October 27, 2010 THE VILLADOM TIMES I • Page 19 Franklin Lakes Scribe Church hosts ‘Talents & Treasures’ The Presbyterian Church at Franklin Lakes, located at 730 Franklin Lake Road, will host the annual Talents & Treasures auction throughout the month of November. View the offerings Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Restaurant gift certificates, Christmas and holiday items, original artwork, and jewelry will be among the items offered. The auction proceeds will support the many ministries and missions of the church. Call (201) 891-0511 for information. Learn to navigate the Internet This November, the Franklin Lakes Library will offer two computer classes. Learn about the auction website, eBay on Thursday, Nov. 18 from 7 to 8 p.m. Learn how to create an account, how to bid and sell, and search tips to find the items you want. Participants must be able to navigate online and must have intermediate computer skills to make full use of this class. “Fun Computer Sites on the Internet” will be held Nov. 24 from 11 a.m. to noon. Learn hands-on about sites that provide free alternatives to pay software, sites to protect and maintain computers, sites to promote life-long learning, and even a few sites to simply put a smile on your face. Participants must be able to navigate online and must have intermediate computer skills to make full use of this class. Registration for Franklin Lakes residents will begin Nov. 1. Non-residents will be placed on a waiting list. Call the adult reference desk at (201) 891-2224 to sign up or for more information. The library is located at 470 DeKorte Drive. Preschool offers new programs First Step Preschool is still accepting children to its programs for two-and-a-half to five-year-olds. For 15 years, First Step has offered small classes with a focus on academic curriculum. Karate, Spanish, kindergarten enrichment, and afternoon sessions in cooking and art are also available. For more information, visit firststeppreschoolnj.com or contact Director Nina Daly at (201) 8478198. The school is located at 454 Pulis Avenue, Franklin Lakes. Learn about solar power “Understanding Solar Power” will be offered at the Franklin Lakes Public Library, 470 DeKorte Drive, on Tuesday, Nov. 9 at 7 p.m. Topics to be covered will include current solar electric technology, the environment, and the economic and health benefits of using renewable energy. The program will address financial incentives available through state and federal programs. A question and answer period will follow. All are welcome. For more information, call (201) 891-2224. Raise children who love to read Diane W. Frankenstein, award-winning author of “Reading Together: Everything You Need to Know to Raise a Child Who Loves to Read,” will be at Barnert Temple, 747 Route 208 in Franklin Lakes, on Wednesday, Oct. 27 from 7 to 9 p.m. She will present useful tips for parents to use to encourage children to become lifelong readers. Frankenstein has worked as an educational consultant in children’s and adolescent literature since 1989. Her book has won Gold Mom’s Choice Award®. Copies of her book will be available for purchase and signing during the visit. The public is invited to attend this free presentation. For more information, contact Anette McGarity at (201) 666-6610. This event is sponsored by The PJ Library® and Kehillah Partnership through a grant from The Russell Berrie Foundation. Adult Writers Group seeks new members The Adult Writers Group of Franklin Lakes Public Library is open to those who wish to share their writing with others who write, and network for publishing ideas and writing methods. The group will meet on Oct. 27, Nov. 23, and Dec. 22 from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at the library, 470 DeKorte Drive. New members are welcome. For more information, contact Ron Rizio at ronrizio@yahoo. com. Flu and pneumonia vaccines available The Valley Hospital Department of Community Health and the Franklin Lakes Board of Health will offer flu and pneumonia vaccines Nov. 3 from 10 a.m. to noon at the Franklin Lakes Recreation Center at 1 Vichiconti Way. All residents who are at least 65 years of age are eligible. Registration is required; call (201) 291-6090. Flu and pneumonia vaccines are covered by traditional Medicare Part B. Recipients must present their card at the time of service. Anyone with an HMO may choose to go to his or her primary care provider or choose to pay $27 for a flu vaccination. Pneumonia vaccines will be available for those who have never had a previous pneumonia vaccination. The cost is $35. Flu shots are encouraged for those aged 65 and over and those with chronic illnesses. Chef to discuss holiday entertaining Chef Maria Liberati will offer a food demonstration and sign her new book, “The Basic Art of Italian Cooking: Holidays and Special Occasions,” on Tuesday, Nov. 2 at 7 p.m. in the Franklin Lakes Public Library. All are welcome to this free event. The library is located at 470 DeKorte Drive. Council seats (continued from page 3) and meet the needs of our community, not the needs of commercial interests. I