August 17, 2011 THE VILLADOM TIMES IV • Page 23 Mahwah Minutes Students earn dean’s list honors The following Mahwah students have earned dean’s list recognition at William Paterson University: Amanda Gaetano, Jacqueline Hernandez, Arthur Krzyszton, Cecilia Potenza, Christine Potenza, Luke Potenza, Victor Potenza, Graig Scherer, Danielle Soque, Alicia Swanson, Shannon Tarolli, Derek Thoelen, and Krystine Verkaik. In order to qualify for the dean’s list, a student must carry a minimum of 12 credits for the semester and earn a grade point average of 3.45 or better. Seniors plan events The Mahwah Senior Center will host a trip to Antun’s in Westchester to see “Who Killed Mama Souprano?” on Aug. 16. Murder, mayhem, millions, and wannabe mobsters make for comedic chaos in this “Sopranos” parody, when Mama “Velveeta Souprano,” a gourmet meatball connoisseur worth millions, is killed. This show includes audience participation. The cost is $52 per person for Mahwah residents and $62 for non-residents. The day includes lunch and the show. The bus will depart from Mahwah at 10:30 a.m. To RSVP, call Susanne or Rosalie at (201) 529-5757, extension 277 or 213. Book and film discussion group forming The Mahwah Public Library will host the “Classic Book and Film Society” on the second Saturday of each month beginning Sept. 10. Formed for people whose work schedules or other obligations prevent them from joining the morning and weekday evening book clubs, this group will discuss only classic novels. The following month, the group will watch and discuss the film version of the written classic. The club will be facilitated by Mahwah resident Carolyn Epstein, a teacher at Saint Thomas Aquinas College’s English/writing department, and Rich Thielker, who taught film and literature and the history of film at Pascack Valley High School and at Pascack Valley Community School. The first book for discussion will be Jane Austen’s “Emma.” The book club is free. No registration is necessary. Copies of the book are available at the circulation desk. The library is located at 100 Ridge Road. Call (201) 529-READ for details. Class of 1962 seeks classmates The Mahwah High School Class of 1962 is searching for classmates for the upcoming 50th reunion. Classmates are asked to contact Arlene (Dobbs) Vance at ARL9444@comcast.net. Chamber hosts networking breakfast The Mahwah Regional Chamber of Commerce will hold a networking breakfast at the Kingsbridge Diner at 44 Franklin Turnpike on Wednesday, Aug. 17 from 8 to 10 a.m. Members are encouraged to bring promotional literature and materials to display during the event. The cost is $25 for Chamber members and $40 for non-members. Prepaid registration is required to guarantee participation; an additional $5 processing fee will be charged if paid the day of event. Register online at www.mahwah.com or call the Chamber office at (201) 529-5566. Classic Car and Bike Cruise meets weekly A Classic Car and Bike Cruise will take place at Continental Soldiers Park every Tuesday from 6 to 9 p.m. through late September. Participants are invited to bring antique, classic, and new modified cars or bikes for public display. The event is free and open to the public. Continental Soldiers Park is located at 550 Ramapo Valley Road, directly across from Ramapo College, south entrance. For details, call (201) 760-0535. Russo novel to be discussed Not by Bread Alone, a spiritual book discussion group, will meet on Aug. 28 at 5 p.m. at Panera Bread, 1300 State Route 17 in Ramsey. This month’s selection is the 2002 Pulitzer Prize winner “Empire Falls” by Richard Russo. Russo delves deep into the blue-collar heart of America in a work that overflows with hilarity, heartache, and grace. Protagonist Miles Roby has been slinging burgers at the Empire Grill for 20 years, a job that cost him his college education and much of his self-respect. What keeps him there? It could be his bright, sensitive daughter Tick, who needs all his help surviving the local high school. Maybe it’s Janine, Miles’ soon-to-be ex-wife, who has taken up with a noxiously vain health-club proprietor. Perhaps it’s the imperious Francine Whiting, who owns everything in town and seems to believe that “everything” includes Miles. This discussion group is sponsored by the Church of the Immaculate Conception in Mahwah. For more information, contact Jennifer Edwards at (201) 327-1276 or paicc@yahoo.com. American Legion seeks new members The Mahwah American Legion Brems, Hetzel, Meester