Letters to the Editor (continued from page 19) newsletters on town issues and events particularly valuable. He even put his considerable research and writing skills to use in creating an excellent history of our public library, which readers can find on our library website, www.wyckofflibrary.org. As a resident, I have seen Committeeman Scanlan fulfill his pledge of “Responsive Leadership: Responsible Solutions” in his availability to the public. His home and cell phone numbers and his personal e-mail address are on all of his campaign literature. We have a level of access to a local public official that simply didn’t exist before he was elected to the township committee. More importantly, he has been highly effective in getting things done — whether it’s fielding complaints about potholes or reducing township expenses as the deputy chair of the Finance Committee. Demonstrating true leadership, he was the first to decline payment of the traditional stipend, as well as entry into the municipal pension plan. That is austerity in action and a significant personal commitment in today’s tough economic environment. As an Independent, I vote for the person, not the party. No matter how your readers vote farther up the ticket, I encourage them to re-elect Brian Scanlan in column one on Nov. 8. We need to keep him in town hall. Nickerson Miles Wyckoff Dear Editor: We are amazed, or more properly, appalled by the article on page 7 in the Oct. 5 issue of Villadom TIMES which reported on “Friends teaming up to offer guns for the good guys.” Our understanding is that these newly-sanctioned, by the Midland Park Planning Board, gun dealers and fast friends are also, in their spare time, attorneys, fire department members, and police officers and that they intend to set up their gun shop across from the Midland Park Post Office, presumably a very dangerous section of Godwin Avenue, where school children, shoppers, and other vulnerable civilians need protection against all the bad guys in the neighborhood. How these fine friends who will run Wortendyke Arms will be able to sell only to the good guys is a mystery to us. Maybe they will only sell to a customer who slinks into their shop wearing a white hat and, of course, pays with cash. We’re glad we live in Wyckoff and that we’re able to circumvent the section of Godwin Avenue where the good guys, wherever they live, will be exercising their constitutional right to buy lethal weapons from these Midland Park fiends. Citizens of Midland Park: Is the planning board, and their fine friends, looking out for your safety and wellbeing, or is it gun dealing profit that is the real motive for assembling this newly-sanctioned business venture? Martin and Lorraine Sinnott Wyckoff Dear Editor: There is one candidate for Wyckoff Township Committee whose success in saving dollars and protecting our environment stands out. That candidate is Brian Scanlan. I have admired Brian’s passion for Wyckoff since 2005 when we worked together in the Open Space campaign. Brian was a key driver in that effort. In 2009, Brian proposed that Wyckoff participate in the Sustainable Jersey program to reduce our town’s carbon October 19, 2011 THE VILLADOM TIMES I • Page 25 footprint while saving tax dollars. Participating towns can receive grant money to further these goals. That same year, Brian established Wyckoff’s “Nifty Fifty” initiative to achieve a 50 percent town recycling rate and save taxpayers $100,000 a year in carting fees -- another example of environmental conservation and fiscal conservativism going hand-in-hand. The state assembly recognized Brian’s program as a model for other towns. His work led to an increase in reimbursement by FEMA for extra garbage expenses we incurred during storms in 2010. Brian practices what he preaches. The Scanlan family’s recycling rate was 77 percent in a study last year. Brian has received leadership training at the Association of New Jersey Environmental Commissions and studied land use and protection at the Rutgers Center for Government Services, in addition to attending seminars on historical preservation. He is a certified GeesePeace volunteer and has been instrumental in efforts to humanely curtail the goose population in Wyckoff. This Nov. 8, I’ll be voting for Brian Scanlan for Wyckoff Township Committee. His love of Wyckoff is evident in the selfless service and outstanding open communication he provides to our community. John Nolan Wyckoff Dear Editor: As a long-time Wyckoff resident, I have seen huge changes in our community. With Boulder Run now nearing completion, we have seen what happens when one clique makes all the decisions: It is not always positive. In 2008, Brian Scanlan first presented an alternative platform, combining