offering stories geared to children of the elementary school level with basic lessons in science, history, and culture.