December 8, 2010 THE VILLADOM TIMES I • Page 25 Wyckoff Wanderings Last leaf pickup scheduled The Wyckoff Department of Public Works has begun the fourth and final township-wide leaf collection. Residents who have not raked their leaves to the curb before the last pass in their district may save their leaves for next spring’s curbside leaf collection or bring the leaves to the conservation/ recycling center on West Main Street. The conservation center is open Monday through Saturday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Residents may deposit leaves, branches, and brush. Leaf mulch is also available at the center during these hours. Candlelight Concert set Grace United Methodist Church, located at 555 Russell Avenue in Wyckoff, has scheduled its annual Christmas Candlelight Concert for Sunday, Dec. 12 at 4 p.m. in the church sanctuary. The concert will be under the direction of Alan Newman of Upper Saddle River, church organist and director of music. The five combined choirs of Grace UMC will perform the music of the season by candlelight. Also featured will be harpist Mary Elizabeth Young and guest soloist on piano, Marianne Sellers. A harp prelude will begin at 3:45 p.m. followed by a processional at 4 p.m. The concert will also have a hymn sing featuring favorite seasonal carols accompanied by both the harp and the 1880 Roosevelt pipe organ. Refreshments will follow in the church fellowship hall. A free-will offering will be taken during the concert. People in nearby communities are invited to share this seasonal concert with the members and friends of Grace Church. For additional information, call (201) 891-4595. Register for travel softball teams The Wyckoff Recreation and Parks Department is currently holding registration for its select traveling softball teams. All girls ages nine through 14 as of Jan. 1, 2011 who wish to try out for one of the traveling teams must register at the recreation office by Dec. 31 between the hours of 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. Registration is open to Wyckoff residents only. Teams will be formed at the U10, U12, and U14 levels. A copy of the registrant’s birth certificate is required when registering. Only those players who register by Dec. 31 will be contacted regarding tryout dates. The summer travel softball program begins practicing in late April/early May and will play games from mid-June through July. For more information, call the recre- ation office at (201) 891-3350. Travel baseball team registration underway Travel baseball team registration is underway at the Wyckoff Recreation and Parks Department office. Registrations will be accepted through Dec. 31. Wyckoff boys, ages seven through 14 as of May 1, 2011, who wish to try out for the select traveling teams must register at the recreation office by Dec. 31. Tryouts for the 9U, 10U, 11U, and 12U teams, and possibly 13U and 14U teams will be held in late January for those who registered by Dec. 31. As always, the recreation department will look to carry two baseball teams at the 8U through 13U levels. This means that approximately 24 to 30 boys at each age level will be given the opportunity to play travel baseball next summer, instead of the typical 12 to 15. The travel baseball season runs from mid- to late March through the end of July/ early August. Practices are held on weeknights and weekends in the late afternoon or early evening. Games may be held any night of the week. Attendance at all practices and games is mandatory. Registration is open to Wyckoff residents only. A copy of the registrant’s birth certificate is required when registering. For more information, call (201) 891-3350. Dickens ‘n Dinner coming up Wyckoff Reformed Church will host Dickens ‘n Dinner on Sunday, Dec. 12 at 6 p.m. at Heneveld Hall. Readers will assume roles of the characters from “A Christmas Carol.” Dinner and dessert are included. Tickets are $15 per person and may be purchased by calling the church office at (201) 891-1782. The public is invited to this event. Rev. David Bach will hold informal grief groups for those facing the holiday season without a loved one. The groups will meet on Thursday, Dec. 9, 16, and 23 at 10 a.m. or 7:30 p.m. in the conference room. No registration is required. All are invited to attend. Covenant Sunday will be held on Dec. 12. White gifts will be presented at this service. Wyckoff Reformed Church is located at 580 Wyckoff Avenue. Tree Sale underway The Wyckoff Lions Club’s annual Christmas Tree Sale at the Getty Gasoline Station/Car Wash across from Boulder Run on Franklin Avenue is underway. New this year will be custom made wreaths. Tree choices will include Frazier fir, balsam, and Douglas fir. Hours will be Monday through Friday from 5 to 9 p.m. and