Page 6 THE VILLADOM TIMES I • August 13, 2014 Midland Park Chamber of Commerce to help beef up Community Day When the annual Community Day rolls around in Mid- land Park on Sept. 6, it will have gotten a shot in the arm from the Midland Park Chamber of Commerce, which hopes to have borough businesses take a more active role in the townwide celebration. Itself revitilized last year under a reorganization, the Chamber felt its members could not only add to the offer- ings of the day, but also benefit from the informal interac- tion with community members and organizations. Headed by members Lisa Plasse of From the Top Music Studio and Ruth Sekel of Weichert Realtors, a Chamber committee approached Recreation Director Kathy LaMonte and asked how it could help. As a result, the committee has been visiting businesses and encouraging them to get involved. Among the suggestions are setting up a booth at the event, where the business can share promotional materi- als and give away samples or host a game or other activity; underwrite a ride or other attraction; or sponsor a contest or raffle. “The response has been extremely positive. Everyone I’ve contacted has been very enthusiastic,” said Sekel. “I couldn’t encourage it more. The Chamber is look- ing to make the day something phenomenal,” Councilman Mark Braunius, the recreation liaison, told the mayor and council when he announced the Chamber’s offer. He said that the businesses would not compete with the non-profit organizations such as the Scouts, the Lions, or the volun- teer fire department, who sell food items as fundraisers. “They are going there to support the community and to get visibility,” Braunius said. Midland Park businesses that want to be involved are asked to contact Plasse at lisa@mpkchamber.com by this Friday and make their intentions known. There is no cost to take part other than the expense involved in whatever is offered at the individual booth. Tables and chairs are pro- vided free of charge; bringing a tent is encouraged. Tax rate is down; deadline extended The 2014 tax bills mailed to Midland Park taxpayers late last week show a decrease in property taxes for the 2,417 borough taxpayers. The new tax rate is $2.691 per $100 of assessed valua- tion. This includes municipal, school, county and local and county open space taxes. The 2013 tax rate was $2.719 per $100. “We’re happy we finally received the tax rate from the county, which is lower than last year’s, and we were able to process and mail the bills right away,” said Borough Clerk/ Administrator Addie Hanna. The reduction is due to the fact that last year’s school budget included a one-time only expense of $955,075 to fix the district’s roofs. That project had raised taxes on the average house by $359.85. The tax bills, customarily mailed out in early July, were delayed due to the Bergen County Board of Taxation’s inability to certify the tax rate until the state budget was finalized. The deadline for payment without incurring a penalty has now been extended from Aug. 10 to Sept. 2, or 25 days from the postmark on the envelope, whichever is later, according to Hanna. Total ratable property in town is $1,062 billion. Resi- dences comprise about 80 percent of ratables. Of the 2,417 properties in town, 2,204 are residential, 133 are commer- cial, 38 industrial and 61 are tax exempt properties. There are four apartment complexes, and 38 vacant parcels of land. Panthers team back from Cooperstown The Midland Park Base- ball Association’s 2014 Panthers team last month garnered one of the top Cooperstown Tournament records ever for Midland Park. The team won four games and ranked 43rd of the 104 teams from 29 states who were represented. They beat teams from Hollywood, California; Pocatello, Idaho; CoulOak, North Carolina and Barnstable, Mass. “It was a fantastic expe- rience for all the boys and coaches. Four different boys got wins pitching, and five different boys hit home Team members Nick Fiore, Jordan Iannone, Matt Weisbrot, Lyle Harpster, Joe Furlong, Kyle runs. All 13 boys contrib- Sansone, Harry Parker, Andrew Krag, Kyle Oakes, Matt Diani, Sean DeMarco, RJ Chirkis and uted during the week,” Parker Shapiro pose with their coaches, Bob Sansone, Jerry Iannone, Harry Parker and Mike said former President Dana DeMarco. Weisbrot. Teams of 12 year old boys and girls from all over the “The coaches, Bob Sansone, Jerry Iannone, Harry country spend a week playing baseball at the Dreams Park Parker and Mike DeMarco all did a great job preparing the in Cooperstown and get to meet other players. The families team this season, and the town supported the Cooperstown of the players take a week off to go up and root on their teams as they fundraised to get the opportunity to go,” said boys. Last week Glen Rock, Ridgewood and Waldwick Weisbrot. “A big thanks goes out to the people and busi- were also there. Midland Park has been participating for 16 nesses of Midland Park and their donations to make this of 18 years the park has been open. dream possible year after year,” he added.