Page 8 THE VILLADOM TIMES I • October 2, 2013 Franklin Lakes Borough ranked one of top New Jersey towns by Frank J. McMahon The Borough of Franklin Lakes has been ranked as one of the best towns in New Jersey by NJ Monthly Magazine, which publishes bi-annual ratings of the state’s towns. The borough is #30 in the state. The magazine ranks the borough, with a population of 10,697 in 2012, in the top six percent of the ranked towns in the state with an average property tax of $15,826 in 2012, an 0.8 of a percentage point drop in average property tax since 2010, an effective tax rate of $1.40 in 2012, a median home sale price of $910,000 in 2012, a 2011 crime rate of 8.4 per 1,000 residents, and a 0.2 of a percent violent crime rate per 1,000 residents in 2011. The borough’s standardized test scores for students in grade four through eight ranged between 90 percent profi- cient on the fourth grade test and 95 percent proficient on the high school proficiency test. “The quality of life is very high in Franklin Lakes,” said Mayor Frank Bivona. “I am not surprised that we rank as high as we do given the drop in property taxes and our very low effective tax rate. We also have an excellent public safety record thanks to our top-notch professionals and volunteers. Our exceptional schools, library, and rec- reation programs also contribute. What is not taken into account in this ranking is the natural beauty of Franklin Lakes, abundant with lakes, streams, nature preserves, shade trees, and wildlife.” The rankings list the top 100 towns and the best towns by region, size of population, and for three different life stages. The 2013 rankings are based on the most recent available data for home prices, property taxes, crime rates, school results, and various lifestyle attributes. All of that data is combined using a proprietary formula to create the overall rankings of New Jersey municipalities. The rankings were compiled by researchers at Leflein Associates, an independent research firm based in Ring- wood, and considered five categories to represent the qual- ity of life in New Jersey’s 566 municipalities: home values, property taxes, crime rates, school performance, and a lifestyle factor, which was described as the top towns for young families, singles, and empty nesters (parents whose children have moved out of the house). The top town in the state was Mendham Borough; the top town for singles was Hoboken; the top town for young families was Oakland, and the top town for empty nesters was found to be Monroe. Ten Bergen County towns were ranked in the top 30 towns in the state. In addition to Franklin Lakes those towns include Norwood, #4; Woodcliff Lake, #6; Tenafly, #7; Demarest, #8; Oakland, #15; Paramus, #21; Ho-Ho- Kus, # 23; Old Tappan, #24; and Mahwah, #26. Due to a lack of statistically significant data, towns with a population of under 1,500 were dropped from the survey. The research team then ranked each of the remaining 514 towns based on the following indicators: average resi- dential tax bill in 2012, the change in average property tax bill from 2010 to 2012, the effective property tax rate for 2012, the median home sales price in 2012, the change in median home sales price from 2010 to 2012, the total crime rate in 2011 combined with a score for violent crime rate in 2011, and student proficiency on state-mandated standard- ized tests in 2012. The researchers also looked at lifestyle factor, which includes the number of acute-care hospitals and live performing arts theaters within 10 miles of the municipality’s main zip code, the number of full-service restaurants within two miles of the municipality’s main zip code, and the average commute time for those working away from home. Final rankings were based on each municipality’s com- bined rankings for 10 indicators across the five categories with extra weight given to the change in average tax bill, the change in median home sales price, and the results on standardized tests for students in grades four and eight. Midland Park Library hosts programs for children There are still a few spots open for the Midland Park Library’s Fall Story Time program on Tuesdays at 2:30 p.m. The program is open to children ages four through six. The session requires pre-registration and features stories and a craft. The program will continue through Nov. 19. To register, contact the children’s department at (201) 444- 2390 or Catherine.Napoleone@BCCLS.org, or visit during regular library hours. Baby Time for children ages 6-24 months has begun. No registration is required. This half-hour program will meet on Oct. 2, 9, and 16 and includes stories, music, rhymes and free play. Older siblings are welcome. Registration is now open for two craft programs. Pump- kin Clay Creation, which will be held Oct. 15, is for chil- dren ages eight and up. Haunted Gingerbread Houses, which is set for Oct. 28, is for children ages seven and up. Both programs will be held at 3:15 p.m. To register, visit the children’s desk, call (201) 444-2390, or e-mail Catherine. Napoleone @BCCLS.org. Pumpkin Clay Creation participants will make clay pumpkin key chains or necklaces. Midland Park staff member Emily Chen will show kids how to use polymer clay. The program is about 20 minutes. All creations must be left at the library overnight and can be picked up the next day. On Friday, Oct. 25, children ages two through six may drop in and make a Halloween craft between the hours of 10:30 a.m. and 4 p.m. Children’s book clubs meet from 4:30 to 5:15 p.m. Stu- dents in first and second grades will meet on Oct. 22. Chil- dren in third and fourth grades will gather on Oct. 29. Students in grades five and six interested in joining a book club may contact the library. The library is located at 250 Godwin Avenue.