Saturdays and Sundays form 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Park Windmill Annual Cookie Walk set The Midland Park United Methodist Church’s Fifth Annual Cookie Walk will be held on Saturday, Dec. 11 at 9 a.m. Festive treats may be purchased by the pound. Choose from a wide selection of homebaked goods. The church is located at 269 Godwin Avenue, Midland Park. For more information, call (201) 445-3787. Library board plans meeting The Midland Park Library Board of Trustees will meet on Dec. 15. The board meets at 7:30 p.m. at the library, 250 Godwin Avenue, Midland Park. Poinsettias available for pickup Those who pre-ordered poinsettias and holiday plants from the PAPs organization will be able to pick up their purchases Dec. 9 in the Midland Park High School cafeteria from 3:15 to 5 p.m. Harlem Wizards to face local players Midland Park Basketball Association will host The Harlem Wizards Basketball Entertainment Team at Midland Park High School on Jan. 23 at 1 p.m. The team will offer a show of basketball talent and comedy when they take on a team made up of Midland Park players. Anyone interested in playing on the Midland Park team (adults and high school juniors and seniors only) may contact Michele-Lee Shapiro at mlandss@aol.com. Tickets to the show will be available soon. Firemen host Breakfast with Santa The Midland Park Volunteer Fire Department will host its annual Pancake Breakfast with Santa on Saturday, Dec. 11 from 8 to 11 a.m. at the firehouse on Witte Drive. Pancakes, sausage, coffee, and juice will be served. Tickets are $4 per adult and $2 for children ages two through 12. Children under age two will be admitted free of charge. All children will receive a souvenir photo and small gift. Baseball association cancels meeting The Midland Park Baseball Association has canceled its Dec. 8 meeting. Sessions will resume in the New Year. For more information, call (201) 652-2747. Lions hold restaurant fundraiser The Midland Park Lions Club will sponsor a “coupon night” at Rosario’s Trattoria, 29 Central Avenue in Midland Park, on Tuesday, Dec. 7 from 11:30 a.m. through 9 p.m. Rosario’s will donate 20 percent of each bill, excluding tax and gratuity, to the Midland Park Lions Club in support of the group’s charitable works. Those who dine in must present the coupons to the server. Those who order takeout must present the coupons to the cashier. For coupons or further information, contact Lion Jack Romano at (201) 444-8601. Coupons are also available at the Midland Park Library. Board of education to meet The Midland Park Board of Education will meet Dec. 7 at 8 p.m. in the August C. DePreker Media Center at Highland School. of God on Saturday, Dec. 11 at 7 p.m. Christmas Tree Sale to begin The Midland Park United Methodist Church is holding its annual Christmas Tree Sale. The sale will be held at the church property at 269 Godwin Avenue. Superintendent (continued from page 19) The superintendent said she is working on school-based professional development to better focus on the needs of each individual school. She is also integrating the sixthgrade staff, which is housed at Highland School, with the seventh and eighth grade teachers to foster greater articulation among the middle school grades. She pointed out that in the state’s assessment reports, the three grades are grouped together. Dr. Cirasella said she also stays abreast of the best educational research to see what can help with Midland Park’s needs. “Even if we can’t afford it; we can pull parts out and make headway in our practices. Sometimes you don’t need the whole program; we just take what is best for our community,” she pointed out. Curriculum review and upgrade will be an important task in the months ahead, she stressed. She said her four-year contract gives her time to develop programs and see results. “It gives me time here to work. It’s not hit and run. It’s enough time to see plans bear fruit.” Dr. Cirasella said she welcomes parents to stop in to see her when they have a concern so that together they can work towards a solution. “All must feel progress has been made,” she said. In the five months she’s been in Midland Park, Dr. Cirasella said she has enjoyed getting to know the town and to better understand its residents. She has been attending school and town functions and stopping Market Your Business Through The Villadom TIMES TIMES! ● Newspaper ● Internet ● Fliers & Inserts The Villadom TIMES is 100% mailed to 12 north west Bergen County towns with a total circulation of 56,300, and now you get the exposure of thousands of additional readers online! ADVERTISE 201-652-0744 Independently Owned & Operated for Over 20 Years YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD NEWSPAPER www.villadom.com