Page 10 THE VILLADOM TIMES II • May 1, 2013 Ridgewood REF gives $110,000 for RHS Learning Commons by John Koster The Ridgewood Education Foundation headed the list of donors at the April 22 Ridgewood Board of Education meeting with a gift of $110,000 for the Ridgewood High School Learning Commons. Founded to enhance public education without additional burden on the local taxpayers, the Ridgewood Education Foundation makes substantial donations to programs within the school system. Board members have repeatedly praised the group for making many programs possible. The second largest donation was $4,000 from ETS Testing Program to pay Advanced Placement conference expenses for two teachers from Ridgewood High School. A cooperative effort included a gift in kind of labor and planting from Tyler Reynolds with donated plants valued at $1,000 with funds from the Somerville Home and School Association and materials valued at $500 from Kuiken Brothers to create a garden for the Somerville School. A separate gift of $960 from Somerville Dads’ Night covered the purchase of ropes for the school gymnasium. The Ridgewood Parents Music & Arts Encore Rewards Program donated two 20inch cymbals valued at $110 each to be used in music programs at the Ridge and Willard schools. The Ridgewood High School Association put up $285 to pay for referees for the Ridgewood High School volleyball program. The Orchard PEP Club donated $252 to pay the club advisor. Willard High School donated $250 for the 2013 Teacher Recognition Program. The Korean Parents Association donated $200 to pay for books at the Hawes School library. An 18-year-old man was arrested after he reportedly triggered a smoke alarm in his family’s garage attic by smoking marijuana. On April 18, Patrolman Steven Shortway responded to a North Monroe Street residence on the report of a fire alarm. The Ridgewood Fire Department also turned out in response to the fire alarm and determined that the alarm had been set off by smoke in the detached garage attic. Partially burned marijuana cigarettes were observed in the attic area near the alarm. Patrolman Shortway arrested an 18-year-old male and charged him with possession of marijuana. The man was released pending an appear- Smoke alarm leads to arrest ance in Ridgewood Municipal Court. On April 19, patrol responded to a report of numerous broken store windows on Godwin Avenue and Wilsey Square. The police are investigating. The same day, a Hamilton Road resident reported that she had left home for a short time and when she returned, she found that money was missing from her wallet. On April 21, a 30-year-old Fair Lawn woman was pulled over during a motor vehicle stop on South Broad Street and was found to be the subject of an outstanding warrant issued in Elmwood Park. She was turned over to the Elmwood Park police when she was unable to post bail. Two fine after crash The driver and passenger of a four-door Mitsubishi sedan escaped serious injury during a recent crash in Ridgewood. The Mitsubishi jumped a curb, knocked down a streetlamp, then mounted a retaining wall on Garber Square near Library Place. Both occupants were safely removed from the vehicle and attended to by members of the Ridgewood Volunteer Ambulance Corps and EMTs from the Ridgewood Fire Department. Fire department personnel also attended to a minor fluid spill. Crews from PSE&G were called to attend to the demolished streetlamp and exposed electrical wires. The accident was investigated by Ridgewood Police Department Patrol Officer Paul Dinice. A tow truck removed the Mitsubishi from the scene. (Photo courtesy of Boyd A. Loving.)