Waldwick August 4, 2010 THE VILLADOM TIMES III • Page 7 Organized in the spring of 1960, the Waldwick Pistol & Rifle Club is now celebrating 50 years of incorporation with the official congratulations of Waldwick Mayor Russell “Buddy” Litchult and the borough council. Mayor Litchult, a charter member of the organization, read a proclamation in the club’s honor at last week’s council meeting. The mayor reminisced that he and former Police Chief Daniel Lupo, who were borough patrolmen when the club was organized, won the first silver trophies for the fledgling club. Club President Michael Boland presented the mayor a resolution of appreciation from the club. Waldwick Pistol & Rifle Club turns 50 in style The club’s five-decade history began when police officer George H. Bunning Jr., Paul Leal, and Andrew Churchson held an organizational meeting at Leal’s Sport Shop (at the current location of Andrea’s Restaurant) on Prospect Street. The goal was to provide gun safety instruction, and recreational and competitive shooting opportunities. The club’s first meeting was held on July 11, 1960 at the pistol range on Pine Street, near the Allendale border. (Access is provided through Waldwick’s Borough Park.) Over 30 prospective members attended. The club’s three founding members were elected to the top posts, with Leal as (continued on page 21) Eight individuals, including five Waldwick residents, were recently arrested for various drug distribution and drug possession offenses, according to Bergen County Prosecutor John L. Molinelli. These arrests came about as a result of several undercover investigations conducted by members of the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Narcotic Task Force, under the direction of Chief Steven Cucciniello; the Waldwick Police Department, under the direction of Chief Mark Messner; the Fair Lawn Police Department, under the direction of Chief Erik Rose; and the Bergen County Sheriff’s Office, under the direction of Sheriff Leo McGuire. The arrests are the result of a four-month long operation which began when members of the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Narcotic Task Force received information indicating that the below listed individuals were distributing controlled dangerous substances in Waldwick and Fair Lawn. As a result of the information received, undercover detectives from the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Narcotic Task Force targeted and purchased controlled dangerous substances, including Marijuana, Oxycontin, and Roxicodone from these individu- Eight face drug charges als, who were subsequently charged. Fair Lawn residents Anthony Tomasso and Allen Khanchik were each charged with one count of distribution of a controlled dangerous substance (Roxicodone) and one count of distribution of that controlled dangerous substance within 500 feet of a park zone. Garfield resident Ian Patterson was charged with one count of distribution of a controlled dangerous substance, namely Roxicodone. Michael Occhipinti of Waldwick was charged with one count of distribution of a controlled dangerous substance, namely marijuana, in a quantity of one ounce or more but less than five pounds; one count of possession with the intent to distribute a controlled dangerous substance, namely cocaine, in a quantity of less than one-half ounce; one count of possession with the intent to distribute a controlled dangerous substance, namely marijuana, in a quantity of one ounce or more but less than five pounds; one count of possession with the intent to distribute a controlled dangerous substance, namely ecstasy, in a quantity of less than one-half ounce; and one count of (continued on page 15) Charter member Andrew Churchson displays the mayor and council’s resolution, as Councilman Don Sciolaro, former Police Chief Daniel Lupo and Mayor Russell ‘Buddy’ Litchult (from left) look on. GRAND OPENING SPECIAL $5.00 OFF ANY SERVICE ANY SERVICE with purchase of $20 of service or more Can not be combined with any other offer. Exp. 9/30/10 $30.00 OFF Can not be combined with any other offer. Exp. 9/30/10 LCN SET Reg. $90.00 with purchase of $50 of service or more Can not be combined with any other offer. Exp. 9/30/10 $10.00 OFF Can not be combined with any other offer. Exp. 9/30/10 with purchase of Pedicure FREE MANICURE FEATURING STATE-OF THE-ART EQUIPMENT 20 Chestnut St., Ridgewood, NJ 07450 • 201-670-6807 Hours: Mon.-Fri. 9:30am - 7:30pm • Sat. 9am - 6:30pm Borough reassessment (continued from page 5) The base contract with Appraisal Systems is $45,000. The company will also be paid for holding informal meetings with taxpayers at a rate of $60 per hour, performing Bergen County Board of Taxation work on the borough’s behalf at $75 per hour, and working with the New Jersey State Tax Court work at $100 per hour. Ho-Ho-Kus officials opted to undertake the reassessment due to the overall decline in real estate prices over the past five years. Mayor Thomas Randall recently told Villadom TIMES that the last revaluation, which was conducted in 2005, took place at the height of the real estate market. The drop in values since that time led the borough to consider a reassessment and the potential implications of tax appeals. While Appraisal Systems was conducting home inspections for the revaluation process in 2005, many houses throughout the country were selling for more than the asking price. By the end of 2005, the market had stabilized, and real estate prices have declined in the last five years. Unlike the more extensive revaluation process, which involves on-site inspections of most – if not all – borough properties, a reassessment can be carried out without inspections by using recent sales data. The New Jersey Division of Taxation evaluates three criteria in issuing revaluation orders: time, ratio, and coefficient. Time refers to whether a municipality has had a revaluation or a reassessment within the last 10 years. Prior to the 2005 revaluation, the borough had undergone a reassessment in the mid-1990s. Ratio refers to the difference between the sale price of a home and its market value. In most cases, the state is concerned with ratios of less than 85 percent, which indicate the housing market is too far ahead of the true value of a property. According to the state, coefficient, the difference between the average ratio and an Waldwick Chamber of Commerce 8-4-10 kathy/janine CozyNails3x3(8-4-10) 3 x 3” Waldwick Day Sunday, September 25 – 12-4 pm Borough Park (Raindate: Sunday, September 26) 7th Annual MERCHANT REGISTRATION DUE AUGUST 15, 2010 For Information, Call Kim Post, Chamber Secretary, 201-693-6734 Reservation Forms & Rules Available At: www.waldwickchamberofcommerce.com