strict fiscal conservatism and low municipal tax rates with protection of our town character and preservation of open space. This immediately appealed to me and I began to follow Brian’s career. After meeting Brian and getting to know him, I admired his courage and conviction even more, regardless of party affiliation. With the Christian Health Care Center proposing a mega development on its site (258 condos), the composition of our township committee next year is crucial. That’s because if zoning board of adjustment grants the variance required for high-density housing, and there is an appeal of the granting of that variance, the appeal will be heard and decided by the Wyckoff Township Committee, not a judge in Hackensack. Though all of the candidates have taken care to express no views on the CHCC proposal, as is appropriate, given their potential role, I have been particularly impressed by Committeeman Scanlan’s willingness to ask the tough questions that need to be asked on other issues. It’s clear that he believes in one set of rules for everyone. On Nov. 8, we will have a very important election about the future of Wyckoff. Brian Scanlan is a proven committeeman who is independent, fair, and extremely hard-working. That’s precisely why I am voting to re-elect Committeeman Brian Scanlan. Please join me in re-electing him. Michael Becker Wyckoff Dear Editor: We endorse Tom Madigan and Doug Christie for Wyckoff Township Committee. Susan and I applaud Tom’s Ramapo Indian Hills Board of Education tenure , which focused on excellence in education and fiscal responsibility. We have seen the same orientation in his short term on the township committee. ‘Appalled’ by sale of arms Urges support for Scanlan Doug has lived in Wyckoff all of his life. He benefited from the programs that made people move to Wyckoff, and is now a part of the leadership of many of those programs. We have lived in Wyckoff for 46 years. We raised our sons in Wyckoff. Our needs have changed, but we plan to remain here. It sometimes seems that only people with school aged children who are involved in sports live in Wyckoff. Not so! Tom and Doug’s platform addresses the needs of all of Wyckoff residents. They recognize the needs of our senior citizens and will work with them to find solutions so they will remain here and add to the fabric of Wyckoff. They address the budgetkilling problems of unfunded mandates, pensions, and health care, and business as usual government. They support programs like WOLF, a shared services plan and are focused on other plans to save money while maintaining Wyckoff’s small town way of life. They acknowledge, and will address, the traffic and congestion problem. They will work with local businesses and organizations and county leaders to find solutions. They support the Fair School Funding plan that now has bipartisan support in both the New Jersey Senate and Assembly. This plan will result in a major reduction of our property taxes. We support them because they will represent all of the people in Wyckoff. Susan and Joel Winton Wyckoff MPHS banners (continued from page 17) quickly sold four banners. “We have the banners for all years dating back to 1969,” Jake added. unfortunately, we have not been able to locate the banners from the 1961 and 1962 Baseball Teams…My grandfather, Jerry Thomas was the coach. It would have been cool to contact those guys.” And just last week, Capuano located the banners from the 1961 and 1962 baseball teams, which were coached by the late Jerry Thomas, Tim’s father and Jake’s grandfather, who was named All Suburban Baseball Coach of the Year in 1962 and ‘63. Jerry Thomas, who died in 2008, was part of the original staff as a physical education and driver’s education teacher, guidance counselor and coach when MPHS opened in 1957. “I’m excited to be able to contact these old players who played for my Dad,” Tim Thomas said. Anyone interested in a banner may contact Jake or Tim Thomas at 201-445-0902 or in the near future, the banners may be viewed on EBAY under topic: Midland Park. June Shaw Scanlan is stand-out candidate Candidates’ platform aids all residents (continued from page 9) Wyckoff Environmental Commission for 15 years, having been re-appointed by five mayors. A number of years ago, Shaw acted on her environmental concerns and formed a non-profit company to fight the infestation from gypsy moth caterpillars a biological product rather than harsh chemicals. She recruited 100 volunteers and hired the pilots to do the spraying and mapped out the spray areas herself. “I had lots of opposition and even life threats, but when it was over, I even received a few bouquets of flowers. And we made $1,000, which I donated to the town,” she said proudly.