Page 8 THE VILLADOM TIMES II • April 13, 2011 Ridgewood Restaurateur plans to continue fundraising for Japan by John Koster Ken Kuriki, manager of Sakura-Bana, a Japanese restaurant in Ridgewood, said his confidence in the warmhearted people of Ridgewood and Northwest Bergen Left: The donation box inside the restaurant. Above: Ken Kuriki and members of his staff outside Sakura-Bana on the second day of the fundraiser. County was rewarded by a generous response to his twoday fundraiser to benefit the victims of the earthquake, tsunami, and radiation in Japan. Kuriki comes from Fukushima. His immediate family was spared, but one cousin’s family lost the house and the man’s mother-in-law and father-in-law are still missing. His own parents were without heating oil or train service for weeks. As many as 25,000 Japanese may have been drowned in the tsunami, which swept away houses, cars, boats, and inundated farmland. The Japanese are now also subjected to radiation from the nuclear plant. “Some of my customers have been loyal customers for more than a dozen years and they were only glad to help for the cause and raise money for the victims of the devastation of the entire region of northeastern Honshu,” Kuriki said. Sakura-Bana was the scene of a bazaar. Kuriki and his staff sold tableware, food products from the restaurant, clothing, toys, and fashions donated by friends of the restaurant and staff members. The money and half the proceeds from dining on those two days will be given to the Red Cross. Kuriki says that this donation is only the beginning of the fundraising he hopes to carry out. People with donations and ideas may call him at (201) 447-6525. SAT LAST DITCH? Your SAT Verbal-Writing-Math scores can go up 100 points or more before the cut-off. We’ve been doing it for years. Verbal-writing $60 per hour. Math $70 per hour. References from Princeton, Cooper Union, Cornell, NYU, many from Rutgers Lynn’s Pet Care Going on vacation? Away for the weekend? Work long hours away from home? We’ll care for your pets when you can’t. Please call 201-493-8442 Lynnspetcare18@Yahoo.com 201-445-1343 Break the Highway Trend! ...not your community’s back. 11-17-10 janine JohnKostner2x2(11-17-10) 2x2 Local businesses are the backbone of your community and the trend to shop the big guys on the highway hurts us all.Your local businesses have what you want... at the right price... and close to home. So, why hassle with the highways? Save Time! Save Gas! Save Money! SAVE YOUR COMMUNITY! We Need You SHOP LOCALLY. IT’S SMART. ...and besides, it’s so convenient!