will also continue to support quality recreation programs for the entire community.” She said her experience on council, dedication to the borough, and willingness to give of her time qualify her for re-election. If elected, Lota said she would continue to be an unbiased representative of the community and would continue to work to resolve problems everyone is facing in this difficult economy. Pedone has been a borough resident for over 11 years. He is a retired president and CEO of Info Tech Systems, Inc., a medical technology and security company. He was also president and CEO of Pedone Associates, Inc., an executive search, compensation, and benefits company. Pedone was also a vice president of trading at a Wall Street firm and a security analyst responsible for oil and oil service industries. He is a past trustee of the Humanics Program at Pace University, past trustee of the Saint Joseph’s Hospital Foundation, former president of the parish council in the Diocese of Brooklyn, past president of the Franklin Lakes Republican Club, past president of the Boy Scouts of America, a member of the Knights of Columbus, and a member of the Bergen County Republican Committee. “I will bring to the Franklin Lakes Council a fresh new voice which will be an unbiased representative of all the residents,” Pedone said. “I have learned with my service as a volunteer that we need to talk to each other and listen. As a councilman, my goal is to ensure that every Franklin Lakes resident has municipal services and a high quality of life with the least tax burden. “My 25 years as a human resources expert with experience in executive search, compensation and benefits, contract negotiations, and organizational development will aid in my ability to effectively negotiate contracts with Franklin Lakes employees and this experience will help the council in job performance evaluations and in setting goals and objectives for the employees of Franklin Lakes.” Mokray, a resident of Franklin Lakes for 15 years, is a Harvard MBA who has expertise in accurately translating messages across boundaries, while implementing change at all levels of the organization. Her two children have come up through the school system and her community involvement has been focused on specific, supporting tasks such as the detailed pro bono analysis she did to define the work of the borough and how it can be done more efficiently. “My platform is about questions,” Mokray said, “since, if elected, one diver- gent councilperson will be consistently outvoted. I would be there to try to have healthy, open, balanced discussions. “Some of the questions I would ask are: Do you really want a council gone wild with its own sense of personal entitlement with no one looking out for you, no checks and balances? Why do we pay $156,000 for someone to manage 50-plus employees with two direct reports making $103,000 (CFO) and $118,000 (DPW) while the council develops job descriptions and work flows? “Also, did the council raise the tax 10 percent because they wanted a higher base when they could finally pretend to adhere to Governor Christie’s two percent tax increase cap? Why were there no furloughs or layoffs? And just why are we bringing back the police chief? Was this really the most economical solution? “I would also ask why was resident energy not used in relationship to the Rec/ Community Center instead of the Y taking over through a super-cheap back door? “Finally, why are there redundant administrative positions in small departments, and why do we need superintendents and assistant superintendents in the DPW and a town engineer instead of the high fees residents end up paying for an engineering firm?” Puertas said his motivation to seek a seat on the Franklin Lakes Council is his vocation to serve and to help others. “During the 15 years I have lived in Franklin Lakes, I’ve had the opportunity to observe the political in-fights within the same political party which has been in power for so long. It rarely was a fight of principles between the two traditional political parties but rather between the members of the Republican Party. In other words, the fights and exchange of insults were never on how to do a better job for the citizens of Franklin Lakes but rather who insults better or raises his voice the loudest.” In the process, Puertas said, many of the needs of the borough have been neglected and the perennial governing group has not advanced any new initiatives to improve the quality of life in the area. “On the contrary, many of the good ideas coming from our dedicated volunteers were often dismissed or paid no attention,” he said. Puertas said he is an alternative to “More of the Same,” and he will bring new ideas about how to conduct the business of the borough, the business of the people, and not “the capricious ideas of the few.” He added, “If elected, I will work hard to make sure that your tax monies are spent with care and a clear purpose and I will do my best to control waste and the expansion of the local government.” ���������������� ����������������� �����������������������������������������