1 ZO N E FR MID W Y A LA CK N N O K D F LI N PA F LA R K K ES �� � � � � � � � � �� � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � �� � � � � �� � �� ISSN 2161-8208 ISSN 2161-8194 www.villadom.com Copyright 2014 �� � � � � � � �� �� � � � � � � � � ��� ��� �� � � � � �� �� � � � � �� � � � � ��� � �� � � � � � � � � �� � � � � � � � � �� � � � �� � � � �� � � � � � � � � � � � �� �� � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � Vol. 27 No. 2 SERVING THE HUB OF NORTH-WEST BERGEN January 22, 2014 40¢ ☺ What’s News- Franklin Lakes Circle ‘round County to proceed with traffic circle work at Franklin Lake, High Mountain roads. 3 Wyckoff Ruling in Superior Court judge finds no conflict of inter- est in ShopRite supermarket case. 5 Midland Park Case concludes BOE won’t have to justify decisions to withhold information it deems privileged. 7 Area Presidential event West Bergen to honor leaders of Ramapo Col- lege, William Paterson University. Generous group 11 Police officers from the Allendale/Waldwick PBA Local 217 recently made a donation of 70 hams to The Center for Food Action in Mahwah. “The ������������������������������ Best Deal In Town” your residential 64 on Franklin Avenue Tpke. 190 ������������������ Waldwick, Ridgewood, loan. mortgage NJ NJ ����������������� For information contact: ������������ • • CUSTOM DRAPERIES CUSTOM DRAPERIES • • UPHOLSTERY UPHOLSTERY • • SHUTTERS SHUTTERS 201-444-7100 ��������������� www.asbnowmortgage.com Offices in Bergen, Morris & NML#737325 Passaic Counties 3-6-13 Karen/Janine 12-1-10 Karen/Janine AtlanicStewardshipFrPg AtlanicStewardshipFrPg 20 20 E. E. Main St., Ramsey NJ Main St., Ramsey NJ 201-327-4900 201-327-4900 Is Your Insurance Premium Increasing? 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BARTHOLD Cell: 201.481.1572 Direct: 201.493.2984 What’s Inside Classified.......21 Restaurant.....19 Opinion.........14 Crossword.....20 Obituaries......16 Entertainment..18 2-20-13 Janine FairwayEstateFrPg(2-20-13) Michele...from Janine • AbbeyCarpetFrPg(7-17-13) Airport Worldwide Locally & Rev1 Service ColdwellBartholdFrontPage12-18-13 Janine • Nights on the Town Free Estimates Fully Insured 201-444-0315 • Sporting Events • Sedans, SUV’s, Limos, Vans, Buses 81 Franklin Tpke., Mahwah, NJ 201-529-1452 P.O. Box 96, Midland Park, NJ 07432-0096 Total Window & Wall Fashions Page 2 THE VILLADOM TIMES I, II, III & IV • January 22, 2014 Villadom Happenings Learn to preserve digital photos The Genealogical Society of Bergen County will host photo expert Larry Scheer on Monday, Jan. 27 at 7 p.m. This program will be held at the Ridgewood Public Library, 125 North Maple Avenue in Ridgewood. Scheer will discuss digital conversion and preservation of film, video, and slides. He will offer “how to” advice and professional options. All are welcome. Networking event set Abbott and Caserta will sponsor an “inner circle” net- working and tailgating party on Thursday, Jan. 23 at Jack Daniels Motors, 334 Route 17 South in Upper Saddle River. The event will be held from 5:30 to 8 p.m. and will feature drinks, food, and prizes. Those who attend will meet pro- fessionals from various industries. Visit maineventrsvp. eventbrite.com to register. Learn about teen substance use The Friends of West Bergen will present “Navigating Teenage Substance Use: What’s an Adult to Do?” on Tues- day, Feb. 11 at the Ridgewood Public Library, 125 North Maple Avenue in Ridgewood. This 9:45 a.m. breakfast meeting is open to the public and is free of charge. A panel of West Bergen professionals, including Jane Pollack, LCSW, assistant clinical director of child, adult and family services; Fran Picone, LPC, LCADC, ACS, co-occurring disorder coordinator; and Chris Smith, staff therapist, will present the program. A question and answer session will follow. The Friends of West Bergen is a non-profit organiza- tion dedicated to aiding and supporting the goals of West Bergen Mental Healthcare. To register, call Carol Cohen at (201) 444-3550 or e-mail ccohen@westbergen.org by Feb. 5. Mardi Gras comes to the Fell House Mark Mardi Gras 2014 at a Feb. 28 celebration to ben- efit Allendale’s historic John Fell House. The Concerned Citizens of Allendale will host a New Orleans style party at the Brick House, 179 Godwin Avenue in Wyckoff. The evening will feature dancing to music by After Hours, a buffet dinner, open bar, prizes, and special contests. Tickets are $125 per person. To purchase tickets, send a check made payable to “Concerned Citizens of Allendale” Game supports service project Members of Bergen Catholic High School’s Crusaders for Christian Action recently hosted its annual student-faculty basketball game to raise funds for its various projects. CCA is a student service organization that provides services to the poor and needy. CCA members provide a community outreach through food, clothing, and fundraising efforts. Pictured are junior Anthony Persico of Park Ridge, freshman Diarmad DiMurro of Highland Mills (NY), junior Joseph Esposito of Waldwick, freshman Jack Shannon of Palisades (NY), junior Marco Aranda of Paramus, junior Neil-Daniel Di Spirito of Washington Township, junior Trevor King of Wayne, senior Anayo Iloabanafor of Bergenfield, junior Jose Rivera of North Haledon, sophomore John-David Kantakis of Franklin Lakes, senior Corey Gittleman of Hillsdale, fresh- man John Di Spirito of Washington Township, and sophomore Tyler Cerbone of Closter. to Maureen Mamunes, 165 Forest Road, Allendale, NJ, 07401 by Feb. 14. For more information, call (201) 248- 8240. Fell was one of several American patriots who signed the U.S. Constitution. His home (formerly known as “Petersfield”) is a walk through history. A Revolutionary War era ship’s mast provides support for the house, which is owned, operated, and maintained by the Concerned Citi- zens of Allendale, a 501c3 non-profit dedicated to the pres- ervation of the building as a self-sustaining community center through grants, fundraisers, and private donations. For more information about this event, or the John Fell House and the Concerned Citizens of Allendale e-mail TheFellHouse@gmail.com. The house is located at 475 Ridgewood sets pre-game activities Ridgewood is preparing for the Big Game with special events to be held from Jan. 26 through Feb. 2. Activities will be held in four huddle zones: Huddle Zone 1 is the Ridgewood Library, 125 North Maple Avenue; Huddle Zone 2 is the Ridgewood Y, 112 Oak Street; Huddle Zone 3 is the old bank building, 54 East Ridgewood Avenue; Huddle Zone 4 is Graydon Park at Linwood and Maple avenues. Retailers will host sales and restaurants will have Big Game specials. Kick off the week Jan. 26 at Huddle Zone 2 for a Tailgate Taste-Off from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. The Ridgewood Y will host local eateries as they serve up their best football snacks for all to taste and judge. There will be a People’s Choice winner and an Elite Judges’ winner. Kid-friendly football skills and drills events will take place in the gym. Enter- tainment will include a magician, football arts & crafts, music, and more. Spectators may watch football clips and bloopers on the big screen TV. Prizes will include a football signed by Bill Parcells and one signed by Michael Strahan. The Y will offer trivia throughout the week, a sculpt and glide football widow workout, hula-hoop yoga, Zumba, and giveaways. Call (201) 444-5600, extension 375. On Jan. 28, fans will meet at the Ridgewood Library for a Sporty Story & Craft-Pigskin at 4 p.m. This program is open to children ages four through seven. RSVP at (201) 670-5600, extension 110. At 6:30 p.m. on Jan. 28, 29, and 30, the library will offer a special lineup of football movies on the big screen. On Jan. 28, the feature will be “Rudy.” The film is rated PG. The Jan. 29 selection is “Air Bud: Golden Receiver,” rated G. The Jan. 30 film will be “Game Plan,” rated PG. The celebration will continue Jan. 31 at 54 East Ridgewood Avenue. From 4 to 10 p.m. there will be sports arcade games, arts & crafts, and a Big Vault Treasure Hunt. There will be entertainment by the Declan Power Band from 8 to 10 p.m. Ridgewood High School football videos will be shown on a big screen TV. The cost is $5 per person. Call (201) 445-2600. A full day of activities will take place Feb. 1. From 10 to 11 a.m., Huddle Zone 3 at Van Neste Square will be the site for the super snowman and igloo building and a snowball and football toss. Call (201) 445-2600. Revelers will move to 54 East Ridgewood Avenue from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. for a Chili Cook-off, sweets from Carlo’s Bakery, sports arcade games, art & crafts, Big Vault Trea- sure Hunt, and prizes. The halftime show will start at noon with the Ridgewood High School Marching Band, cheerleaders, Maroon Sing- ers, and football team. Magic Cube Entertainment will present Trivia Mania at the library at 2 p.m. Families will enjoy a game show with fun facts about football, geography, and more. Regis- ter with a Ridgewood library card for this free event. Call (201) 670-5600, extension 110. The Fire and Ice Festival will be held from 4 to 8 p.m. at Graydon Park. There will be a dozen or so bonfires around the pool. The Ridgewood Fire Department will set up to spray “snow” to create areas for snowshoeing, hiking, play, cross country skiing, and more. Weather permitting, the roller rink will become an ice skating rink. There will also be ice sculpting. For details, call (201) 670-5560. For more information about the celebration, contact the Ridgewood Chamber of Commerce at (201) 445-2600, info@ridgewoodchamber.com, or visit www.experi- enceridgewood.com. Franklin Turnpike in Allendale. Trumpet and trombone players sought The Glen Rock Star Dreamers Big Band, an 18-member swing band, is seeking trumpet and trombone players for its upcoming season. The band rehearses on Tuesdays from (continued on page 22) January 22, 2014 THE VILLADOM TIMES I • Page 3 Franklin Lakes County to move ahead with traffic circle changes by Frank J. McMahon Bergen County has decided to proceed with the changes to the traffic circle at the intersection of Franklin Lake Road and High Mountain Road in Franklin Lakes. Gary Ascolese, the Bergen County engi- neer, advised that work on the circle would probably begin at the end of January based on the weather. James X. Sattely, the Bergen County counsel, advised that an enhanced signage plan would be in effect for the first 30 days so all motorists are aware of the change in the traffic pattern well in advance of their approach to the circle. According to Ascolese, the speed limit on the four approaches to the circle will be reduced and the yellow flashing light on Franklin Lake Road will be changed to red, but the pavement markings will not be added until the warmer weather. Ascolese emphasized that the changes the county will make to the traffic circle are consistent what will be seen at all traffic circles in the state and they will have noth- ing to do with the development of the High Mountain Golf Club. He said, however, that the county will work with borough officials on any adjustments to the circle’s traffic pattern that may become necessary in the future because of traffic that may be cre- ated on Franklin Lake Road by the develop- ment of the golf course property. Ascolese explained that the traffic signal at the circle was established in 1959 when the stop signs were installed. He added, Borough upgrades its award-winning website Franklin Lakes Borough Administra- tor Gregory Hart and his Web team have upgraded their award-winning website by adding a series of videos, entitled a “Video Tour of Franklin Lakes.” According to Hart, the video tour is a series of five short, informative videos on different borough features, including a welcome from Mayor Frank Bivona, one on efforts to protect the environment, a video about recreation facilities, one with a brief history of the municipality, and one describing educational opportunities in the borough. The videos were shot and edited by the borough’s volunteer video production interns and a video production company (CGI) that provides this service at no cost to the borough. “Each of the videos provides a good overview of the video subject and features footage of borough sites and services,” Hart said, urging residents and others to watch the videos and provide feedback at webteam@franklinlakes.org. In the video featuring the mayor, Bivona said he, like many of the more than 10,000 residents of the borough, moved to Franklin Lakes to raise his family. “I couldn’t think of a better place to do so,” he says. “It’s a great place to live and raise a family or conduct a business or just to come to visit.” Bivona mentions the highly-rated schools, the recreation programs, the library, and local retail businesses and cor- porate headquarters. “Welcome to Franklin Lakes,” Bivona adds, “a place I am proud to call home.” The Going Green video describes the borough’s commitment to the environment and states that the borough includes abun- dant lakes, ponds, streams, and other natural features that its residents feel a responsibil- ity to preserve. The video points out that the borough is a New Jersey Sustainable Certified community, which is in compli- ance with stringent regulations