Page 10 THE VILLADOM TIMES IV • January 13, 2010 Area 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. Buonforte honored for decade of service Ramsey resident Jeffrey J. Buonforte, executive vice president of the government banking/financial services division at Lakeland Bank has been honored for 10 years of service. Buonforte joined Lakeland Bank in 1999 as executive vice president of retail banking and is now responsible for the government banking, wealth management, cash management, and business development departments. He began his career as a teller for National Community Bank and spent 25 years with NCB and its successor, Bank of New York. As senior vice president, he was responsible for managing the bank’s Southern Bergen and Hudson county regions. He was also director of sales and marketing for Computerland Stores in Secaucus, and was an account executive for Merrill Lynch in Paramus. Buonforte received his bachelor’s degree, magna cum laude, in economics and accounting from Nichols College and is an honors graduate of the Stonier Graduate School of Banking. He resides in Ramsey with his wife, Jennifer, and has two grown sons. Home energy audits available to area residents Steve Tesoriero, president of Renewable Resource Systems in Ramsey urges area homeowners to schedule a home energy audit. “With the New Year just starting, and with a colder than usual winter being forecast, getting a home energy audit for your home is a great way to start the next decade,” Tesoriero said. He noted that there has never been a better time to do so. “Take advantage of financial incentives the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities has in place for you to save money on energy expenses. The BPU designed a three-step process to get you started and have offset the costs dramatically.” According to Tesoriero, all measures are subsidized. Homeowners benefit from free work from a certified insulation crew for fixing air leaks and drafts, potential rebates of up to $10,000 for making upgrades to a home’s insulation, furnace or boiler, and many other energy saving measures. Learn more by visiting the state’s website www.NJCleanenergy.com. To schedule a home audit, phone Renewable Resource Systems at (201) 452-6457, e-mail stevet@renewableRS.com, or visit http://renewableRS.com. Renewable Resource Systems is based at 20 Scenic Court, Ramsey. ��������������� � �������� The Friends of West Bergen Present Featuring West Bergen’s own Matt Liebman Comedy Night ����������������������������������������� ���������������������������������������������� ���������������������� �������������������������������������������� ���������������������������������������������� ����������������� ����������������� ��������������� Hors d’oeuvres will be served BYOB ��������������������������� ����������������� ��������������������� ��������������������������� ��������������������������� �������������� �������������� �����������������