Page 12 THE VILLADOM TIMES I & II • October 19, 2011 Dear Readers: In our little section of the world, autumn is finally settling in. After a long, hot summer and seemingly endless rain and flooding, we appear to be turning a corner as the temperatures drop. As the leaves start to fall from the trees, I am reminded that it won’t be long before it is time again for WinterFest, our Chamber’s largest community outreach program and business-to-consumer effort. The eightweek celebration, which this year looks like it will be bigger and better than ever, will begin on Dec. 2 with an opening ceremony in Mahwah’s Veterans Memorial Park. There will be activities for all ages, including charity drives, contests for adults and children, dining events, and opportunities to discover our area’s remarkable heritage and cultural diversity. I’m also pleased to report that we are inching closer to seeing the passage of Bill S-2874, a legislative amendment designed to help New Jersey’s small businesses. The bill, which would give businesses with up to 50 employees, including sole proprietors, the opportunity to obtain group health coverage through their Chamber of Commerce, is supported by the Mahwah Regional Chamber of Commerce and a host of other Chambers in Bergen and Passaic counties. The bill has the support of Senator Gerald Cardinale (R-District 39, Bergen), who is the bill’s primary sponsor, and several other state senators, including Loretta Weinberg A Message from the President (D-District 37, Bergen) and Nicholas Scutari (D-District 22, Middlesex/Morris/Union). Working together, the members of the Mahwah Regional Chamber of Commerce, and the entire community, can continue to accomplish great things. Sincerely, Susan Lord, President Mahwah Chamber of Commerce