on energy efficiency, recycling, waste reduction, (continued on page 23) “It’s time for the next order of control for that traffic signal. It’s time to go to the next step.” The Bergen County Freeholders adopted an ordinance on Dec. 18 that authorized the county to proceed with the planned changes to the circle despite a request by Franklin Lakes Borough Administrator Gregory Hart to delay the changes to the circle due to the potential impact of the development of the High Mountain Golf Club property on Franklin Lake Road and that intersec- tion. Sattely wrote to Franklin Lakes Borough Attorney William Smith acknowledging the borough’s request to delay the adoption of the ordinance, but advising that the county cannot accede to the borough’s request. Sat- tely explained that the borough initiated a review of the traffic circle’s operation and the review revealed that there are no traf- fic controls at the circle on Franklin Lake Road, and all four of the approaches to the circle are controlled by the county. “As presently configured the traffic circle does not comply with the requirements of the federal Highway Administration’s 2009 manual on uniform traffic control devices which provides that there must be ‘yield’ signs on each approach,” Sattely stated. He added there is nothing in the manual that permits the borough owned flashing signal, which flashes yellow on Franklin Lake Road and red on High Mountain Road. Sattely also pointed out that traffic on Franklin Lake Road approaches the circle as a through street, while drivers entering the circle from a “stop” controlled inter- section with High Mountain Road have an expectation that all approaching traffic will yield to them once they enter the circle. This “disconnect” has led to 61 traffic acci- dents in the past five years, Sattely stated, most of which involve right angle collisions in which a Franklin Lake Road driver “T- bones” a High Mountain Road driver who has entered the circle with an expectation of safe passage after entering the circle. According to Sattely, the county engi- neer has concluded that the continuous pattern of accidents presents a serious and continuing risk to the safety of vehicles and pedestrians and has concluded that it is possible to immediately reduce accidents at this site by the use of “yield” signs on all four approaches to the circle. When the weather warms, pavement striping will be added to define the traveled way. Sattely also advised Smith that the borough’s flashing traffic signal must be removed. “The county’s actual knowledge of the deficient operation of the traffic circle com- pels the county to take any and all neces- sary steps to reduce potential or actual injury to people and property,” Sattely told Smith, adding that if the county failed to act to eliminate a known risk which the bor- ough has brought to the county’s attention it could lead to the county and the borough losing the immunity granted by the state’s Tort Claim Act. Page 4 THE VILLADOM TIMES I • January 22, 2014 FLOW Area Post 5702 announces essay contest winners by Frank J. McMahon Franklin Lakes Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 5702 has announced the Ramapo Indian Hills Regional High School District winners of the annual Voice of Democracy con- test. This year’s theme was “Why I’m Optimistic about Our Nation’s Future.” The first place winners at their schools were Victoria Summers, a junior at Ramapo High School and Matt Gorab, a sophomore at Indian Hills High School. Ashlyn McK- enna, a Ramapo sophomore won second place; and Kris- ten Arnold, Ramapo senior won the third place award. Siena Mayer-Costa, a sophomore at Indian Hills won the second place award in that school, and Dante Freese an IHHS senior won the third place award. The first place winners were awarded checks for $150, while each second place winner received checks for checks for $100, and the third place winners each received checks for $75. VFW Post 5702 member Bob Talan, Ramapo High Social Studies Supervi- sor Joseph DelBuono, and Indian Hills Social Stud- ies Supervisor Keely Leg- gour presented the student awards at a recent school board meeting. The contest, which has been the VFW’s premier scholarship program since 1947, was designed to foster patriotism by giving high school students the oppor- tunity to voice their opin- ions about their personal obligations as Americans and their responsibilities to the country. The students wrote and then recorded a three to five minute essay. Each essay was judged on the basis of originality, con- tent, and delivery. Original- ity is worth 30 points, and content and delivery are worth 35 points each. In Summers’ first place essay, she described the optimism expressed by cer- tain people from the 1890s through the 2000s, point- ing out how each person had reasons to be optimis- tic about the future of the nation, but always seemed to acknowledge that there were still problems to be solved. Summers provided examples of that optimism along with the problems that were faced during each of those times. She said she is optimistic about the future of the U.S. because the nation has overcome so many problems in the past. “While solutions to problems will not happen overnight, they will happen if citizens of this great country stick together, work hard, and persevere,” Summers stated. “I am optimistic because the country has an unbreakable, extraordinary sense of unity, pride, and innovation and has overcome each and every challenge that has come its way.” In Gorab’s first place essay, he described how the coun- try was founded and gained its independence and pledged to preserve the principle of human rights. He pointed out how the country was based on the Puritan demand for reli- gious freedom and, as time went on, African Americans were freed from slavery in 1870 and women gained the right to vote in the 1920s. Gorab stated, however, that gay individuals have not been granted full equality and in some people’s eyes are looked upon as second class citizens. He described two court cases involving same sex couples and he pointed out that many gay marriages have taken place in the 14 states where they are legal. “The world is turning, but slowly,” Gorab acknowl- edged. “Statistically, most Americans, regardless of reli- gion or race, are supportive of gay marriage. . .the time has (continued on page 17) January 22, 2014 THE VILLADOM TIMES I • Page 5 Wyckoff Judge finds no conflict in ShopRite case by John Koster A Superior Court judge has ruled that the Wyckoff Planning Board did nothing improper in approving the application for a new Inserra Supermarkets ShopRite in Wyckoff. Plans call for a 62,000 square foot ShopRite to be constructed on the Greenwood Avenue site that was the former location of an A&P food store. Judge William C. Meehan’s 30-page decision indicates that the Wyckoff Planning Board and traffic expert Gary Dean did not have a disqualifying conflict of interest or the appearance of impropriety and granted the defendants a partial summary judgment on the issue. Stop & Shop, which is located in the Boulder Run Shopping Center, near the location of the proposed ShopRite, claimed Dean had a possible conflict because his law partner was working on a project in New Milford where Inserra is a potential tenant. Wyckoff officials anticipate that Meehan’s ruling means Wyckoff will be out of the loop on subsequent arguments between Stop & Shop and Inserra Supermar- kets. “The judge held we proceeded correctly by not wait- ing to see if there was a conflict,” said Wyckoff Plan- ning Board Attorney Joseph Perconti. “Anything that can bring a little closure to this long-standing issue is good for Two new ordinances introduced The Wyckoff Township Committee has introduced two new ordinances pertaining to local streets and sidewalks. One ordinance, which would amend the property main- tenance code, would allow the borough to issue summonses relating to the repair of sidewalks that constitute a detriment or hazard. A summons would be an action of last resort to obtain compliance, a township official explained. Currently, code allows municipality to perform the repairs and place the cost as a lien on the property. This ordinance would provide another tool to accomplish the same purpose by use of a summons to be answered in municipal court. The second ordinance amends the time limit on parking on sections of Wyckoff Avenue and Highland Avenue from one hour to 15 minutes. Specifically, the parking on the east side of Wyckoff Avenue is limited to 15 minutes from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. from a point 180 feet north of the north curb line of Frank- lin Avenue for a distance of 66 feet. Parking on Highland Avenue between Wyckoff Avenue and Everett Avenue is to be limited to one hour from 8 a.m. until 6 p.m. except on (continued on page 23) the planning board and good for Wyckoff.” Dean had been taken off the case when the charges of conflict were mentioned, but the judge saw no conflict in any event. Other aspects of the case will be continued on Jan. 29, but Wyckoff officials believe the township is in the clear and the issues to be resolved are between the two super- market chains. Stop & Shop filed suit in March 2013 after two years of hearings resulted in a 9-0 approval of plans for a new ShopRite supermarket at the vacant parking lot that is zoned for supermarkets and had hosted a large A&P until about a dozen years ago. The vacant lot is regarded as an eyesore by several commercial neighbors. Most of the testimony for the ShopRite application was provided by expert witnesses for both sides, but two hearings that allowed the residents to speak revealed that about 80 percent of the Wyckoff people who spoke favored the ShopRite as planned, 10 percent would have liked a smaller building, and 10 percent objected to a second full-sized supermarket in Wyckoff. Page 6 THE VILLADOM TIMES I • January 22, 2014 Midland Park Donations coming in for New Year’s Day fire victims The Midland Park community has rallied in support of the victims of a New Year’s Day fire that destroyed the four-family dwelling at 351 Godwin Avenue and sent its occupants scrambling for alternate living arrangements. One of the occupants was treated for smoke inhalation and released from the hospital. The Church of God, only a half block away from the fire scene, has set up an emergency relief fund for the displaced families and is accepting donations of cash, checks and gift cards. “We are just the hub for the community relief effort to support the families,” said Pastor Lloyd Vorderstrasse. “Our church treasurer has opened a separate account to hold the contributions until the families need them to get up and running again.” He said donations have been coming in steadily. “I think it is wonderful and typical of the community to be ready to support residents in need,” commented Mayor Patrick “Bud” O’Hagan, who was part of an effort to help one of the families move its possessions to a storage facil- ity. “The timeframe was creating additional pressure on the family to conform,” explained the mayor, who said he had also been able to secure a week’s extension of the dead- line. Clothing was also being collected at the DePhillips Center, but Councilman Scott Pruiksma, who has been actively involved in the relief effort. said that need has been met. There was no request for furniture or household goods, he said. While the residents of three of the apartments found shelter with relatives or friends, one couple was put up at a hotel for a week by the Red Cross and has now found tem- porary living quarters in Ridgewood. They are looking for permanent quarters, according to Pruiksma. Persons who would like to contribute are asked to make checks payable to the \”Church of God Disaster Relief Fund” and write in the memo line \”Fire Victims”. Please deliver or mail the check to the church, 400 Godwin Avenue, Mid- land Park 07432. Pastor Lloyd stressed that 100 peercent of the donations will go to those displaced by this fire. Changing of the guard The new officers of the Midland Park Volunteer Fire Department were sworn in during the recent reorganization meeting of the mayor and council. Pictured above, from left: Chief Mark McCombs, Assistant Chief Jason Crean, and Captain Jeff Casson and Lieutenant Steven Rau. January 22, 2014 THE VILLADOM TIMES I • Page 7 Midland Park Judge’s OPRA ruling excludes some documents The Midland Park Board of Education will have to post attachments and support materials along with is regular meeting agendas from now on, but it will not be required to provide any rationale when it withholds information it deems privileged or confidential. In a final decision rendered by Superior Court Judge Peter Doyne on a complaint filed by resident David Opderbeck, Judge Doyne ruled that the board “shall make available to the public, by posting to its public website, no later than forty-eight (48) hours before all regularly scheduled and special board meetings, the full agenda for such meetings, if such agenda is posted, including copies of any appendices, attachments, reports, and other documents referred to in the agenda, except to the extent defendant has a good faith belief that such documents are subject to an enumerated privileged, exemption or the like under the Open Public Records Act, Open Public Meetings Act, or common law right to information.” Judge Doyne’s decision did not require the board to provide the documents deemed confidential in a redacted form. Opterdeck had sought to have a log list- ing of excluded documents included with the agenda, and asked that “claims of privilege or confidentiality be based on particularized facts,” nor “merely because such documents fall within a general category of docu- ments.” .