Ridgewood March 28, 2012 THE VILLADOM TIMES II • Page 5 Donations to fund arts, music, and the appreciation of opera and stagecraft were among the lead items presented at the two most recent meetings of the Ridgewood Board of Education. The single biggest item on the list of donations was a gift of $4,912 for the music and arts departments from the Benjamin Franklin Middle School Home and School Association. The funds will be used for a lighting board for the school. The Metropolitan Opera Guild was the biggest outside donor to Ridgewood, with a $1,440 check to cover the pay of 16 substitute teachers for the George Washington Middle School. The regular teachers and their students toured the Metropolitan Opera and watched rehearsals at the Met at Lincoln Center. The Metropolitan Opera is renowned for its roster of international talent and for imaginative stagecraft of its productions. A $1,263 check came from the Ridgewood High School Class of 2014 to cover stipends for six chaperones for the Ridgewood High School semi-formal. School district to benefit from multiple donations The Ridgewood Education Foundation donated $1,300 to be used for the Willard School 100 Years Ago Grant. The BMW-North America/Evans Scholars Foundation gave Ridgewood High School two Callaway golf nets, six Callaway chipping nets, and two dozen Callaway practice balls valued at a total of $800. These items are for the Ridgewood High School Girls Golf Team. The Ridgewood High School TV Club gave Ridgewood High School DVDs and cassettes valued at $262 and a Sony microphone valued at $56. The George Washington Middle School Home and School Association, the Hawes Home and School Association, the Willard School Home and School Association, and the Learning Services Home and School Association each gave $250 for the 2012 Teacher Recognition Program. The Ridgewood High School football student activities fund donated an ink cartridge combo pack valued at $108 to be used to print flyers for the football team. The Benjamin Franklin Middle School RISe students donated $14 in Bake Sale proceeds. The funds will be used for Benjamin Franklin Middle School RISe field trips. J. KOSTER The Village of Ridgewood Open Space Committee has scheduled a series of public forums to discuss the development of the Schedler Property located at Route 17 North and West Saddle River Road in Ridgewood. Meetings are scheduled from 7:30 to 9 p.m. on Thursday, April 19 at Glen School, 865 East Glen Avenue; Wednesday, May 16 at Ridge School, 325 West Ridgewood Avenue; and Tuesday, May 29 at the Ridgewood Public Library, 125 North Maple Avenue. The purpose of the meetings is to gather community Series of public forums announced input regarding a development plan for the property and to gauge the level of interest in funding the development through private contributions. Each meeting will include a brief presentation by the Open Space Committee and an opportunity for interested residents to express their comments, ideas, and concerns. For further information, contact Director of Parks and Recreation Tim Cronin at tcronin@ridgewoodnj. net or (201) 670-5560.