May 9, 2012 THE VILLADOM TIMES I • Page 21 Wyckoff Wanderings Shugarman to address Chamber Wyckoff Environmental Commission Chairperson Harriet Shugarman will address the Wyckoff Chamber of Commerce on May 17. The program will be held at 8 a.m. at the Larkin House, 380 Godwin Avenue in Wyckoff. Chamber members will also discuss the local shopping initiative and enjoy a light breakfast. RSVP to Barbara Petruccelli at (201) 468-1999 or e-mail wyckoffchamber@gmail.com. Seniors plan events, seek members The Wyckoff Seniors meet at 11:15 a.m. on Tuesdays at the Larkin House at 380 Godwin Avenue. The group has planned several events for the coming months. On May 8, the group will visit the Hunterdon Playhouse for a luncheon and a production of “A Bench in the Sun.” The club will celebrate Mother’s Day on May 15 and Father’s Day on June 19. A trip to La Greci’s in New York is set for Wednesday, June 6. The day will feature lunch and a show. The Independence Day celebration will be held on July 3. On July 17, the seniors will travel to Point Pleasant Beach for a Manasquan River Cruise and lunch at The Shrimp Box. Prospective members may contact Ethel at (201) 8917475. Parade participants sought The Township of Wyckoff is seeking participants to march in Wyckoff’s annual Memorial Day Parade. The parade is scheduled for Monday, May 28 at 11:30 a.m. An invitation is extended to the men and women who have served our country, and to members of local schools, churches, Scouts, and community organizations. A special invitation is extended to all Gold Star Mothers who would like to attend the Veteran’s Memorial Service at 10 a.m. Participants will assemble behind Cornerstone Church located at 495 Wyckoff Avenue. The parade will leave the church parking lot and turn left onto Wyckoff Avenue, continue through the business area, and turn right onto Main Street, right onto Franklin Avenue, and conclude behind town hall at the ambulance corps building. Prospective participants are invited to call the Wyckoff Municipal Clerk at (201) 891-7000, extension 100. CHCC hosts ‘A Taste of Jazz’ The Christian Health Care Center Foundation will host “A Taste of Jazz” on May 10 at the Brick House, 179 Godwin Avenue in Wyckoff. The evening will begin at 6 p.m. and will feature the restaurant’s signature dishes and entertainment by jazz greats Warren Vache, cornet; Bucky Pizzarelli, guitar; Nicki Parrott, bass; Steve Johns, drums; Harry Allen, tenor saxophone; and Derek Smith, piano. Tickets are $125 per person. Proceeds will be used to support CHCC’s 2012 Annual Fund, which will be used for renovations and improvements within The Longview Assisted Living Residence. For more information, contact Darcy Bickert, at (201) 848-5796 or via e-mail at dbickert@chccnj.org. Pomerantz presents ‘Art in the Garden’ Professional photographer and author Rich Pomerantz will present “Art in the Garden” to the Wyckoff Area Garden Club on Wednesday, May 16 at 7 p.m. Specializing in garden photography, Pomerantz’s work has been featured in numerous periodicals including Garden Design, Horticulture, and Fine Gardening. He conducts garden and flower photography classes at the New York Botanical Gardens and The Massachusetts Horticultural Society and workshops at schools and nurseries. The meeting will be held at 7 p.m. in the Lakehouse at the Wyckoff Family YMCA, 691 Wyckoff Avenue in Wyckoff. For more information, visit www.wyckoffgc.org. Newcomers plan ‘Playdate in the Park’ The Wyckoff Newcomers and Neighbors will host a “Playdate in the Park” on Friday, May 11 at 3:30 p.m. The group will meet at the playground behind the Wyckoff Municipal Building. (Rain date: May 18.) The event is open to members and prospective members. Snacks and drinks will be provided for the children. RSVP to Laura at jdbbonner@yahoo.com. Spring Lake memberships available The Wyckoff Family YMCA is accepting summer memberships for Spring Lake, located at 691 Wyckoff Avenue. Members will enjoy the sandy beach and sparkling water of Spring Lake from June 2 through Labor Day. Hours are 10 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. on weekends beginning June 2, and daily beginning June 23. Along with full access to the amenities of the lake, members may order lunch or a light dinner at the Lake House Café, which is open daily. Membership also includes: special events, the “Fourth of July Blowout,” beach volleyball, and lakeside