“I hope that the permanent injunction issued by the court will help facilitate an open and cooperative exchange of information between the Board of Educa- tion and the public,” commented Opterdeck after the decision was rendered. Opterdeck, who represented himself, is a law professor at Seton Hall University Law School and the principal of The Opderbeck Law Firm. Board President William Sullivan did not return a request to comment on the judge’s order nor on whether the board would appeal. The board has 45 days from Jan. 6 to file an appeal. Meanwhile, however, the board’s Jan. 7 electronic agenda included 140 pages of support mate- rial. The agenda for the Jan. 21 meeting had not been posted by press time. In his complaint, Opderbeck claimed that the board’s past and continued refusal to provide the public with attachments to its meeting agendas prior to board meet- ings violated the Open Public Meetings and Public Records acts. He said attachments to the agenda were not made available to the public until after the meeting was concluded and only pursuant to a written request under the Open Public Records Act (OPRA). The board contended that some supplementary agenda items could not be made public prior to meetings because they may have contained protected or confiden- tial information. Correction The article on Midland Park Councilman Nick Papa- pietro’s election as borough council president incorrectly stated his tenure on the council. He has been a coun- cil member for six years, not 12. The Villadom Times regrets the error. Page 8 THE VILLADOM TIMES I • January 22, 2014 Using newspapers to teach kids in the classroom Few resources are as inexpensive yet inherently valuable as the local newspaper. For educators, newspapers can be a valu- able teaching tool. Younger kids typically are not avid readers, but newspapers are often reader-friendly, with concise articles that are not as long-winded as chapters in a book. Teachers hoping to instill a love of reading in their pupils can put the local newspaper to work in a variety of ways. Teach kids the “Five Ws (and the H).” Most adults recall the lesson of the “Five Ws (and the H): who, what, when, where, why, and how. Newspaper articles are typi- cally built around the rule that encourages reporters to answer these six questions in the first several paragraphs of an article. Teachers can give their students the news- paper and have them identify the Five Ws and the H. Students are likely to embrace the reader-friendly nature of news articles, and might just pick up their mom or dad’s newspaper around the house as a result. Teach the difference between editori- als and hard news stories. When using the newspaper as a teaching tool, teachers can give students two different articles: one news piece and one editorial. Before explaining the difference, ask kids to iden- tify the differences. Chances are kids will pick up on the main difference. An edito- rial is an opinion piece that uses facts to support an idea, while a news story simply reports the facts without giving an opinion. National Catholic Schools Week to begin January 26 Catholic Schools Week will be held from Jan. 26 through Feb. 1 this year. Launched in 1974, Catholic Schools Week is the annual celebration of Catholic Edu- cation in the United States. This year’s theme is “Catholic Schools: Communities of Faith, Knowledge, and Service.” This annual event begins the last Sunday in January and runs all week. Schools typically observe National Cath- olic Schools Week with Masses, Open Houses, and other activities for students, families, parishioners, and community members. Through these events, schools focus on the value Catholic education pro- vides to young people and its contributions to churches, communities, and the nation. This can prove a valuable lesson for kids to learn, promoting reading comprehension and teaching kids to question the source of their reading materials in an analytical way. Encourage kids to read their favorite sections of the newspaper. Kids are kids, and they’re may not be interested in the front page stories. However, there are sec- tions in every newspaper that can appeal to kids, and teachers and parents alike should encourage their kids to read those sections that interest them. The entertainment sec- tion might have stories about kids’ favor- ite movies, while young sports fans are likely to enjoy articles about their favorite teams and players. The goal is to get kids excited about reading, and many parts of the newspaper are filled with articles kids can enjoy. Use the local stories as a teaching tool. The local news is something kids can often relate to, with stories about people they know and places in or near their home- town. Human interest stories about local residents doing good deeds or about local businessmen and women setting trends might give kids a greater sense of pride in their community. The local newspaper is a wonderful tool for educators to use with their students. If there is not one already, teachers should contact their local school board or even their local paper to see if an agreement can be worked out where teachers can provide their students with the local newspaper every day. January 22, 2014 THE VILLADOM TIMES I • Page 9 How the advent of Braille changed the world Literacy is important to success in life. Knowing how to read and write is vital for success in school and the professional world, and that ability helps people partici- pate fully in society. Before the creation of Braille, visually impaired people struggled to fully assimi- late into society. Since the inception of the Braille alphabet and method of reading and writing, the visually impaired have had an entire world open up to them, enabling them to more easily live well-rounded, indepen- dent lives. Braille is not a language, but a code for transcribing written letters and num- bers into a sensory experience for visually impaired people. It is comprised of a series of raised dots that can be felt with the fin- gers and read by the blind or those whose vision is not strong enough to visually read printed text. According to the American Foundation for the Blind, Braille symbols are formed within units of space known as Braille cells. A full cell has six raised dots arranged in two parallel rows of three dots each. Sixty-four combinations of dot pat- terns are possible using one or more of the dots. A Braille cell can be used to repre- sent a letter, word, number or punctuation mark. Grade 1 Braille is when every letter of every word is expressed in Braille. This is typically used for newly blind adults or others new to the Braille code. Many text- books and other publications today are printed in what is called Grade 2 Braille. This system features cells that are used individually or together to form abbre- viated words and contractions. Grade 2 Braille reduces the number of cells needed to create phrases. This cuts down on the paper used for printing books in Braille and to make the reading process easier. Braille can be produced by an individual with a specialized stylus and a slate. The stylus is used to press paper into the depres- sions on the slate, wherein tactile dots will form. There also are machines known as Braillewriters. Technology has advanced so far that visually impaired people can now use digital, portable note takers and have writing displayed back verbally or tactu- ally. Specialized desktop printers enable some to print Braille at home. Approximately 90 percent of blind workers in the United States are literate in Braille, and Braille enables many others to go to school. Braille has enabled millions of people to communicate through the written word. Who was Louis Braille? People who rely on Braille may know it was created by a man named Louis Braille. Braille was born in France on Jan. 4, 1809. As a small child, he was blinded in an acci- dent by an awl that struck his eye while he was working in his father’s workshop. The injury caused an infection that spread to both eyes. By the age of five, Braille was blind in both eyes. Braille was supported by his parents, and they helped him become an indepen- dent child and young adult. He attended a prestigious school for the blind, called the Royal Institute for Blind Youth, where he learned a reading system devised by the school’s founder, Valentin Hauey. It con- sisted of raised imprints of Latin letters. Texts written in Hauey were small because of the complicated and time-consuming process of producing the letters. Braille became frustrated, but was eager to learn more. As Braille entered adulthood, eventually becoming a professor at the Royal Institute, he worked to fashion a system of reading and writing that would be less limiting than the Hauey method. Braille learned of a “night writing” system used by soldiers to communicate through touch in the dark. The system was too complicated to be used as such, but by 1824 Braille developed a method of his own based on the system initially designed for soldiers. The Braille system of reading and writing went on to revolutionize literacy for blind individuals. Page 10 THE VILLADOM TIMES I • January 22, 2014 Midland Park Fund for new fire truck to get additional boost The Midland Park Borough Council is considering dou- bling its allocation towards the purchase of a new fire truck so as to reduce the ultimate amount that will need to be bonded. As it fined tuned its proposed 2014 municipal budget in anticipation of formal introduction in early March, the council tentatively decided to put aside $100,000 in its capital budget for the purchase of a new ladder truck. The vehicle will have to be replaced next year when it will reach the 25-year life expectancy mandated by state law. CFO Laurie O’Hanlon said the reserve for the purchase built up with set asides over the past several years is up to $450,000. The fire department anticipates the new truck will cost $950,000. Mayor Patrick “Bud” O’Hagan said reducing the amount that ultimately has to be bonded helps in the long run because the bond payments affect the cap and the operating costs in future budgets. He pointed out, however, that the newest fire truck will be totally paid off this year and that premium can then be applied to the new purchase. Addi- tionally, he said, he would like to see the truck to be retired sold at auction rather than traded in. “There have to be towns in Pennsylvania or elsewhere willing to pay for a well-maintained truck in excellent shape,” O’Hagan said. “We just haven’t tried hard enough,” he told the skeptical council members. To increase the reserve, the council decided to reallocate moneys initially requested for other fire department proj- ects. Funds requested for equipment upgrades, including hose, radios, pagers and turnout gear, $14,000 in all, were kept in the tentative budget, but only $5,000 will be put aside for the eventual purchase of a new fire chief’s car. The fire chief had recommended a new car updated to today’s standards as a command vehicle for the chief and using the current chief’s car for the assistant chief. In this way, if the chief’s car should be out for repairs, a fully equipped com- mand car would still be available at the fire scene. Council members questioned the need for a car for the assistant chief altogether. But Councilman Jack Consi- dine, the fire commissioner, said the assistant chief could be given the car on a one-year trial basis and required to justify its value to the department at the end of the trial period. “It costs nothing,” Considine pointed out. Police requests discussed Police department capital requests came under scrutiny New staff hired for shared service The Borough of Midland Park recently hired new staff to handle inspections and other activities related to the interlocal services agreement to provide construction code official services to the Borough of Ho-Ho-Kus. Midland Park’s official, Mark Berninger, is in charge of the depart- ment for both towns. Ralph Venturini was appointed building inspector. He will serve Ho-Ho-Kus at a salary of $13,341. Frank Giordano will serve as plumbing inspector at a salary of $10,600. Ralph Purrino was hired as fire sub code official for Midland Park only at a salary of $5,843. He will also serve as fire inspector for Ho-Ho-Kus at a salary of $3,700. Ho-Ho-Kus will retain its zoning official, property maintenance official, fire official, and fire prevention offi- cial. Ho-Ho-Kus will continue to maintain a basic construc- tion department, which will initiate permits and other paperwork, and will maintain related files. The shared construction code official will maintain hours at the Ho-Ho-Kus Construction Department on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 3 pm. to 6 p.m. to meet with residents and contractors. The CCO will also be