Page 12 THE VILLADOM TIMES I • September 12, 2012 Dear Readers: Labor Day has come and gone. Another summer is over. Very soon, beautiful fall foliage will be dominating the landscape. The Republican and Democratic politicians are vying for our trust and our votes in November. Sometimes it is easy to criticize our imperfect political process, but when one looks around the world at other governments, it is amazing to see how our system truly makes our country one of the greatest in the world. Living in Bergen County, and specifically the Township of Wyckoff, is something we should not take for granted. The Wyckoff Chamber of Commerce is having a busy year adding new members to our ever-growing organization and keeping our members abreast of current events around town. We have formed a committee with the Wyckoff Environmental Commission and are currently working on a “Green Initiative” for all businesses in town so we can work together to help keep our environment clean. The Chamber meets on the third Thursday of every month, and we always feature an interesting guest speaker whose message is geared toward helping businesses. Our next meeting will be held Sept. 20 and will feature Freeholder Robert Hermansen, who will discuss current issues in Bergen County. The meeting will begin at 8 a.m. at the Wyckoff YMCA, which is located at 691 Wyckoff Avenue in Wyckoff. Visit our website, www.wyckoffchamber.com, for RSVP information and other details. I have mentioned this in many of my previous letters, but can never emphasize enough the appreciation the business community has for the residents who shop locally. This includes not only retail, but also business professionals. Flourishing businesses give back to the community in many ways, so money spent in Wyckoff ends up staying in Wyckoff. This allows for more monies to become available for our much-needed local services, including the police department, fire department, ambulance corps, library, schools, and recreation department. The Wyckoff Chamber promotes and encourages local business and works with many other organizations to make Wyckoff an even better place in which to live and work. If you own a business and want to know more about the Wyckoff Chamber, please feel free to attend our Sept. 20 meeting. Jay Vidockler, President Wyckoff Chamber of Commerce