July 18, 2012 THE VILLADOM TIMES II • Page 15 Ridgewood Troop 5 recognizes three newest Eagle Scouts Adam Bronfin, Chris Autera, and Michael Orlando. Boy Scout Troop 5 of Ridgewood recently announced that Chris Autera, Adam Bronfin, and Michael Orlando have achieved the prestigious rank of Eagle Scout. A Court of Honor was held last month at the First Presbyterian Church. A large group of friends, family and local dignitaries attended the ceremony. Autera is a senior at Ridgewood High School. He is the son of Michael and Tracy Autera. He joined Cub Scouts in 2002 and Boy Scouts in 2007. Autera has held various positions in Troop 5, such as patrol leader, quartermaster, and senior patrol leader. For his Eagle project, he helped renovate the basement of Upper Ridgewood Community Church after Hurricane Irene by painting sections of the basement and constructing a play structure for the church’s nursery. This project involved 34 volunteers and over 190 hours of work. Bronfin is a senior at Bergen County Academies. He is the son of Kenneth and Sarina Bronfin. He joined the Cub Scouts in 2002 and bridged to Boy Scouts in 2007. Bronfin as served as troop guide and as special projects coordinator. His service project included a significant effort to clean up, install plantings, and spread mulch in and around the amphitheater at the Orchard School. More than 20 volunteers worked over 150 hours to complete this project. Orlando, who is also a student at Ridgewood High School, is the son of Rocco and Kathy Orlando. He began his Scouting career in 2002 with the Cub Scouts and joined Boy Scouts in 2007. Orlando’s leadership positions have included den chief, troop guide, scribe, quartermaster, assistant senior patrol leader, and senior patrol leader. His service project involved the redevelopment and expansion of the circular patio in front of the high school adjacent to Heermance Place. This project, which took more than 245 hours, involved the expansion of landscape areas, and the addition of trees, shrubs, and plants. Bench seating was installed around the patio area. In order to earn the Eagle Scout rank, the highest advancement rank in Boy Scouting, a candidate must fulfill requirements in the areas of leadership, service, and outdoor skills. Candidates must each earn a minimum of 21 merit badges, which signify the mastery of certain skills. Twelve of the 21 merit badges are required, including those demonstrating mastery of first aid; local, national, and world citizenship; environmental science, personal fitness, personal management, camping, and family life. The Eagle Scout achievement carries special significance, not only in Scouting but also as a young man enters higher education, business or industry, and community service. The award is a performance-based achievement, with standards that have been well maintained over the years. Fewer than four percent of all Boy Scouts become Eagle Scouts. Troop 5 is one of the area’s oldest continually operating youth organizations, and has been serving the Ridgewood community since 1925. The group meets throughout the year on Monday nights at First Presbyterian Church. Reorganized village council (continued from page 7) leaves this autumn. In June, Ridgewood employees had proposed that mandatory use of biodegradable bags would prevent leaves from spilling out over sidewalks and would help reduce collection time. Residents said that the cost of buying biodegradable bags for the leaves, or extra money paid to hired landscapers, would be an undue burden on residents already experiencing tough economic times. Both the new and the prior council members concurred that the proposal would lead to more problems than it would solve. “We know the system is broken, but this is not the way to fix it,” one public official said after the meeting. Mayor Aronsohn suggested that the Ridgewood public officials try to come up with a solution that did not involve leaf-bagging by homeowners. The council also voted to save some hypothetical money by a substantive vote. Faced with the possible threat to withdraw $195,000 from Ridgewood’s coffers for affordable housing if Ridgewood did not act by July 17, the Ridgewood Council -- following an initiative by the Ridgewood Planning Board -- voted to dedicate the $195,000 to the local Habitat for Humanity program. Pucciarelli, a planning board delegate and former board vice chairman, pointed out that no specific target houses were designated by the resolution the council unanimously adopted, and that there was an aspect of uncertainty about the entire proceeding. However, he and the entire council voted to dedicate the $195,000 and keep it for Ridgewood. Habitat for Humanity is an international group with local chapters that encourages volunteers to donate time and expertise to help build or rebuild housing for people with financial constraints, sometimes with the help of the future residents.