Page 10 THE VILLADOM TIMES II • September 4, 2013 Ridgewood Doctor uses musical gift to soothe the soul In general, music is a form of entertainment. Some- times, however, its effects reach beyond mere enjoyment. Music is now being employed to reduce stress, lift spirits, and soothe the body and soul. According to researchers at Ohio University, one third of ICU patients taking part in a recent medical study saw a reduction in anxiety after listening to music. Area residents will have an opportunity to experi- ence soothing music when New Jersey physician Alfredo Festa treats the public to a classical guitar concert with vocal and instrumental accompaniment on Friday, Sept. 13. The 7 p.m. concert will be held at Our Lady of Mount Carmel R.C. Church at 1 Passaic Street in Ridgewood. The theme for this free concert is “An Evening to Cel- ebrate Music.” “I believe that the blend between medicine and music has been an invaluable gift throughout my whole life,” said the otolaryngologist. A native of Argentina, Festa began studying music and classical guitar when he was 12 years old. A prac- ticing physician in New Jersey since 1980, the Bergen County resident received his medical degree from Uni- versity of Buenos Aries in 1962 and continued training in otolaryngology in Pittsburgh and at the University of Cleveland. Festa studied with Consuelo Mallo Lopez and com- pleted five years of master’s courses in New York under Jorge Caballero and Jorge Morel. Combining medicine with music, Dr. Festa has per- formed at many universities in Argentina and at churches in northern New Jersey. His Sept. 13 program will include works by Anto- nio Vivaldi, Hector Villalobos, Juan Del Encina, and Francisco Tarrega. Performing with him will be Lauren Mary Longo, Ph.D., Celtic harp; Pio Clavijo, piano and recorder; Marisa Paulino, soprano; John Zuluaga and Martin Castro, percussion; Erik Noriega, recorder; and Ingrid Noriega and Crystal Santos, flute. Schools accept gifts for coming year The Ridgewood Board of Education has received gifts valued at approximately $25,000 for the coming school year. The Somerville Home and School Association gave that school $6,500 to be used to fund teachers’ stipends for co-curricular clubs and another $6,701, including $5,401 for the school library and $1,300 for repairs to the library wall. The Hawes Home and School Association gave that school a gift in kind of $3,000 for painting the outside poles and the main office. The Ridgewood Education Foundation gave $3,000 for the Ridgewood High School Teen Leads Program, and the Ridgewood High School Band Parent Associa- tion gave the school $1,399 to pay the nurse chaperone for the band camp. The Ridgewood Japanese Association gave the school system $1,000 to be used to upgrade the sound system in the board room. J. KOSTER The final round of tryouts for the Ridgewood YMCA Breakers competitive swim team will take place Sept. 4, 5, and 8 at the Ridgewood YMCA. Swimmers ages six through 18 are invited to try out for the upcoming season, which will run from mid-September through March. The Breakers team encompasses all ability levels, pro- viding youths the opportunity to acquire skills, self-disci- pline, confidence, and physical conditioning. Instruction, training, and competition are provided. For additional details and a full tryout schedule, visit www.ridgewoodymca.org/breakers or contact YMCA Swim Team Coach Bud Rimbault, at (201) 444-5600 exten- sion, 319 or e-mail brimbault@ridgewoodymca.org. The Y is located at 112 Oak Street in Ridgewood. Final Breakers tryouts announced