Week in Review: Sports, Schools, Fireworks!

School may not start until Tuesday, but the fall athletes have already been back at Ramapo and Indian Hills high schools, saying goodbye to their summer vacations with some sweat and hard work.

This past week we took a look at the Indian Hills football team, which sees a bright future after several losing seasons. With a new coach at the helm, the Braves are excited to get back on the winning track. While the boys work to contend on the gridiron, the girls who make up the Braves' tennis squad are looking to improve on their successful 2009 campaign, which saw them reach the state sectional semifinals.

Over at Ramapo, the cross country team returns several standouts who made their mark on the state level last year, while the soccer team looks to continue its reign as one of the best teams in the region.

We'll bring you more previews this week as the schools' kick off their seasons.

Other items of note this week:

• Gloria Johnson checked out some of the local shops to see how parents were faring on the oft-dreaded back-to-school shopping experience.
• An allegedly impaired driver drove into a utility pole on Franklin Avenue, necessitating Orange and Rockland Electric's response to ensure uninterrupted service.
• We spoke with former students and parents who are resisting the regional Board of Education's proposal to open up three of six University Programs to all students as an elective. Expect discussion to continue when the board meets next Monday, Sept. 13, at 8 p.m. at Indian Hills.
• New York Giants great Leonard Marshall stopped by Bookends in Ridgewood to promote his new book as well as talk about life after football.
• We spoke with Wyckoff resident Thomas Ela, who joined many others in marking the anniversary of Hurricane Katrina by volunteering to help build homes in the Gulf region.
• We spoke with former students at the Irine Fokine Ballet Studio who came to say their goodbyes as the Ridgewood institution closed shop.
• The township announced that it will partner with a nonprofit, Project Porchlight, to distribute energy-efficient lightbulbs to residents. Volunteers are needed!
• We spoke with Hank Bitten, an Indian Hills High School instructor, who will be leading the charge locally to implement a federal grant that will fund continuing education for history teachers.
• Although Hurricane Earl was merely a tease in northern Jersey, the local utility companies planned accordingly, sharpening their response plans in case rains had knocked out service to customers.
• Speaking of storms that never came, we profiled Mack Bailey and Rachel Levy, who had been scheduled to play a concert Friday at Spring Lake. The folk duo hope to get to Wyckoff in the near future.
• Columnist Allison Witkowski told us that now is indeed a good time to buy a home, due to continued low interest rates.
• Columnist Gloria Johnson returned to the subject of high fructose corn syrup, which some researchers suggest actually helps foster the growth of cancer cells.
• We ended the week with many of you, taking in the concert and fireworks at the municipal complex Saturday night. If you missed the great show, check out a video from Nilsa De La Cruz.

Good luck to the Ramapo, Indian Hills and Wyckoff students who will be returning to school Tuesday! As always, if you have a story idea or just want to chat, call me at 201-208-3349 or write nick@patch.com.