February 27, 2013 THE VILLADOM TIMES IV • Page 11 Mahwah Minutes Church hosts Saint Patrick’s Day dinner The Ramapo Reformed Church will hold a Saint Patrick’s Day Dinner of corned beef, cabbage, potatoes, carrots, and dessert, on Saturday, March 16. Dinner will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. Tickets for this eat-in or takeout dinner are $10 and must be purchased in advance. The cost for a child’s meal is $5. Children may request corned beef or chicken. To purchase tickets, call the church office at (201) 529-3075 or visit www.ramaporefeormed church.org. The church is located at 100 Island Road. Library hosts Movie Series The Mahwah Pubic Library, located at 100 Ridge Road in Mahwah, presents weekly movies on Thursdays at 1:30 p.m. These films are free. Popcorn and a drink are provided. No tickets are necessary. Seats will be available on a “first come” basis. The schedule includes a March 7 screening of “Intouchables” (2012). After he becomes a quadriplegic from a paragliding accident, an aristocrat hires a young man from the projects to be his caretaker. The film is in French with English subtitles and runs for 112 minutes. “Intouchables” is rated R for language and drug use. “Flight” (2012) will be featured on March 14. An airline pilot saves a flight from crashing, but an investigation into the malfunction reveals something troubling. The film stars Denzel Washington and Nadine Velazquez and runs for 138 minutes. “Flight” is rated R for drug and alcohol abuse, language, sexuality/nudity, and an intense action sequence. On March 12, the screening of “The Master” (2012) will be presented. A Naval veteran arrives home from war unsettled and uncertain of his future, until he is tantalized by The Cause and its charismatic leader. This 144-minute film stars Philip Seymour Hoffman, Joaquin Phoenix, and Amy Adams. “The Master” is rated R for sexual content, graphic nudity, and language. “Looper” (2012) will be presented on March 28. In 2044, when the mob wants to get rid of someone, the target is transported into the past, where a hired gun, such as Joe, awaits. One day, Joe learns the mob wants to “close the loop” by transporting Joe to kill his future self. This movie runs for 119 minutes and stars Joseph Godon-Levitt, Bruce Willis, and Emily Blunt. “Looper” is rated R for strong violence, language, some sexuality/nudity, and drug content. The Mahwah Public Library is located at 100 Ridge Road. Call (201) 529-READ or visit the website at http://mahwah.bccls. org/ for program information. Schepisi, Saudino to address club Assemblywoman Holly Schepisi and Bergen County Sheriff Michael Saudino will address the Mahwah Republican Club on Wednesday, Feb. 27. The meeting will be held at 7 p.m. at the Mahwah Senior Center at 475 Corporate Drive. This meeting is open to the public. For details, contact Tracy Miceli at tracy@mahwahgop.com. Sunday concert features Cranbury Jazz The Mahwah Public Library, located at 100 Ridge Road, hosts free concerts on Sunday afternoons. The 2 p.m. programs are free and tickets are not required. Seating is available on a “first come” basis. Cranbury Jazz will perform on March 3. The New Jersey sextet hails from Cranbury and features Art Zysk on trumpet, Nick Cusworth on tenor saxophone, Martin Goldberg on guitar, Bernhard Geiger on upright bass, and Paul Venanzi handling drums, clarinet, and vocals. Bill Kanawyer is the group’s sound engineer. The program will feature jazz standards. In the event of inclement weather, call (201) 529-7323 for library closing information. Tax assistance program offered Volunteer Income Tax Assistance is offered at the Mahwah Public Library on Wednesdays from 6 to 9 p.m. and on Saturdays from 12:30 to 4:30 p.m. The VITA Program includes free tax preparation and consultation to low-income individuals. Returns may be prepared for those earning up to $45,000 in income (for single individuals and married couples filing jointly). Certified volunteers will provide assistance Feb. 13 through April 13. The volunteers may help with credits such as the earned income tax credit, child tax credit, and credit for the elderly or disabled. Free Efiling is provided on site. To register, stop by the Mahwah Library Reference Desk. Walk-ins are accepted. The library is located at 10 Ridge Road. For more information, call (201) 529-READ. Clothing Closet holds March Bag Sale The Clothing Closet Ministry at the Ramapo Reformed Church will hold a March Bag Sale on Saturday, March 2 from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. A wide variety of clothing is available for adults and children, including