available to answer questions by phone. during the budget session as well, with council members questioning the choice of guns and police cruisers being requested. The department has to replace its duty weapons by 2015, and one of the choices being considered are 40 caliber Sig Sauer weapons at an estimated price of $8,350. Council- man Mark Braunius, who said he is familiar with guns, said that 40 caliber Glocks, which are much cheaper, are also standard issue in most area police departments. “They (Sig Sauer) are nothing else but vanity guns,” Braunius said. “Every weapon they are considering is an excellent choice. Why not the most reasonable?” asked Braunius. Councilman Scott Pruiksma said using standardized guns would also be more practical when officers participate in the county’s mandated Active Shooter program because everyone would be familiar with the other’s weapon. “We should fund the weapon that is standardized, meets their needs and is cost effective,” said Considine. Councilwoman Nancy Peet said the council should make a reasonable allocation for the weapons replacement and allow the chief to buy within those parameters. Council members also debated the type of car the depart- ment should purchase to replace two current SUVs. The department is recommending two, two-wheel drive SUVs, which are less expensive to operate. Mayor O’Hagan ques- tioned the need for SUVs over sedans, but Braunius said SUVs are roomier to carry all the necessary equipment. Pruiksma suggested getting one SUV as a patrol car and a sedan for use by the chief, whom he said uses his vehicle for meetings and not as a cruiser. “The chief’s car does not need to be totally outfitted,” Pruiksma said. Borough Administrator Addie Hanna cautioned that a sedan purchase would have to come from the operating budget and affect the state-imposed cap, whereas the SUV is funded from the capital budget. Further discussion will take place with the police chief as the budget gets finalized. January 22, 2014 THE VILLADOM TIMES I • Page 11 Area West Bergen to recognize Mercer, Waldron been fortunate to have a close working relationship with both Ramapo College and William Paterson University. West Bergen has employed graduates of both schools in all areas of the agency’s operations. In addition, we have supported each other’s events and are pleased to share a number of donors and supporters.” Mercer became Ramapo College’s fourth president in 2005. Previously, he had served as dean of the law school, vice president, and general counsel at the University of Western Ontario. He was also a member of the faculty at Calgary, Detroit, and Windsor universities. In 2005, Rotary International named Mercer a Paul Harris Fellow. He has received Teacher of the Year awards from the University of Calgary and the University of Western Ontario and the Distinguished Service Award from the Canadian Associa- tion of University Business Officers. He earned his LL.M. and Ph.D. from the University of Cambridge, and a J.D. from the University of Western Ontario. Mercer was recently appointed vice chair of the New Jersey Association of Colleges and Universities. He is also immediate past chair of the New Jersey Associa- tion of State Colleges and Universities Presidents Council. (continued on page 15) Dr. Kathleen M. Waldron Dr. Peter P. Mercer The 2014 recipients of West Bergen Mental Healthcare’s Distinguished Service Award are Ramapo College of New Jersey President Dr. Peter P. Mercer and William Pater- son University President Dr. Kathleen M. Waldron. This symbol of excellence, which is given each year to excep- tional community leaders, will be presented to Drs. Mercer and Waldron at West Bergen’s 36 th Annual Brunch at noon on Sunday, March 16. The event will be held at Seasons in Washington Township. In announcing the selection, Donald E. Hymans, presi- dent of the West Bergen Board of Trustees, said, “I am so pleased to join with my fellow board members in congratu- lating Drs. Mercer and Waldron and their universities on this prestigious award. Over the years, West Bergen has Page 12 THE VILLADOM TIMES I • January 22, 2014 Protect yourself from taxpayer identify theft Taxpayer identify theft continues to increase in the U.S. In 2012, there were 1.8 million incidents of identity theft and fraudulent tax refunds, creating a $5 billion problem, according to the U.S. Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration. In the first half of 2013, the number of tax- related identity thefts had already surpassed the 2012 figure. Tax-related identity theft occurs when someone intentionally uses the personal information of another person to file a false tax return with the intention of obtaining an unauthorized refund. Victims are left deal- ing with the aftermath, which can be emo- tionally draining as they work for years to untangle the financial nightmare. Taxpay- ers should know how to protect themselves and what to do if they become a victim. Spotting taxpayer identity theft. How do you know if you have been a victim of taxpayer identity theft? Usually, an identity thief uses a legitimate taxpayer’s identity to file a false tax return. The typical method is to use a stolen Social Security number early in the filing season to file a forged return and attempt to collect a fraudulent refund. Taxpayers may be unaware this has even happened until they try to file their legiti- mate return later in the filing season and receive a message that a return has already been filed with that SSN. Protecting your information. The Inter- nal Revenue Service offers the following tips to minimize the chance of ID theft: The IRS will never initiate contact with taxpayers by e-mail or social media to request personal or financial information. The IRS does not send e-mails stating you are being electronically audited or that you are getting a refund. This includes any type of electronic communication, such as text messages and social media. If you receive a scam e-mail claiming to be from the IRS, forward it to phishing@irs. gov. Identity thieves’ access personal infor- mation by many different means, including stealing a wallet or purse; posing as some- one who needs your personal information through an unsolicited phone call, e-mail, or mailing; looking through your trash for personal information; and accessing infor- mation you provide to an unsecured Inter- net site. If you discover a website that claims to be the IRS, but does not begin with “www. irs.gov,” forward that link to the IRS at phishing@irs.gov. To learn how to identify a secure website, visit the Federal Trade Commission’s website. If your SSN is stolen, another individ- ual may use it to get a job. That person’s employer may report income earned by him or her to the IRS using your SSN, making it appear you did not report all of your income on your tax return. If this occurs, contact the IRS to show the income is not yours. After the IRS authenticates who you are, your tax record will be updated to reflect only your information. The IRS will use this informa- tion to minimize future occurrences. Your identity may have been stolen if a letter from the IRS indicates more than one tax return was filed for you, or the letter states you received wages from an employer you don’t know. If you receive such a letter from the IRS, leading you to believe your identity has been stolen, respond immedi- ately to the name, address, or phone number on the IRS notice. If you believe the notice is not from the IRS, contact the IRS to determine if the letter is a legitimate IRS notice. If your tax records are not currently affected by identity theft, but you believe you may be at risk due to a lost wallet or questionable credit card activity or credit report, you must provide the IRS with proof of your identity. Submit a copy of your valid government-issued identification, such as a Social Security card, driver’s license, or passport, along with a copy of a police report and/or a completed IRS Form 14039, Identity Theft Affidavit, by faxing to the IRS at 855-807-5720. You can also contact the IRS Identity Protection Specialized Unit at 800-908-4490. Show your Social Security card to your employer when you start a job or to your financial institution for tax reporting pur- poses. Do not routinely carry your card or other documents that display your SSN, and don’t give out your SSN simply because someone asks for it. (continued on next page) January 22, 2014 THE VILLADOM TIMES I • Page 13 Now is the time to conduct a home inventory The holidays are over. Are all of your new items insured? Now is the perfect time to conduct a home inven- tory to make sure they are, according to the Professional Insurance Agents of New Jersey. Information about get- ting insurance for those holiday gifts is available from your professional, independent insurance agent. “Homeowners and renters insurance can include cov- erage for valuable items like jewelry and electronics they may have purchased or received as gifts over the holi- days,” said Stephen Tague, CPIA, PIANJ president. “Even though most of us check our insurance coverage after a major purchase like homes or cars, it is a good idea to check up on your insurance on a yearly basis.” Contents coverage is the part of the typical homeown- er’s insurance policy that protects against loss to personal property. The amounts of coverage vary depending on the policy that a homeowner chooses and the items they chose to cover. Contents coverage also has special coverage limitation for items like jewelry, furs, and fine art. These limitations vary by company and may not be enough to cover the total value of these items. Extra coverage called personal property “floaters” will provide specific insurance for the value of the insured property. Most insurance companies will require a homeowner to have the items appraised to determine the amount of coverage. “If you have a large amount of special items in your home, you should talk with your insurance agent about additional coverage,” Tague recommended. When insuring these valuables, it is helpful to have information such as a description of the items you would like covered, a list of any security devices you have in your home, and the amount of coverage you would like. If you have valuable items in your home, ask your insur- ance agent if those items would be covered in the event of a loss. To make sure your items are protected adequately, PIANJ suggests: • Contact your insurance agent immediately. Let your agent know you now have an expensive piece of jewelry or other costly items. • Have the items appraised. It is important to have the expensive items appraised properly. If you purchase a floater or endorsement, your premium will be based on this amount. In the event of a claim, you will be compen- sated for this dollar amount. • Take a picture of the items and add them to your home Identify theft (continued from previous page) When filing an electronic tax return, use a strong pass- word to protect the data file. Once the return has been e-filed, save the file to a CD or flash drive and then delete the personal return information from your hard drive. Store the CD or flash drive in a safe place, such as a lock box or safe. If you have information about the identity thief who impacted your personal information negatively, file an online complaint with the Internet Crime Complaint Center at IC3. Call the IRS Tax Fraud Referral Hot Line (800-829- 0433) if you suspect someone is misusing your informa- tion to commit tax fraud. You also may submit Form 3949 to report potential tax law violations to the IRS. Check your credit report every 12 months. The Fair Credit Reporting Act requires each of the nationwide credit reporting companies – Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion – to provide you with a free copy of your inventory. Keep copies of any receipts. You may need to forward a copy to your insurer. Keep a copy of your insurance policy and the inventory of your home in a safe deposit box at a secondary location. “It’s important to know what you have, what it’s worth and the proper insurance coverage to protect it. Your professional, independent insurance agent is your best resource for that,” Tague added. PIANJ is a trade association representing professional, independent insurance agencies, brokerages and their employees throughout the state. credit report, at your request, once every 12 months. This will help you monitor any changes or unusual activity. (It is recommended that you stagger these requests for a free report every four months.) The FTC Credit Reports web- site provides information on how to contact each credit agency. Safeguard personal information. Protect personal com- puters by using firewalls, anti-spam/anti-virus software, update security patches, and change passwords for Inter- net accounts. Shred all documents with any personal identifying information. Don’t give personal information via the phone, mail, or Internet unless you have initiated the contact or are sure you know who you are dealing with. A CPA can help you analyze your current situation and determine the best course of action for the coming year. If you have questions about your taxes and personal financial planning or need help finding someone to assist you, visit the NJSCPA’s free, online