Midland Park September 5, 2012 THE VILLADOM TIMES I • Page 5 Midland Park Department of Public Works employee Mike Monti grew up with Marine Sgt. Joseph D’Augustine, the Waldwick resident who was killed in March while stationed in Afghanistan. Now Monti is honoring his friend’s memory by running in the New York City Marathon and raising funds for the Semper Fi Fund, an organization that benefits injured marines and all service men and women. “I looked to run with a good team and for a good cause,” said Monti of his decision to run in support of the Semper Fi Fund. His father is a Purple Hearth combat veteran from the Vietnam Conflict, and his girl friend’s brother is a Navy Seal deploying soon for Afghanistan. DPW worker runs in memory of friend and all soldiers An avid runner and a self-proclaimed “gym rat,” Monti ran in the New Jersey Marathon in Long Branch in May and is looking to train for the Ironman in either Idaho or New Hampshire. He said he enters about 15 runs a year. But the Nov. 4 run will have a special meaning for him. “Everyone will remember Joey as one of Waldwick’s heroes, but I’ll remember him as a little kid, always covered in dirt with a penchant for catching bees with his bare hands,” Monti reminisced. He said he was often charged with watching D’Augustine in his yard along with other youngsters whose sisters were at his house working on Girl Scout projects. A graduate of Waldwick High School Mike, at right, and a friend in the 2010 Tough Mudder at Raceway Park. To donate to Monti’s cause, visit www.active.com/donate/SFF2012NYCMarathon/michaelmonti. Class of ’94, Monti has worked for the Midland Park DPW for the past seven years. He has two children, 10-year-old Angelina and five-year old William. Midland Park’s first foray into the internet auction world has turned out to be most successful, according to borough officials who are now eager to expand the program. Police Sergeant Michael Powderley and DPW Superintendent Rudy Gnehm started using govdeals.com last month on a trial basis to dispose of unwanted items, and everyone was pleasantly surprised at the results. “We figured we’d try it out with the old chairs in the firehouse. We didn’t expect to Auction is boon to municipality get much, but we got $615,” Borough Clerk/ Administrator Addie Hanna told the council at its last meeting. Sgt. Powderley, for years an avid follower of police auctions at policeauctions. com, came across the govdeals site and liked the fact that only government entities could post items for sale. He also noted that the final bid price for the items was always much higher than what the borough received when it held a live auction. By law (continued on page 8)