May 11, 2011 THE VILLADOM TIMES IV • Page 5 Ramsey A 23-year-old Ramsey resident has been arrested for various offenses, including aggravated arson and burglary. Bergen County Prosecutor John Molinelli announced the May 1 arrest of Brian Alvarez, who is employed as a laborer by the Haworth Department of Public Works, and is a volunteer firefighter in Allendale, Waldwick, and Haworth. The investigation is being conducted by the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office, Arson Squad and the Upper Saddle River Police Department. To date, investigators have learned the following: At approximately 4:28 a.m. on May 1, Alvarez called the Allendale Police Department and reported a structure fire on East Crescent Avenue in what he stated was either Allendale or Ramsey. Responding police and firefighters located the fire, which was at 168 East Crescent Avenue in Upper Saddle River. Alvarez claimed he had been driving down East Crescent Avenue and noticed the fire. Being a member of the Allendale Volunteer Fire Department, he immediately responded to the firehouse after reporting the fire and was among the first on the scene to fight the blaze. Firefighter charged in Upper Saddle River arson Fire departments from numerous mutual aid departments, which included Ramsey, Allendale, Upper Saddle River, and Mahwah responded to fight the fire. One firefighter received a minor knee injury during suppression efforts. He was treated at the scene. The fire caused a significant amount of damage to the single family residence, which is abandoned and owned by the Borough of Upper Saddle River. Area fire departments have used the residence to conduct drills in the past, and it was learned that Alvarez took part in past drills and was aware the house was abandoned. The fire was immediately deemed suspicious since it occurred in an abandoned structure that did not have any working utilities and the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office, Arson Squad was called to investigate. The arson investigators determined the fire was intentionally set in multiple areas in the rear of the house, both inside and on the exterior. Officials learned that this was not the first time Alvarez had reported a fire. In the past, he has called in vehicle fires and brush fires in several area towns. The investigation into those fires is continuing. Alvarez was charged with aggravated arson, second degree; arson, third degree; and burglary. third degree. His bail was set at $75,000, no 10 percent option. He was remanded to the Bergen County Jail. He was due to appear in Upper Saddle River Municipal Court. Prosecutor Molinelli states that the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. He thanked all participating agencies for their assistance and cooperation, particularly the involved fire departments and the Upper Saddle River Police Department. For That Special Event Co ns ul FR Three short original films will be screened Saturday, May 14 at 10 a.m. at the Ramsey Movie Theater, 125 East Main Street in Ramsey. A discussion with the three writer/ directors will follow. The event will benefit Zen Garland, a Buddhist and Interfaith Spiritual Community, and the young filmmakers. The event will also feature the Chris Connolly Jazz Quartet. The three films are Langston Kahn’s “Bad Apples,” Cassandra Evanisko’s “Oh Mother,” and Emmeline WilksDupoise’s “Speech-Act.” The directors are graduates of New York University Film School. “Bad Apples” concerns Laura Wilkes, an Arabic linguist transferred to Abu Ghraib who is asked to assist in interrogating a detainee possibly involved in 9/11. Wilkes Indie Film Fest coming to borough ��� ta EE tio n RESULTS BY SUMMER ��������������� ��������������������������������������������� UP TO ��������������������������������������������������������� �������������������������� ASK ABOU T OUR NE W PR must see how far she can go to serve her country amidst the murky moral boundaries of war. In “Oh Mother,” Evanisko explores love and womanhood from the perspective of a 13-year-old who ventures into a strange relationship with her neighbor, a young traumatized war vet. Wilks-Dupoise’s “Speech-Act” explores sudden loss in a public setting where the expression of grief must be muted. Connolly, who will perform with his quartet, is a jazz arranger from William Paterson University. Tickets are $15 and are available at http://zengarland. org/practice/breaking-news, office@zengarland.org, or by calling (201) 891-9100. LOSE 10-15 POUNDS AS DIETFRAM T™ OG CALL NOW! ������ ���� 21 DAYS ��������������� ������������ IN JUST 201-652-4447 MIDLAND PARK 24 Godwin Avenue�������������������������������� 246 No.website for Franklin Turnpike 1973 - 2011 See ourRAMSEY coupons-������������������������ 38 Years of Excellence �������������������������������������������������������������������� 201-818-5673 ����������������������������� ���������������������