Find-A-CPA service at findacpa.org. To find more information about various personal financial matters, visit the NJSCPA’s public ser- vice website at MoneyMattersNJ.com. Page 14 THE VILLADOM TIMES I • January 22, 2014 Half a ban: Better than none As 2014 begins, the Ridgewood Village Council appears to be headed for a restriction on smoking on the sidewalks in front of the public schools. This is a great idea, but the fact that consensus could not be reached on banning cigarette smoking in the vicinity of Valley Hospital led to the dele- tion of that location from the proposed ordinance. A total triumph was averted in favor of a compromise with evil. Ridgewood Mayor Paul Aronsohn supported the pro- posal to ban smoking both on the sidewalks in front of the public schools and the vicinity of the hospital -- which hos- pital officials strongly supported at the council meeting. Councilwoman Gwenn Hauck, a supporter of Valley Hos- pital, agreed. Deputy Mayor Albert Pucciarelli, who is personally opposed to smoking, owns a smoke-free house, and drives a smoke-free car, wondered aloud if the local government could sustain a legal challenge to a smoking ban in public places. Former Deputy Mayor Thomas Riche argued that a comprehensive smoking ban could infringe on the rights of the public. Councilwoman Bernadette Walsh, also smoke- free at home and in the car, agreed and added that the present Ridgewood smoking ban restricting smoking by teenagers suffered from what she called “zero enforcement.” She said the police budget is already strained and probably would not be expanded to cover police officers telling kids and com- muters not to smoke in front of all of the Ridgewood schools at the same time. The arguments were realistic, and when Mayor Aronsohn took a straw poll, he concluded that an ordinance to ban smoking in front of the schools had a chance to be adopted and an ordinance to ban smoking near Valley Hospital -- even with the support of the staff -- probably did not. A bobtailed ban is better than no ban at all. However, some information offered by Alan Kantz, an outside con- sultant from a group that wants to reduce global smok- ing, should raise some pause for thought. Kantz gave out a number of numbers, but two were daunting: About 400,000 Americans die every year as a consequence of smoking, and about 40,000 Americans die every year as a result of sec- ondhand smoke. Smoking now kills more Americans in a single year than all our military deaths in World War II from Pearl Harbor to Okinawa. Secondhand smoking kills more Americans than the destruction of the Luzon Army and the Asiatic Fleet in the first months of the war, more than the air war against Germany 1942-1945, or more than the Battle of the Bulge, the single bloodiest land battle for Americans. The enemies we faced then paid for the awful, heart-breaking toll of American deaths. Air raids alone killed 650,000 German civilians and 800,000 Japanese civilians. Do the cigarette companies pay for American deaths? Of course they do. They pay the politicians so they can continue manufactur- ing cigarettes and killing more Americans, not to mention people in other countries who smoke because they think it looks American. The argument could be employed that anybody who smokes today is dumb. Two flaws emerge. The Nazi T4 Pro- gram, which antedated the Holocaust and served as a Holo- caust training program, focused on eliminating “useless eaters” including individuals with serious mental retar- dation and the chronically schizophrenic. Was this T4 monstrosity a moral act? Protestant and Catholic clergy objected to the program in public sermons. The real cur- tain-closer came when the soldiers in the Wehrmacht heard a rumor that anyone who became brain-damaged, blinded, or paraplegic in battle would join the T4 mental health vic- tims in medically induced death. The mere rumor shut down the T4 program. The technicians who would have been responsible for supervising the deaths were sent to fight the Yugoslav partisans, who seldom took prisoners. This was a great way to make sure the technicians never showed up in court after the war. Some of the physicians who endorsed the program or worked in the program lived to die of old age. It’s not right to kill smokers for money -- which is what the whole thing is really all about. Name any other fed- eral program, other than wars where U.S. interests are not directly threatened, that causes the deaths of thousands of Americans with the knowledge that they will die. One might argue that we could mandate the construction of safer automobiles with sturdier frames and lower horse- power, but cars actually serve useful purposes. Cigarettes do not. One could suggest we ban guns -- but the better idea is to make sure the guns do not fall into the hands of maniacs, dope addicts, or career criminals. Guns enable responsible people to protect their persons and their homes. Society has so conditioned the American people to accept death by lung cancer, emphysema, or heart dis- ease that most people no longer understand that the lung diseases are not a logical consequence of being born in America. One of the most interesting books I know is “The Health of the Presidents” by Dr. Rudolph Marx, a physician educated at Heidelberg who practiced for many years in Los Angeles. Dr. Marx -- no relation to either Karl or Groucho -- loved America and the American form of government. He studied the lives and deaths of every U.S. president from George Washington to Franklin Delano Roosevelt primarily to investigate their psychology and only secondarily to find out what ultimately killed them. We all know what happened to Abraham Lincoln (Con- federate agent), James Garfield (syphilitic maniac), Wil- liam McKinley (anarchist), and we endlessly ponder what happened to John Kennedy. Here are Dr. Marx’s conclu- sions on the people who died of “natural causes.” George Washington, probably strep throat aggravated by “bleeding” and dubious medical care; John Adams, extreme old age and hardening of the arteries; Thomas Jef- ferson, old age and ultimately heart failure; James Madi- son, arteriosclerosis affecting the brain, heart, and kidneys; James Monroe, complications of tuberculosis; John Quincy Adams, stroke in old age; Andrew Jackson, pulmonary disease leading to gastroenteritis; Martin Van Buren, heart disease leading to pulmonary disease; William Henry Har- rison, pneumonia leading to hepatitis and dehydration due to inept medical treatment; John Tyler, vascular thrombosis paralyzing the respiratory system; James Knox Polk, Asi- atic cholera leading to dysentery; Zachary Taylor, cholera followed by dysentery; Millard Fillmore, paralytic stroke followed by pneumonia; Franklin Pierce, cirrhosis of the liver due; James Buchanan, heart failure followed by pneu- monia; Andrew Johnson, stroke; Ulysses S. Grant, cancer caused by constant cigar smoking; Rutherford B. Hayes, heart disease including coronary thrombosis; Chester A. Arthur, heart disease complicated by kidney issues; Grover Cleveland, coronary thrombosis; Benjamin Harrison, bron- chial pneumonia; Theodore Roosevelt, coronary occlusion following tropical diseases; William Howard Taft, heart failure following multiple diseases related to being over- weight; Woodrow Wilson, multiple strokes, the last one fatal; Warren G. Harding, probable stroke after pneumo- nia; Calvin Coolidge, serious asthma problems and quack remedies, death probably by coronary occlusion; Franklin D. Roosevelt, multiple strokes. Only Grant died as a consequence of smoking, and he smoked cigars and died of cancer that expanded from his tongue. FDR, a smoker with his notorious cigarette holder, may or may not have had cancer, but it was stroke that killed him. Lung cancer was an extremely rare disease before cig- arette smoking was promoted by the tobacco companies as a way to appear bold, sophisticated, worldly, and even as a way to reduce weight and as a benefit to digestion. The time of cigarette smoking is gone. Cigarettes should be banned at the production stage and the tobacco fields should be planted with soy beans or peanuts, under govern- ment subsidy, if necessary. It took the Axis four years to kill 400,000 Americans in the 1940s. The cigarette com- panies do it every year. They are at war with us, and we should wake up and go to war with them for the good of the American people. Wyckoff Donations will bolster safety Saint Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church and Chapter 453 of the American Hellenic Educational Progressive Association (an International Greek American advocacy organization) recently presented the Wyckoff Township Committee with funds for the purchase of rescue and safety equipment for the township’s fire department and ambulance corps. The presenters included George Gasparis, Chapter 453 president; James Giokas, Parish Council president; Pastor Economos Basil Gikas; and Nicholas C. Karras, St. Nicholas Parish Council member. The ambulance corps received a $2,000 donation to purchase emergency preparedness supplies such as cots and blankets. The fire department received $1,500 to purchase Multi Gas meters, one of which will be in the fire chief’s vehicle and one will be in the assistant chief’s vehicle. Currently, neither vehicle has any gas or CO meters and, since they are the first to arrive on the scene, these meters will assist in providing a more expedient evaluation of the emergency call. January 22, 2014 THE VILLADOM TIMES I • Page 15 Wyckoff Wanderings Florist turns 50, seeks honorees Wyckoff Florist is celebrating its 50th Anniversary with its “50 Years, 50 Dozen” event. This local business plans to honor 50 people in the Wyckoff community who deserve recognition for their selfless acts of kindness, community service, and compas- sion for others. Throughout 2014, Wyckoff Florist will be accepting nominations and presenting each recipient an arrangement of one dozen beautiful long stemmed roses. Nomination forms may be found at www.wyckofflorist.com and submitted by mail or in person to the shop located at 265 Godwin Avenue, Wyckoff, NJ 07481. Forms may also be e-mailed to wyckoffflor istandgifts@gmail.com, or sent via private Facebook message at Facebook.com/Wyck- offFlorist. Call (201) 891-0232 for details. Mah-jongg Game Nights begin The Wyckoff Public Library invites the community to play mah-jongg on the second and fourth Mondays of each month. The group will meet from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Beginners and experienced players are welcome. For more information, or to sign up, contact Diane Ulrich of the Friends of the Wyckoff Library at (201) 891-8275 or dianeulrich@aol.com. Wyckoff Family Y holds annual meeting The Wyckoff Family YMCA will hold its annual board meeting on Wednesday, Jan. 22 at 8 a.m. in Y’s Performing Arts Center at 691 Wyckoff Avenue in Wyckoff. Wyckoff Superintendent Rich Kuder will be the guest speaker. During the meeting, the Y’s new officers will be sworn in, key volunteers will be recognized, and a there will be a brief presentation of the Y’s mis- sions and goals for the coming year. A light breakfast will be served and the public is invited. Military Bridge Night slated Lincoln School PTO will host its annual Military Bridge Night on Thursday, Jan. 23. The event will be held in the school gym located at 325 Mason Avenue. The doors will open at 6:30 p.m. and the game will follow at 7 p.m. Tickets are $10. Interested players are welcome to make up tables of four people or fewer. To purchase tickets, e-mail rojenco@gmail.com or call (201) 887-0215. ‘Tween’ and teen activities set The Wyckoff Public Library is offer- ing teens and tweens between the ages of 11 and 16, a variety of programs during the month of January. There will be a discussion of Meg Roso- ff’s novel, “Picture Me Gone,” on Wednes- day, Jan. 22. The group will meet from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. Copies of the book are avail- able to at the circulation desk. On Thursday, Jan 30, there will be a screening of “Marvel’s The Avengers” from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. Popcorn will be served. Pet licenses available During January, Wyckoff residents may license their dogs and cats for 2014 at the municipal clerk’s office at town hall, 340 Franklin Avenue. Hours are Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Licenses will also be available on Tuesdays from 6 to 8 p.m. Pet owners are reminded to bring proof of the pet’s rabies vaccination and altera- tion papers. The fee for an altered pet is $11 and $14 for an unaltered pet. After Feb. 1, 2014, a late fee of $10 per animal will be charged in addition to the regular licensing fee. Replacement tags may be purchased throughout the year for $5. characters who must dig deep within them- selves to find a hidden reservoir of cour- age. There will be a screening of “March of the Penguins (2005) on Jan. 27. Narrated by Morgan Freeman, the film chronicles the annual journey of Emperor penguins to their traditional breeding ground on the desolate Antarctic ice brings severe hard- ships no other species could endure. The movies is rated G and is 84 minutes. Monday at the Movies planned The Wyckoff Public Library located at 200 Woodland Avenue presents free screenings of movies