Villadom Times Weekly Newpaper Online-April 20, 2011 Issue

Page 16 THE VILLADOM TIMES I • April 20, 2011 Emmanuel asks... Can You Help? Our hat’s off to nine-year old Emily S. from Wyckoff for making Easter baskets and bringing in toys for our kids. Thanks to Daisy Troop 4661 from Midland Park. This group of first graders came by for a tour: Kendall, Amanda, Julia, Abigail, Sophia, Haily, Gemma, Cadence, Victoria, Brielle, Ella, Allison, and Jessica. Special thanks to Brianne Verhoog and the Pioneer Girls of Faith Reformed Church in Midland Park and to the Ridgewood Technical Honor Society from Ridgewood High School for their Easter Baskets. A message from Laura Savage: I have been a case worker for ECF for 13 years, and have worked with many, many families. While most families express gratitude for the assistance ECF provides -- such as monthly grocery deliveries, birthday gifts, counseling, linking them to a useful resource, etc. -- you never really know the impact you have had on a family during your time counseling and 4-29-09 karen/janine advocating for them. This fact was just revealed to me at a recent meeting with a former ECF kid and his mom. At EmmanuelHelp2x.75(4-29-09) the time of diagnosis, the boy was just 15; he is now 27 and 3 x .75 is a fine, insightful young man. During our get-together, we talked about some of the issues of going through treatment, all the fears they faced, and living with residual side effects. Mom shared how much my help, total availability, accessibility, and support meant to them over the years. She called me “one of the angels in her life” who helped her get through the nightmare of having a child diagnosed with cancer. I left their home with my heart full of emotion and gratitude knowing that, in my role as an ECF case worker, I had truly made a difference in someone’s life and was still in their thoughts all these years later. Think about having a Mother’s Day Tea in our honor. Invite your family and friends and ask them to make a contribution to our program. We can even help supply the tea and goodies. Our next big event: We are pleased to announce the return of our popular fun-filled weekend event, the Fine Art & Crafts Show, with artwork, sculpture, jewelry, and all kinds of crafts. It will be held at its usual location, McBride Field on Franklin Lake Road (across from Market Basket), in Franklin Lakes, on Saturday and Sunday, May 14 and 15 from 10 to 5. Admission is free; however a $2 donation per person is suggested. Please call Mary Ellen Marra of Premiere Productions LLC at (201) 857-3930 for a vendor application. We are in need of gently used clothes in the following sizes: girls 5-7 and 10-12; boys 12-14. Many of our families also need new sheets (twin, full, and queen-size) and towels. We also need a few air conditioners: one with 8,000 or more BTUs and one with 10,000 BTUs. Please contact us before bringing them to our Midland Park office. Thank you. Please remember: We do not charge our families anything for our services. We rely on you. Approximately 70 cents from every dollar you donate goes towards direct care for our families. If your company has a charitable giving program, please let us know. We currently have 16 families receiving eight to 10 bags of food every month. Please help us fill our pantry with non-perishable food items. You can help in a variety of other ways. Turn your next event into a fundraiser, and collect checks or gift cards to donate to our families. Kids can get involved, too. Proceeds from Bake Sales, Yard Sales, and hot chocolate stands help our families. Is your Cub Scout or Girl Scout Troop looking to earn badges? This is a great way to get creative and have fun while learning about philanthropy. Come visit us in Midland Park. If you have a few hours to spare, consider becoming a volunteer or just stop by and meet with us, take a look at our pantry, and see what ECF is all about. Volunteers are welcome to assist on Wednesday and Friday from 1 to 4 p.m. Call us at (201) 612-8118 before you stop by. Please do not leave items at the center without checking with us first. Our storage space is limited. The Northern Regional Center is located at 174 Paterson Avenue, Midland Park, NJ 07432. Visit us online at: www.emmanuelcancer.org. As always, thank you for helping the children and their families! Papapietro, also a lifelong borough resident, is seeking election to a second term. He is chairman of the council’s finance committee and previously served several years on the Zoning Board of Adjustment. He is a member of the Midland Park Lions Club, a CERT member, a volunteer with Emmanuel Cancer Foundation, and treasurer of the Midland Park United Republican Club. He has spent more than 30 years in the institutional trust and custody financial services business as a vice president working for Bankers Trust Co, Deutsche Bank and Bank of NY. Currently he is employed by the Joint Industry Board of the Electrical Industry as assistant director for trust and custody and investments. The primary election is set for Tuesday, June 7. On the advise of the borough attorney, the mayor and council made no comments about Dent’s position, which is a personnel matter. Mayor Joseph Monahan said that the governing body was “trying to make the best of a difficult situation and maintaining continuity.” He said that the proposed municipal budget still includes the full-time salary amount, and that no reductions had been made to the amounts for programs recommended by Dent during the budgetary process. “We’re working hard to maintain the integrity of the program,“ he said. The mayor added that the governing body would meet again with the board of recreation to get the board’s “final recommendation for the job structure” before making an appointment. Crescenso asked about the process being followed to fill vacancies on the board of recreation. Borough Clerk/ Administrator Addie Hanna said that the vacancy has been posted on the borough’s website, but that no candidates had come forth thus far. Primary (continued from page 4) of Adjustment. He is a member of the Midland Park Lions Club, a CERT member, treasurer of the Midland Park United Republican Club and volunteered with Emmanuel Cancer Foundation. He has spent more than 30 years in the institutional trust and custody financial services business as a vice president working for Bankers Trust Co, Deutsche Bank and Bank of NY. Currently he is employed by the Joint Industry Board of the Electrical Industry as director of investment operations. Counselors (continued from page 4) To Pruiksma’s comments that Park Players might be able to pick up the popular program, Betty Ann Agresta of Prospect Street said that the organization charges an additional fee that not everyone would be able to afford. Ken Burfeind of Highland Avenue was one of the many parents who asked that Dent’s grievances be addressed and she be approached to return. “Consider it a business. Find out why a great employee left, clean up the situation that caused it. It’s hard to believe someone as qualified as she was allowed to leave,” he said to applause. Vincent Criscenso of Highwood Avenue said that replacing Dent would cost more than her salary because she did not receive any health benefits, priced at $7,000 for a single individual and $16,000 for a family. He also said that rehiring her would lessen the council’s legal exposure. “Go back and do the right thing,” he said. �� BEST NURSERY ��