Area January 13, 2010 THE VILLADOM TIMES I • Page 19 West Bergen receives grant from Flutie Foundation Closing out its tenth anniversary, The Doug Flutie Jr. Foundation for Autism recently announced its 2009 grant recipients. Overall, the foundation will distribute a total of $378,766 to 29 non-profit organizations in Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, California, and Canada. West Bergen Mental Healthcare, located in Ridgewood, received a $18,388 grant that will support an Enhanced Counselor-in-Training (CIT) Program for teens with Asperger’s and High Functioning Autism. CITs will be recruited and provided with an intensive training program to teach them workplace skills and how to best interact with the campers, who are also affected with Asperger’s Syndrome or High Functioning Asperger’s. The Doug Flutie Jr. Foundation for Autism, Inc. was established in 1998 by former Patriots and Boston College Quarterback Doug Flutie and his wife, Laurie, in honor of their 18-year-old son, Doug Jr. who was diagnosed with autism at the age of three. Autism is a neurological disorder that impacts the normal development of the brain in the areas of social interaction and communication skills. Autism now affects one in 100 children in the United States, and the numbers diagnosed continue to dramatically climb. According to the U.S. Department of Education, autism is growing at a rate between 10 and 17 percent each year. The goals of the Flutie Foundation are to support families affected by Autism Spectrum Disorder. The foundation is also committed to increasing awareness of the challenges of living with autism and helping families find resources to help address those challenges. It provides individuals with autism and their families an opportunity to improve their quality of life by funding educational, therapeutic, recreational, and advocacy programs. Money raised comes from foundation sponsored fundraisers such as the Flutie Bowl to Strike Out Autism and the Golf Tournament in June. For more information on The Doug Flutie Jr. Foundation for Autism, please call Lisa Borges at (508) 270-8855 or Jamie Giller of EZG at (781) 449-3244, or visit www. flutiefoundation.org. Atlantic Stewardship among top banks Atlantic Stewardship Bank was recently listed among the Top 200 Community Banks ranked by US Banker Magazine. The banks and thrifts are ranked by threeyear average return on equity. The trade publication found that banks that resisted the temptation to boom during the fast growth years of the decade did not go bust during the real estate collapse and thus have become some of the industry’s best performers. “Atlantic Stewardship Bank is proud to be listed as one of the best performing community banks in the country by US Banker Magazine,” said Atlantic Stewardship Bank President and Chief Executive Officer Paul Van Ostenbridge. Atlantic Stewardship Bank, a subsidiary of Stewardship Financial Corporation, maintains banking locations in Midland Park, Montville, North Haledon, Pequannock, Ridgewood, Waldwick, Westwood, Wyckoff, Hawthorne, and Wayne. Established in 1985, Atlantic Stewardship Bank Stewardship Bank is a full-service community bank serving both individuals and businesses. The bank is a subsidiary of Stewardship Financial Corporation trading under the symbol SSFN. The bank’s website is www.asbnow.com. The Wyckoff Police Department and Crime Stoppers are offering a cash reward of up to $1,000 for information leading to the arrest of the suspect believed to be responsible for a pharmacy burglary at Miller’s Pharmacy on Wyckoff Avenue. The reward is being provided by Purdue Pharma Inc., a pharmaceutical company. Anyone with information about the suspect is asked to call the Crime Stoppers Hotline at (888)-479-8477. “It is important for people to know that all informa- Wyckoff PD offers cash for crime tips tion that we get is kept completely confidential,” said Chuck Kreimer, Crime Stoppers coordinator. “Callers never have to give their names or appear in court.” The theft took place Nov. 29, 2009 at about 7:40 p.m. A white male about 6-foot-2 and thought to be about 30 to 35 years old broke into the pharmacy. He wore a green fleece top, blue jeans, brown shoes, and a blue baseball hat, and took an undetermined amount of prescription medicines. J. KOSTER ��������������� � �������� ����������������������������������������� ���������������������������������������������� ���������������������� �������������������������������������������� ���������������������������������������������� ����������������� ����������������� The Friends of West Bergen Present Featuring West Bergen’s own Matt Liebman Comedy Night ��������������� ��������������������������� ����������������� ��������������������� Hors d’oeuvres will be served BYOB ��������������������������� ��������������������������� �������������� �������������� �����������������