on Mondays at 2 p.m. January’s theme, “Snow Going,” features Kevin Rooney never stated that his father was a Marine Corps general. His father served in the Army and was an attor- ney. Villadom TIMES regrets the error and any inconvenience it may have caused. Correction Distinguished Service Award (continued from page 11) In addition to the higher education sector, Mercer’s service also includes membership on the board of directors of the Commerce and Industry Association of New Jersey and the Meadowlands Regional Chamber of Commerce. Since 2007, he has served as a faculty mentor in the Harvard Seminar for New Presidents held each July. Dr. Waldron, a well-known educator and international banker, joined William Paterson University in 2010, becoming the university’s seventh president. Prior to beginning her career with William Pat- erson, she served as president of Baruch College, CUNY for five years, dean of the College of Business at Long Island Uni- versity, Brooklyn Campus, and worked at Citibank for 14 years, where she directed strategic planning. Waldron holds both a doctorate and master’s degree in Latin American history from Indiana Univer- sity and a bachelor’s degree from the State University of New York at Stony Brook. She received a Fulbright Fellowship and a Social Science Research Council Fel- lowship and was recently recognized as one of the top 50 women in New Jersey by NJBIZ. Waldron serves on the boards of the Tinker Foundation, the Hamilton Partner- ship, NJEDge.Net, and the Commerce and Industry Association of New Jersey. She is one of the founding members of the New Jersey Campus Compact. Waldron has also written about Venezuela and speaks extensively about leadership and higher education. Reservations for the brunch are $80 per person. For further information, includ- ing online reservations, visit www.annu- albrunch.com or contact Carol Cohen at ccohen@westbergen.org or (201) 444- 3550. West Bergen is a non-profit organiza- tion providing a wide range of psychiatric and counseling services for all age groups with various levels of need. West Bergen is committed to meeting the psychological needs of each of its clients with sensitivity and responsive, innovative services of the highest quality. For further information on West Bergen and the services it provides, call (201) 444-3550. Page 16 THE VILLADOM TIMES I • January 22, 2014 Obituaries of Ridgefield, Connecticut, and Julie Wright of Norwalk, Connecticut. Mildred Bechle Aleida Gonzalez of Wyckoff died Jan. 13. She was 80. She was born in Pinar Del Rio, Cuba and moved to the United States in 1964. She settled in Fairview before moving to Paramus and then to Wyckoff in 2010. She was a homemaker. She is survived by her husband Manuel Gon- zalez of Wyckoff and her children Janet Mullin of Wyckoff and Carlos Gonzalez of Sparta. She is also survived by four grandchildren and her sister Teresa Novobilski of Nevada. Arrangements were made by Vander Plaat Funeral Home in Wyckoff. Mildred Bechle, nee DeMarzian, of Naples, Florida, formerly of Wyckoff, died Jan. 12. She was 91. She was a former president of the Wyckoff Garden Club and volun- teered at Valley Hospital. She is survived by her children Jane Bechle, Carrie Bogart, Roger, and Charles. She is also survived by five grandchildren and one great-grand- son. She was predeceased by her husband Paul. Arrange- ments were made by the Beachwood Cremation Society in Naples, Florida. Anna ‘Ann’ Bokor Anna “Ann” Bokor of Wyckoff, formerly of Totowa and North Haledon, died Jan. 15. She was 89. She was a gradu- ate of Mount Healthy High School and Deaconess Hospital School of Nursing, both of which are located in Cincinnati, Ohio. She served her country in the Cadet Nurse Corps during World War II. She retired in 1986 as senior nurse from the Singer Kearfott Division in Little Falls after 30 years of service. She was a parishioner of Saint Paul’s R.C. Church in Prospect Park, where she was a member of the Rosary Society. She was a former member of the Haledon Chapter of the AARP. She is survived by her nieces Linda Hartley of Wanaque and JoAnn Van Der Wall of North Haledon, and two great-nieces. She was predeceased by her parents Anna (nee Tracey) and Frank J. Bokor Sr. and her siblings Frank Bokor Jr., Regina Hartley, and Robert Bokor. Arrangements were made by Vander Plaat Vermeu- len Memorial in Franklin Lakes. Memorial donations may be made to Saint Paul’s R.C. Church, 286 Haledon Avenue, Prospect Park, NJ 07508. Mark Cannon Mark Cannon, formerly of Wyckoff, died Jan. 1 in Frankfurt, Germany. He was 51. He attended Ramapo High School, where he excelled in academics, football, and wres- tling. He remains Ramapo’s only wrestling state champion (148 pounds, 1980). He attended the United States Mili- tary Academy at West Point, graduating with distinction while making Brigade Staff and continuing his wrestling career. Upon graduation in 1985, he served five years in the Army Corps of Engineers in Karlsruhe, Germany, attaining the rank of captain. After leaving the Army, he worked in marketing and product development in the elec- tronics industry for Ersa, Gmbh, and Pace Electronics. He had six patents and developed products that continue to be used worldwide. His invention, the Ersascope, received the Grand Award for Excellence in 2000. He was an artist and sculptor. He attended the Art Students League in New York City at age nine. He is survived by his wife Tatjana and his daughter Rebecca, both of Germany. He is also survived by his father Kerry and his stepmother Eugenia of Orlando, Florida, his mother Martha Talburt and his stepfather Lane of Stratford, Connecticut, and his siblings Kerry Cannon of Norwalk, Connecticut, Stephen Cannon of New Canaan, Connecticut, John Cannon of River Edge, Sarah Bouissou Aleida Gonzalez Gertrude ‘Trudy’ Kuiken Gertrude “Trudy” Kuiken of Sarasota, Florida, formerly of Wyckoff and South Jersey, died Jan. 8. She was 82. She is survived by her sons Richard Kuiken of West Creek and Robert Kuiken of Sarasota, Florida, seven grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren. She is also survived by her sisters Hester Malinchak and Corine Wallace. She was predeceased by her husband Raymond and her sisters Jac- queline Goodrich and Doris Newenhouse. Arrangements were made by M. John Scanlan Funeral Home in Pomp- ton Plains. Memorial donations may be made to Calvary Baptist Church, 190 Parkertown Drive, Little Egg Harbor Township, NJ 08087. John Rickford Mordwin John Rickford Mordwin of Franklin Lakes died Jan. 15. He was 66. He was an art preservationist. As curator of Poor Richard’s Restorations in Montclair, he restored antiques and personal treasures. He immersed himself in his clients’ biographies to create family heirlooms com- memorating the past. His devotion to the personal history profession led him to the White House for the purpose of establishing a National Family Preservation tax credit, and to China, Israel, Russia, and other countries. As a teenager, he was one of the founders of a teen nightclub where he emceed for bands such as The Association, who premiered “Cherish” at that venue. He was a graduate of Paul Smith’s and Bloomfield colleges. He is survived by his children Andrew Mordwin and Stephanie Harry. He is also sur- vived by his brother William Mordwin Jr. Arrangements were made by Vander Plaat-Vermeulen Memorial Home in Franklin Lakes. Memorial donations may be made to the Zen Garland Community at http://zengarland.org. Elizabeth A. Philip Elizabeth A. Philip nee Dittmar, of Pompton Plains, formerly of Ramsey and Fort Myers, Florida, died Jan. 10. She was 89. She received a bachelor of science from Syra- cuse University in languages and worked on Wall Street as a Spanish interpreter and then for the Ramsey school system. She is survived by her children James Jr. of Mahto- medi, Minnesota and Fort Myers, Florida, Karen Pierro of Mahwah, Deborah Chase of Bedford, New Hampshire and Fort Myers, Florida, and George Philip of North Brunswick. She is also survived by two grandchildren and her sister Anne Riley of Hurley, New York. She was predeceased by her husband James Philip. Arrangements were made by Van Emburgh-Sneider-Pernice Funeral Home in Ramsey. Memorial donations may be made to the Benevolent Care Fund, 1 Cedar Crest Drive, Pompton Plains, NJ 07444. Edna Winters-Marshall Edna Winters-Marshall, nee Predmore, of Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, formerly of Wyckoff, Franklin Lakes, and Midland Park, died Jan. 10. She was 87. She was a former crossing guard in Wyckoff. She is survived by her chil- dren Norman Winters of Ringwood and Connie Fuchs of Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, and three grandchildren. She was predeceased by her first husband Norman Winters and her second husband Arthur Marshall. Arrangements were made by Vander Plaat-Vermeulen Memorial Home in Franklin Lakes. Memorial donations may be made to East Hills Moravian Church, 1830 Butztown Road, Bethlehem, PA 18017. Donald G. Weber Donald G. Weber of Ridgewood died Jan. 13. He was 89. He was a U.S. Marine Corps veteran of World War II. Before retiring, he worked as an engineer for the New York Telephone Company for 37 years. He was a member of the American Legion in River Edge and the Paramus Elks Club. He is survived by his children Donald G. Weber Jr. of Troy, Michigan and Kathleen White of Ridgewood. He is also survived by three grandchildren and three great-grand- children. He was predeceased by his wife Elaine. Arrange- ments were made by Feeney Funeral Home in Ridgewood. Memorial donations may be made to the American Heart Association, 2550 Route 1, New Brunswick, NJ 08912. Joseph A. Zisa Joseph A. Zisa of Franklin Lakes died Jan. 11. He was 91. He was a U.S. Marine Corps veteran of World War II. Before retiring, he was a machinist with the Curtiss Wright Corporation for 37 years. He was a parishioner of Most Blessed Sacrament R.C. Church in Franklin Lakes and a member of the Elks Club of Wayne. He is survived by his wife Josephine Zisa (nee Miseo) of Franklin Lakes and his children Rosemarie Martie of Kinnelon, Phyllis Kelly of Nutley, Jane Presto of Belmar, and Anthony Zisa of New York City. He is also survived by four grandchildren and his sister Maria Loffreno of Fort Meyers, Florida. He was predeceased by his son Salvatore Zisa and his siblings Paul Zisa and Carmela Dinice. Arrangements were made by Vander Plaat Vermeulen Memorial Home in Franklin Lakes. Memorial donations may be made to Saint Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN 38101. Correction to Peter Odo obituary The obituary for Peter Odo that appeared in the Dec. 25 edition should have stated that Odo was a long-time borough clerk and administrator for the Borough of Upper Saddle River. Villadom TIMES regrets the error and any inconvenience it may have caused. January 22, 2014 THE VILLADOM TIMES I • Page 17 Park Windmill opening reception will be held Tuesday, Feb. 4 at 7:30 p.m. Refreshments will be served. For details, call (201) 444- 2390. The library is located at 250 Godwin Avenue. Christmas tree collection under way The Midland Park Department of Public Works will be collecting Christmas trees at curbside on Thursdays through Jan. 30. The regular garbage carting company does not collect Christmas trees. Residents are reminded to leave their trees on the curb, but not in the street. In the event of inclement weather, the DPW will be on snow duty and will not be collecting the trees. MPCE offers trips and tours Midland Park Continuing Education is offering a vari- ety of day trips, Broadway shows, overnight tours, and a wide array of courses for adults and youths. Residents of Midland Park and the surrounding communities are wel- come to attend. Choices include classes in SAT prep, HSPA and NJASK prep, arts and crafts, computers, exercise, languages, music, photography, and more. Trips include outings to the Philadelphia Flower Show on March 2, a Yankee Stadium tour on May 7, a visit to the Culinary Institute in New York on May 15, a Connecticut steam train and river boat excursion on May 17, and a trip to New Hope and Lambertville on May 30. Overnight tours include a three-day Pittsburgh Express trip, April 30 through May 2; a trip to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, May 17 through 23; a seven-day trip to Nashville, Tennessee, June 8 through 14; and a nine day tour of Paris, the Loire Valley, and Normandy, France, Oct. 10 through 19. MPCE will travel to Broadway to see “Newsies” on March 25 and “Wicked” on April 8. For details and fee info, call Midland Park Continuing Education at (201) 444-2030 or visit www.mpsnj.org. Softball association plans season The Midland Park Softball Association will meet on Wednesday, Jan. 22 at 7 p.m. in the community room at the DePhillips Community Center located at 50 Dairy Street. Softball families and parents of prospective players are invited to meet the board and hear about the association’s plans for the 2014 recreation and travel teams. The MPSBA program is open to girls who reside in or attend school in Midland Park. The program begins with a clinic/T-ball division for five- and six-years-olds. Kindergarten pre-registration set The Midland Park School District advises parents of prospective kindergarten students