Area October 13, 2010 THE VILLADOM TIMES I • Page 7 The Midland Park Board of Recreation has decided not to pick up the fees associated with using the local schools’ basketball courts. The mayor and council had asked the board to weigh in on the matter following a request by the Midland Park Basketball Association to have the governing body absorb new gym-use charges. “I don’t think there was any other decision we could have made,” said Board of Recreation President Dave Lancaster. He explained that financial constraints prevent the board from making any additional financial commitments. Lancaster said the board will suggest to the basketball group to increase registration fees and/or scale back its program. The basketball association is self-supporting, as Board of Recreation won’t pay gymnasium fees are all the other recreational programs in town. Board of Education President Robert Schiffer reiterated the school board’s position that it cannot subsidize the recreational basketball program in light of its loss of $1.5 million in state aid. “We want to work this out. We want to help the kids, but we don’t have the money to pay the employees (to open the school for recreational basketball games). I expect the town to come up with something,” Schiffer said. He added that the board of education notified the basketball association and the town last spring that it would be charging the additional fees. Richard Formicola, the former president of the basketball association who is also a board of education member, estimated gym rental fees at Highland School and Midland Park High School will be $5,588 from the time the program starts in November until year’s end, and an additional $8,436 for January through March of 2011. Formicola said that the association cannot absorb the extra costs. Court availability is a major problem, according to Formicola, because there are no town-owned courts. The association uses the Highland School and high school’s gyms and courts in North Haledon for its games. The DePhillips Center and Godwin School are used for practices and clinics. Games are played seven days a week, from 6 to 8 p.m. on weekdays; Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Sundays from 12 to 8 p.m. since 1978 LANDSCAPE DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION, INC. Creative Landscape Lighting Seminar Community leaders William Brock, Jr. of Wyckoff and Patrick “Bud” O’Hagan of Midland Park were honored last week for their leadership and contributions to their respective communities and for their volunteer spirit. The event, held at the Brick House in Wyckoff, was sponsored jointly by the Wyckoff Republican League and the United Republican Club of Midland Park. Brock praised and thanked his family and his “Fire Brothers” for their support. O’Hagan thanked his wife, Janet, for keeping him on an even keel, among other remarks. Pictured above, from left, Wyckoff League President Bob Kane, who presented the award and Kathy Scarpelli, who made the introductory speech for Brock; Brock, O’Hagan, Midland Park Councilwoman Nancy Peet, who made the introductory speech for O’Hagan; and John Meeks, Midland Park Club president, who presented O’Hagan’s award. Seminar: Tuesday, Oct. 12th at 7pm (Rain Date - Thursday, October 14th) Located at Landscape Gallery and Gardens. Please call our office at (201) 891-1199 to register or email events@jacobsenlandscape.com. L ABarnstablePCourt, Saddle River •D201.825.4440 S N D S C A E G A L L E RY A N G A R D E N 11 www.jacobsenlandscape.com ESIGN CENTER 413 Godwin Avenue, Midland Park • 201.891.1199 D DO MORE BE MORE 10-13-10 pat/janine JacobsonLandscLighting2x5Color(10-13-10) 2 x 5” RIDGEWOOD YMCA Registration Opens October 25th Classes Begin November 1st RIDGEWOOD YMCA 112 OAK STREET RIDGEWOOD, NJ 07450 201 444 5600 WWW.RIDGEWOODYMCA.ORG