sweaters, jeans, sneakers, boots, shoes, blouses, sweatshirts, and slacks. Fill a bag for $3 and receive a free jacket or coat with every bag of clothes purchased, while supplies last. The Clothing Closet Ministry is located at the rear of the Ramapo Reformed Church’s education building at 100 Island Road. Proceeds from the sale benefit the church’s community ministry. Family Movie Matinee to feature pirates On Saturday, March 2, the Mahwah Public Library will present “The Pirates! Band of Misfits.” This Family Movie Matinee will begin at 2 p.m. After years of humiliation and failed attempts to win the Pirate of the Year Award, Pirate Captain and his oddball crew go on a race to pillage the most booty. They soon cross paths with scientist Charles Darwin, who persuades the captain that the crew’s “parrot” Polly, could be the answer to the riches they seek. The movie features the voices of Hugh Grant and Jeremy Piven. Movie snacks and drinks are provided. This program is free, and no tickets are necessary. The library is located at 100 Ridge Road. For more information, call (201) 529READ. Saint Patrick Dinner Dance announced The Church of the Immaculate Conception will host a Saint Patrick Dinner Dance on Saturday, March 2. The event will be held at the church at 900 Darlington Avenue in Mahwah and will feature the Claddagh Pipe Band Bag Pipers, a DJ, a traditional Irish buffet provided by the Market Basket, beer and wine, or BYOB. Music will be provided by the Claddagh Pipe Band Bag Pipers and a DJ. The evening’s festivities will include a Best Irish Soda Bread contest, Best Wearing of the Green contest, a prize basket fundraiser, a cash prize, and more. Tickets are $45. When a table for 10 is purchased, $1 will be deducted from the cost of each ticket. To purchase tickets, call (201) 327-1267 or visit http://www.iccmahwah.org. Russo application (continued from page 9) it was filed seeking variance relief before the board of adjustment. “It is our opinion that the details of this extensive proposal require a comprehensive review, which will include an analysis of the present and future impact of the development on the borough.” In his letter, Botta said that, under state law, the mayor and council are charged with the responsibility of planning for Ramsey’s future. He said the council’s various standing committees should have the opportunity to evaluate the impact of the proposed apartment complex on the borough’s municipal budget, safety professionals, water supply, critical infrastructure, and any other aspects deemed necessary. “In addition, the borough’s mayor and council works closely with the Ramsey Board of Education in assessing concerns and policy on topics ranging from finances, shared services, revenue generation, and public safety, that impact both bodies. The mayor and council and board of education, with a standing liaison and committee between them, are well suited to evaluate and assess the impact of the proposed development on the community as a whole,” the mayor added. “Ultimately, in light of the above, and under the MLUL, the zoning board of adjustment does not have jurisdiction to make decisions of the magnitude inherent in a large-scale rezoning which will impact the community for generations. It also does not have the knowledge, resources nor background, through no fault of their own, to undertake the analysis that state statute mandates be conducted by the elected officials of the community. “It is our opinion that if the applicant wishes to proceed with the use variance proposal before the board, then it is incumbent upon the zoning board of adjustment to make an initial determination, through testimony from the applicant’s licensed planner and the board’s retained licensed planner, whether the variance request is in fact a request for zoning, which does not fall within the jurisdiction of the board.” Botta said that particular care should be given to review of the Ramsey Master Plan. In particular, he pointed to a Jan. 20, 2004 amendment to the master plan, “which states unequivocally that zones and zone lines should be modified by the master plan, and not by variance.” He continued, “If it is determined that the application is in fact a rezoning request cloaked in an application seeking variance relief, as the mayor and council believe, then the proposal should be denied without prejudice and referred to the mayor and council. The mayor and council would at that time conduct any necessary hearings, take testimony, conduct analysis, review the rezoning request and render a determination based on the merits of the request.”