concerts. Children’s story time and craft programs are also available for a nominal fee. Call (201) 891-2081 or visit www.wyckoffymca.org. Board of education seeks candidates The Wyckoff Board of Education will have three seats available in this year’s school election, which will be held in on the day of the November general election. Two of the vacancies are for a full three-year term; one vacancy is for a one-year term. Candidates must file a nominating petition with the local school board in order to be placed on the ballot. The deadline to submit a petition is June 5. Prospective candidates may obtain a School Board Candidate Kit online at www.njsba.org. Published by the New Jersey School Boards Association, the kit includes a sample nominating petition, information about the legal qualifications for school board candidacy, and the role of the school board member. Information about the New Jersey Ethics Act and important dates in the school election process are also included. Fire department seeks new members The Wyckoff Volunteer Fire Department is seeking new members to join its ranks. Currently, the department is on pace to answer 650 calls for service this year. Membership in the Wyckoff Fire Department is open to anyone who is 18 years of age or older and have graduated high school. Members who do not wish to become active firefighters may also find another position within the department. There are several areas within the department that do not involve actual fire fighting. These would include being a member of the fire police, a group that handles traffic control during emergencies, or joining the fire desk team, which handles the communications desk during emergencies. In addition to answering emergency calls, the fire department strives to reach out to the community and become involved in local events. During 2011, Wyckoff Firefighters attended numerous fire prevention talks at local schools, daycare centers, houses of worship, and local civic groups, as requested. Some of the yearly community activities in which members take part are: Safety Town, YMCA Health Fair, The Buddy Walk for Down syndrome, Toys for Tots, and escorting Santa around town every December on the fire trucks. Prospective members are encouraged to stop by a local firehouse any Monday Night at 7:30 p.m. and speak with an officer. Fire Company #1 is located behind town hall, Community Engine Company #2 is located on Wyckoff Avenue near Grandview Avenue, and Company #3 on Sicomac Avenue. We welcome press releases from our readers. Items may be sent to editorial@villadom.com. Deadline is Wednesday at noon the week prior to publication. Letters to the Editor Dear Editor: On behalf of Midland Park Recreation, I would like to thank the following people for their help with the first Magic Show: the Midland Park Board of Education, the Midland Park Board of Recreation, Thomas Sullivan for helping us with the lights, Pinnacle Press for printing the tickets free of charge, Recreation Coordinator Kathy, everyone who attended the show, and the star of the show, Sean Burke, who performed without compensation, thus allowing us to make a donation to the Midland Park Love Fund of over $700. Dave Lancaster Midland Park Board of Recreation Dear Editor: Although a resident of Franklin Lakes, I have watched with interest the Stop & Shop/ShopRite fiasco. The report in the May 2 Villadom Times of the most recent hearing, bares the truth of the entire matter: The majority of Wyckoff citizens are in favor of the ShopRite. It is time Stop & Shop’s “concern for Wyckoff and its citizens” farce be terminated. There is one and only one reason the Stop & Shop has conducted its crusade, and that is the effect a ShopRite will have on its bottom line. I would estimate sales will drop 30 to 40 percent if ShopRite opens. I normally shop in the Oakland ShopRite. If I’m near the Ramsey store, I’ll drop in there. There is a Stop & Shop in Franklin Lakes. I use it only as a “last resort” store, when I am really in need of something. Two things (at least) keep me away from Stop & Shop. I consider their prices absurd, and find it to be one of the most unpleasant stores I have ever been in. Most of their employees could use a lesson in common courtesy. I strongly urge that ShopRite be given approval. Wyckoff will be better off because of their presence. Robert D. Simpson Franklin Lakes Magic Show was success Room for one more