Memorial Post 531 invites area veterans to join the post. Veterans, male and female, whether they served in combat or during peacetime are welcome. American Legions provide assistance with the Veterans Administration, financial aid in times of need, sponsorship of local charities and organizations, and fellowship and camaraderie. Post 531, activated in 2008, was named for Patrick Brems, Class of 1965 of Ramsey High School; Norman Hetzek, Class of 1966 and Everett Meester, Class of 1965, both of Mahwah High School. All three men were killed in action during the Vietnam War. The Mahwah post meets on the third Thursday of the month at 7:30 p.m. in the downstairs meeting room of the Mahwah Museum, 201 Franklin Turnpike. For more information contact Membership Chairman Ralph Coviello at (201) 529-4622 or e-mail ralphkc2bcy@aol.com. Alai to be honored at Golf Outing The Mahwah Regional Chamber of Commerce will honor David Alai, corporate vice president of Sharp Electronics Corporation, as the Humanitarian of the Year at the Chamber’s 20th Annual Golf Outing and Dinner on Sept. 12 at the Tuxedo Club. Alai, who is responsible for Sharp’s corporate human resources, corporate facilities, corporate purchasing, and community relations departments, has been the recipient of a Joint Legislative Resolution from the New Jersey Senate and Assembly recognizing his record of community leadership, exemplary volunteerism, and achievements. Alai has chosen the Center for Food Action as the recipient of a portion of the proceeds from the September event. The Center for Food Action provides emergency food, rental, and utility assistance, counseling, and advocacy to residents of Bergen County and Upper Passaic Valley. In 2010, CFA distributed over 53,000 emergency food packages, and helped 1,500 families stay in their homes and/or kept their heat and electric from being turned off. CFA also operates the New Jersey Anti-Hunger Coalition. To register for this event, visit www.mahwah.com. DaPuzzo (continued from page 9) On the water issue, DaPuzzo pointed out that water rates had not changed in over a decade, surplus funds were paying operating costs, and the bankruptcy of the water department was about a year away. “The rate structure was counterintuitive to conservation in that enormous commercial/institutional volume users paid the same rates as an average family user,” DaPuzzo pointed out. “If we sold this asset, the rates would have probably tripled and we would no longer control our future destiny.” Although significant rate adjustments were required to retain ownership, DaPuzzo said those rates are still among the lowest of all surrounding communities. “This was a painful choice, but one made with highly sophisticated business tools and expert input and one that fostered conservation and protected our senior citizens in its design,” DaPuzzo emphasized. On taxes and services, DaPuzzo claimed that while there have been tax increases in Mahwah over the last several years, driven primarily by external cost factors such as health care, energy, and pensions, it should be noted that both he and the township council have worked hard to hold the line on costs and develop new revenue sources. “Of the over 550 municipalities in New Jersey, Mahwah has the fifteenth lowest tax rate,” DaPuzzo emphasized. “Throughout Bergen County, Mahwah’s tax rate is the fifth lowest. In addition, New Jersey Monthly magazine has rated Mahwah among the top 60 most desirable places to live in the state and the in the top five for all of Bergen County.” Local business owner William “Bill” Laforet and Councilwoman Lisa DiGiulio have also announced their decisions to run for the mayor’s seat. Troops (continued from page 4) flip-flops, greeting cards, current video games (Xbox 360, PS3, Wii, PSP), dart boards and darts, phone cards, and sporting/People-type magazines. (Please do not bring books.) For more information about Adopt-a-Soldier Platoon, visit www.adoptasoldierplatoon.org. For more information about the Bergen County Sheriff’s Office, call (201) 336-3540. Market Your Business Through The Villadom TIMES TIMES! ● Newspaper ● Internet ● Fliers & Inserts The Villadom TIMES is 100% mailed to 12 north west Bergen County towns with a total circulation of 56,300, and now you get the exposure of thousands of additional readers online! ADVERTISE 201-652-0744 Independently Owned & Operated for Over 20 Years YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD NEWSPAPER www.villadom.com