that pre-registration will be conducted by phone from Feb. 10 through 13. Parents may call (201) 445-5350 from 9:30 to 11 a.m. or from 2 to 3:30 p.m. Parents of students with last names beginning with letters A through M may call on Monday or Wednes- day; those with students whose last names begin with let- ters N through Z may call on Tuesday or Thursday. Children will be scheduled for full registration and skills screening during the week of March 10. To be eli- gible for enrollment, a child must be five years old before Oct. 1, 2014. Sondey exhibits at library The Midland Park Library’s exhibit, “Jersey Shore Part I,” will be on display during February. The exhibit was pro- duced by graphic artist and webmaster John Sondey. An Boosters plan Beefsteak Dinner The Midland Park High School Boosters Club will hold its annual Beefsteak Dinner to support its student athletes on Saturday, Jan. 25. The dinner will be held at the Midland Park Firehouse on Witte Drive from 7 p.m. to midnight and will feature entertainment by Midland Park’s own Mid- night Ramblers. The evening will include games, special fundraisers and prizes. Tickets are $50. To reserve tickets or a table, contact Kim LiPuma at (201) 652-4482 by Jan. 17. Checks should be made payable to MPHS Athletic Booster Association. Proceeds from the event will benefit the MPHS athletic program. The MPHS Athletic Booster Association is a parent vol- unteer organization that works to support the students and athletic program of MPHS. Interact Club hosts Fashion Show The Midland Park/Wyckoff Interact Club will host a Fashion Show on Sunday, Jan. 26 at the Brick House, 179 Godwin Avenue in Wyckoff. The event will be held from 3 to 7 p.m. and will feature prom and special occasion fash- ions and hairstyles and casual attire for teens and adults. Tickets are $45 for adults and $35 for students. Tick- ets may be purchased at Family Hair Care, 222 Godwin Avenue in Midland Park, or by calling (201) 652-8130. Proceeds from the event will benefit the clubs scholar- ship and leadership programs. Friends welcome new members The Friends of the Midland Park Memorial Library will meet on Jan. 27 at 7:30 p.m. in the Community Room of the library located at 250 Godwin Avenue. New members are welcome. The group’s mission is to promote the Midland Park Library and provide extra materials and programs that are not in the library’s regular operating budget. Through fundraising efforts, the group makes it pos- sible for library patrons to enjoy a wider range of materials, special programs, and equipment, such as the Wi-Fi cover- age of the entire building that was completed last month. The group plans to assist in enhancing other technological offerings, purchase additional best-selling books, and bring in special programming throughout the year. For details, e-mail MPLibraryFriends@gmail.com. Contest winners (continued from page 4) come to get past old prejudices and finally prove our claim that all men (and women) are created equal. “That’s why I am optimistic about America’s future. Throughout American history these types of discrimina- tions and divisions were overcome by the will of the Amer- ican people thereby making us more accepting.” Page 18 THE VILLADOM TIMES I, II, III & IV • January 22, 2014 Reviewer picks ‘The Ten Best Films of 2013’ by Dennis Seuling Now that 2013 has ended, it’s time to assess the high- lights of a busy year of movie releases. The outstanding films range from a low-budget coming-of-age drama to a huge picture featuring stars both in front of and behind the camera. Here, in reverse order, are this critic’s picks for the best films of 2013. “The Way, Way Back.” The directorial debut of Nat Faxon and Jim Rash, this is the story of withdrawn, alien- ated 14-year-old Duncan (Liam James), who accompanies his recently divorced mother, Pam (Toni Collette), and her boyfriend, Trent (Steve Carell), to Trent’s beach house. Trent and Duncan don’t get along, so the boy sets out to explore and discovers a water park and one of its employ- ees, Owen (Sam Rockwell), who treats his job and life with all the seriousness of an adolescent. Owen is funny, forth- right and, in many ways, irresponsible. But he also has heart and connects with Duncan’s inner pain. Rockwell’s per- formance enlivens the movie, lightening what could have been a terribly sad story. Intelligent, character-driven, and modest, this movie delivers a solid story with uniformly fine performances and thoughtful direction. “The Wolf of Wall Street.” Like its subject matter, this film goes to excesses. It is extravagant in its length and its graphic illustration of moral irresponsibility and corruption. However, it’s also captivating in its attention to detail. Director Martin Scorsese takes the time to delve into the character of Jordan Belfort, played superbly by Leonardo DiCaprio. Watching “The Wolf of Wall Street” is like watching a train wreck in slow motion. Viewers see the progression from ambition to success to greater success to shortcuts to making more money to crime. Methodical in its depiction of abuses and greed at the expense of both middle class and rich investors, the film is a highly enter- taining cautionary tale of vice unchecked. “Saving Mister Banks.” When the Disney Company makes a movie about Walt Disney’s efforts to secure the rights to the Mary Poppins books from author P.L. Travers, inevitably there will be some airbrushing of the facts. What makes the movie one of the year’s best is that it does capture the cantankerous Travers (Emma Thompson) butting horns with mogul Disney (Tom Hanks), though Hanks’ Disney seems wishy-washy in the face of Travers’ demands, many of which appear unreasonable. This is Thompson’s film all the way, and she carries the burden beautifully, turning in a faceted performance of a woman protective of her creation Chiwetel Ejiofer stars as Solomon Northup, a free black man forced into slavery in ‘Twelve Years a Slave.’ and a formidable adversary against Disney’s sugary distor- tions. “Philomena.” Judi Dench seldom if ever disappoints and her choices of roles in movies have ranged from M in the last three James Bond movies to Queen Elizabeth I in “Shakespeare in Love.” Here, she plays a woman who, as a young unmarried pregnant girl, was basically a slave at a convent. After her son was born, she was permitted to see him for only an hour a day and had no recourse when the nuns adopted him out to a wealthy couple. Now, decades later and still heartbroken, she is determined to find out what happened to him. With the help of journalist Martin Sixsmith (Steve Coogan), who has been covering her story for a magazine article, Philomena sets out on a quest that will take her back to the convent and eventually to the United States. Dench turns in a powerful yet underplayed performance as a strong-willed woman who retains her Catholic faith despite the nuns’ abuse. “Dallas Buyers Club.” Based on actual events, this is the story of rodeo cowboy Ron Woodroof (Matthew McCo- naughey) who, after an on-the-job accident, wakes up in the hospital and learns he is HIV positive and has only a month to live. This is the start of the AIDS epidemic and little is known about the disease. Ron discovers that there are med- icines available, but they have not been approved by the FDA and are not available in the United States. Determined to get what it takes to stay alive, Ron travels overseas and brings the drugs home. McConaughey has made himself frighteningly thin to be believable as a man infected with the AIDS virus. Jared Leto makes an impression as the transgender Rayon, who becomes a partner of sorts with Ron because she can find other HIV-infected individuals who are eager to obtain the drugs no one else can provide. Leto etches a moving characterization, avoiding cliché or caricature. The era and its sense of helplessness and despair are ably captured by director Jean-Marc Vallee. “American Hustle.” Based on the Abscam scandal of the 1970s, but considerably embellished for dramatic effect, this movie gathers an assortment of Damon Runyon types trying to scam one another in one way or another. The script is one of the year’s best, and the terrific cast includes Christian Bale, Amy Adams, Bradley Cooper, Jennifer Lawrence, and Jeremy Renner. Director David O. Russell has elicited outstanding performances and com- bined drama and comedy in a balanced concoction. Acad- emy Award-winner Lawrence steals the movie as the ditzy (continued on page 22) January 22, 2014 THE VILLADOM TIMES I, II, III & IV • Page 19 Woody Allen directs exceptional character study by Dennis Seuling “Blue Jasmine” (Sony) follows the fate of Jasmine (Cate Blanchett) who, after the arrest of her husband (Alec Baldwin) for financial fraud, moves from an expensive New York City apartment to far humbler digs in a seedy part of San Francisco to stay with her sister, Ginger (Sally Hawkins). Ginger feels sorry for Jasmine, who is totally unprepared to function in a world that requires her to earn her own living and devotes most of her time to swigging vodka, complaining, and entertaining fanci- ful ideas about her future. The arrangement creates stress for all concerned, including Ginger’s working-class boyfriend, Chili (Bobby Canavale). Parallels to “A Streetcar Named Desire” are obvious. All the elements are here: the fragile lead character who has fallen on hard times, drinks too much, flaunts her cultured sensibilities and mourns her gen- teel past; the rough-hewn brother-in-law who sees her for what she is; and the sister who tries to keep peace among the three of them. “Blue Jasmine,” however, has its own identity and appears modern and timely, in part because of the recent Bernie Madoff scandal. Hawkins does a fine job as contrast to Blanchett’s Jasmine. Pleasant, generous, sympathetic, and hard-working, her Ginger embodies the qualities that Jasmine seems unable to summon. Andrew Dice Clay por- trays Augie, Ginger’s former husband. His casting is one of the film’s pleasant sur- prises. Clay is completely convincing as a manual laborer embittered by thwarted aspirations. Blu-ray and DVD bonuses include “Notes from the Red Carpet,” a cast dis- cussion of the making of the film and their characters, and a press conference. “Captain Phillips” (Sony) is an account of the actual attempt by four Somali pirates to hijack a huge American merchant ship. Phillips (Tom Hanks) takes his vessel on a route off the coast of Africa. A group of Somali pirates succeeds in commandeering the ship. They are led by Muse (Barkhad Abdi), a gaunt, frightening presence. Hanks is impressive as Phillips, though he doesn’t entirely master the New England accent. Abdi, a native-born Somali from the Midwest, makes the most searing impres- sion. An untrained newcomer to acting, Abdi is totally convincing as his character’s desperation and frustration mount. Unlike his fellow pirates (Barkhad Abdirahman, Faysal Ahmed, Mahat M. Ali), Muse is motivated more by reason than emotion. Director Paul Greengrass captures the tension, particularly when the pirates take command of the ship. He masterfully coor- dinates performance, editing, and photog- raphy to create an exceptional cinematic experience. As in “United 93,” the outcome of the film is known to all who remember the news reports, yet Greengrass manages to make the events riveting. The two disc Blu-ray/DVD combo pack contains three making-of featurettes and commentary with the director. “Instructions Not Included” (Lions Gate) focuses on Valentin (Eugenio Derbez), a bachelor in his 30s living in Acapulco who fancies himself quite the ladies man and attracts a parade of pretty women for one- night stands. One day, one of his conquests (Jessica Lindsey) shows up with a baby that she claims is his, and takes off. Valentin is left holding a baby girl, thoroughly over- whelmed and unprepared for what being a parent involves. Deciding that baby Maggie will have (continued on Crossword page) Cate Blanchett and Alec Baldwin star in ‘Blue Jasmine.’ Page 20 THE VILLADOM TIMES I, II, III & IV • January 22, 2014 DVD releases (continued from Restaurant page) greater opportunities if she is brought up in the United States, Valentin takes her to California. At their hotel, the baby falls into the pool. Valentin’s daring dive to save her draws the attention of a movie director who needs a stuntman. Valentin soon embarks on a career taking risks for high pay in the film industry. The film moves ahead quickly to when Maggie (Loreto Peralta) is seven, she and Valentin have bonded, and he has become devoted to her. Derbez is a well-known sit-com star in Mexico. “Instructions Not Included” is his directorial debut. The first half of the film is its best, as Valentin transitions from average Joe to high-salaried stunt professional. The car- toonish quality to Derbez’s performance in the first half of the film disappears during its melodramatic second half. A combination of Buster Keaton, Jerry Lewis, and Roberto Benigni, Derbez easily sells the comic moments, but has greater difficulty convincing with the straight dramatic scenes. Nevertheless, his screen chemistry with Peralta is irresistible. The film is in Spanish with English subtitles. There is audio commentary by Derbez on both the Blu-ray and DVD editions. “The Prey” (Cohen Media Group) is a suspenseful action thriller. Franck Adrien (Albert Dupontel) is serving a short prison sentence for robbing a bank. Before he was caught, he managed to hide the money. Now it’s not just the police who are looking for the money. Franck has unwittingly told his seemingly friendly cellmate Jean-Louis Maurel (Ste- phane Debac) about the loot. Jean-Louis is soon cleared of the charges against him. His departing words to Franck are a promise that he will look after his family. The movie is fast paced, exciting, and well acted. Not since “Run, Lola, Run” has there been so much running in a feature film. The kinetic energy is almost hypnotic and, combined with powerful performances and some surprises, “The Prey” offers a genuine adrenaline rush. The film is in French, with English subtitles. Blu-ray extras include an interview with director Eric Valette and a making-of fea- turette. “Comedy Bang! Bang!” (Anchor Bay) is a two disc set containing the first season’s 10 episodes satirizing the pre- dictable chat show format. With its oddball mix of unique characters, sketches, nonstop absurdity, and some big Hol- lywood names, the series began as a popular podcast. Host and creator Scott Aukerman engages his guests with unfil- tered and improvisational lines of questioning, throwing a wild tailspin on the celebrity interview. Guests during Season One include Zach Galifianakis, Amy Poehler, Jon Hamm, Michael Cera, Seth Rogen, Paul Rudd, Ed Helms, Andy Samberg, Aziz Ansari, and Jack Black. Extras on the DVD release include audio commentaries, deleted scenes, deleted interview questions, alternate title sequence, and test shoots for special effects. January 22, 2014 THE VILLADOM TIMES I, II, III & IV • Page 21 �������������������������� SERVICE MART HELP WANTED REAL ESTATE SALES FRANKLIN LAKES Get your license in 2.5 weeks. Start earning money with the busy & bustling Franklin Lakes Weichert Office offering the best training & support in the industry. Call Tamar Joffe, Manager at 201-891-6900 WEICHERT, REALTORS Beauty Salon - Shampoo Asst. Busy shop, Waldwick area. 201-747-1496 ACCOUNTING GUTTER CLEANING Accounting, bookkeeping, payroll. Exp’d, reasonably priced. Call 201-873-7263 Gutter Cleaning Prevent Water Damage Midland Pk. 201-961-2634 CHILDCARE HANDYMAN I will care for your child in my Mahwah home. 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All Objects of Art or Historic Interest. 201-891- 6931 * 201-838-7728 Prayer to St. Clare Interior Painting Great w/color & fine detall Midland Pk.201-961-2634 Painting - Winter Special Complete home makeover Special base price, Limited space. Call now! 201-818-0742 APARTMENT FOR RENT RELIGIOUS Paint Troopers Int./Ext Repairs&home improvements. Insured. HHK 201-280-9198 Clark’s Painting-Handyman Svcs. Int./Ext. Paint. Roof/ Masonry. 201-951-1810 R E A L E S T AT E TREE SERVICE � ���� �� ������� � ��� �� ������ � ������ ��������� ����� ������� ������������ � TUTORING Math Tutor - 20 yrs+ exp. All levels - All grades - SAT Call Steven 201-925-9303 HS Honor Student will tutor your child, help with homework. References available. 201-681-6950 WINDOW CLEANING AFFORDABLE-Insured Est. 40 years 201-385-2271 Ask St. Clare for 3 favors, 1 business, 2 impossible. Say 9 Hail Marys for 9 days with lighted candles. Pray whether you believe or not. Publish the 9th day. “May the Sacred Heart of Jesus be praised, adored & glorified today & every day.” Request will be granted no matter how impossible it seems. Pub- lication must be promised. Thank you for answering my prayer. MK Prayer to St. Clare Ask St. Clare for 3 favors, 1 business, 2 impossible. Say 9 Hail Marys for 9 days with lighted candles. Pray whether you believe or not. Publish the 9th day. “May the Sacred Heart of Jesus be praised, adored & glorified today & every day.” Request will be granted no matter how impossible it seems. Pub- lication must be promised. Thank you for answering my prayer. ks RELIGIOUS Prayer to the Blessed Virgin (Never known to fail) Oh, most beautiful flower of Mt. Carmel, fruitful vine, splen- dor of heaven, Mother of the Son of God. Immacu- late Virgin, assist me in my necessity. Oh, Star of the Sea, help me and show me, herein you are my mother. Oh, Holy Mary, Mother of God, Queen of Heaven and Earth! I hum- bly beseech you from the bottom of my heart to suc- cor me in this necessity There are none that can withstand your power. Oh, show me herein, you are my mother. Oh, Mary, con- ceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee (3x). Holy Mother, I place this cause in your hands (3x). Holy Spirit, you who solve all prob- lems, light all roads so that I can attain my goals. You who gave me the divine gift to forgive and forget all evil against me and that in all instances in my life you are with me, I want in this short prayer to thank you for all things as you con- firm once again that I never want to be separated from you in eternal glory. Thank you for your mercy toward me and mine. The person must say this prayer 3 consecutive days. After 3 days, the request will be granted. This prayer must be published after the favor is granted. Immacu- late Heart of Mary, Thank you for answering my prayers. JMK Prayer to St. Jude Oh, Holy St. Jude, apostle and martyr. Great in vir- tue and rich in miracles; near kinsman of Jesus Christ; faithful interces- sor of all who invoke your special patronage in time of need. To you I have recourse from the depth of my heart and humbly beg to whom God has given such great power to come to my assistance. Help me in my present urgent petition. In return I prom- ise to make your name known and cause you to be invoked. St. Jude, pray for us all who invoke your aid. Amen. Say three Our Fathers, Hail Marys and Glorias. Publication must be promised. This novena has never been known to fail. This novena must be said for 9 consecutive days. My prayers were answered. Thank you, St. Jude. MV Planning on dining out? Check our restaurant guide for the finest dining continued on next page Page 22 THE VILLADOM TIMES I, II, III & IV • January 22, 2014 FOR SALE CLASSIFIED cont. from preceding page ANNOUNCEMENTS Medical Alerts for Seniors- 24/7 monitoring. FREE Equipment. FREE Ship- ping. Nationwide Service $29.95/Month. 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Benjamin Franklin HS WANTED TO BUY Have an Event to promote? Want to market to towns & cities outside of your own hometown? We can help your organization reach over 1 million readers for only $150. Visit www.midat- lanticevents.net for more details or call 800-450-7227 CASH for sealed, unex- pired DIABETES TEST STRIPS! Free Shipping, Top$, 24 hr Payments! Call 1-855-578-7477, espanol 888-440-4001 or visit www. TestStripSearch.com today. Classifieds Work!!! Place your ad in The Villadom Times Top Cash for all vehicles. Any condition; we pick up. 201-951-1810 CLASSIFIED Up to 3 lines .............................. $12.00 $12.50 Each additional line ................... $2.50 Name _______________________________________ Address _____________________________________ City/State/Zip _________________________________ Phone _______________________________________ (25 Characters per line including spaces and punctuation) Carefully check your advertisiment the day it appears since we can not be responsible for errors of any kind in subsequent editions of the same ad. Corrections and changes, however, will be gladly made. MAIL TO: CLASSIFIEDS-VILLADOM TIMES P.O. Box 96, Midland Park, NJ 07432 Be sure to enclose your check or money order. ORDER FORM AND PAYMENT MUST BE RECEIVED BY THURSDAY 12 NOON FOR AD HELP, CALL 201-652-0744 RELIGIOUS Villadom Happenings Prayer to Jude (continued St. from page 2) 8 Oh, 9:30 p.m. Jude, Glen Rock High School, 400 Hamilton to Holy St. at apostle and Avenue martyr. Glen Rock. virtue in Great in Prospective members must be able in Contact Diane to and read rich music. miracles; near Dietsch at (201) 670-0040. kinsman of Jesus Christ; faithful intercessor of all Boating skills course announced who invoke your special patronage in time of Auxiliary Flotilla 10-13 is offering an U.S. Coast Guard need. To you I recourse from eight-week have boating skills and seamanship class that will the depth of 6. my The heart and which qualifies students for the begin Feb. class, humbly beg whom God NJSP boating to safety certificate, will be held at 7:30 p.m at given the has Larkin to such my great 380 power House, assistance. Godwin Avenue in Wyckoff. to come This me comprehensive course is designed for both experi- Help in my present enced and petition. In boaters. I The course provides up-to-date novice return urgent knowledge to make handling boats in all conditions. Topics for your name promise include boat cause you and information about equipment, known and selection to trailering, handling, signs, essential rules, inland boating, be invoked. St. Jude, pray for all safety, navigation, lines and knots, powering a small us boat who invoke your aid. Amen. and weather. boat, radios, Say three Our Fathers, fee Hail $50 for Wyckoff residents and $75 for non- The is Marys and Glorias. Publication must residents. Paricipants must be at least 13. be promised. This novena For more information, visit US Coast Guard Auxiliary has never been known to Flotilla This 10-13 at http://a0141013.uscgaux.info/ and click on fail. novena must be public for education classes. said 9 consecutive days. My prayers were answered. Thank you, St. Jude. nw Prostate cancer support group to meet LifeLines, a supportive and informative resource for Prayer to prostate St. Clare patients and their partners in northern cancer Bergen St. County, for will favors, Tuesday, Jan. 28 from 7:30 to Ask Clare 3 meet business, 2 impossible. 9 1 p.m. at the Church of the Presentation, 271 West Saddle Say Hail in for days River 9 Road Marys Upper 9 Saddle River. with The lighted candles. formed by prostate cancer patients to group was Pray whether you believe not. share information day. and or “May experience about available treatment Publish the 9th and the service resources. Jesus Sacred Heart of be Meetings adored & the fourth Tuesday of each month. For praised, are held glori- fied today & every day.” Request will be granted no matter how impossible it seems. Publication must be promised. Thank you for answering my prayer. cd more information, e-mail lifelines@optonline.net or visit www.lifelinespcsupport.com. Rubino to address Master Gardeners Chris Rubino will present “New Plants for 2014” to the Master Gardeners of Bergen County on Tuesday, Jan. 28. The meeting will be held at 7:30 p.m. in the first floor meeting room at the County Administration Building, One Bergen Plaza, County Place in Hackensack. Rubino will focus on the extensive new plant offerings for 2014, and will review exciting new cultivars, reintroduc- tions of some old time favorites, and the best new products throughout the industry. Learn what is trendy in flowering shrubs, ornamental grasses, edibles, annuals, and peren- nials. Rubino has worked in retail nursery sales, landscape design, installation and maintenance, and horticultural laboratory research for the American Rose Society Test Garden, the Cornell Plantations and Arboretum, the Walt Disney Epcot Center & Animal Kingdom, Universal Stu- dios Islands of Adventure, and Monrovia Nursery Sales. A native of Buffalo, New York, and a graduate of Cornell University, he travels extensively to domestic and interna- tional gardens looking for new and improved plants for the American garden. The Master Gardeners’ free meetings are open to inter- ested individuals. Refreshments will be served at 7 p.m. For more information, contact Tracey Fraser (201) 768-1856 or visit http://mgofbc.org. Correction The date of the Little Sisters of the Poor Auxiliary ben- efit, “Sunday Afternoon Live,” listed in last week’s Hap- penings column was incorrect. The program will be held on Feb. 9. ‘The Ten Best Films of 2013’ (continued from Entertainment page) wife of Prayer to Irving Rosenfeld. Cooper turns in a mem- Bale’s the orable Blessed Virgin as Federal Agent Richie DiMaso, a performance hustling known who to fail) Oh, his hair and lives with his mom. curls (Never cop beautiful flower of Mt. He most comes up with a scheme to lure greedy politicians into Carmel, bribes splen- accepting fruitful vine, offered by a phony Arab sheik, enlisting of heaven, Irving the dor assistance of Mother of and conwoman Sydney Prosser the Son God. Immacu- (Adams). of Think “Goodfellas” and “The Grifters,” with a late Virgin, assist me in my dose of 1930s-style screwball comedy. necessity. Oh, Star of the “August: and show me, Sea, help me Osage County.” This is perhaps the grimmest herein family my mother. look at you are dysfunction the big screen has seen since Oh, Mary, Virginia “Who’s Holy Afraid of Mother of Woolf?” A funeral gathers the God, clan Top junk Weston Queen at of the Heaven and Cash for your of matriarch Violet Oklahoma homestead Earth! I humbly (Meryl from Streep), bottom beseech with Running or hooked on painkill- stricken car. cancer, not. Dent you the of repairs. my ers, heart and to masterful me at in spewing 201-951-1810 barbs at daugh- venomous succor this ters necessity There are Roberts), Karen (Juliette Lewis), and Barbara (Julia none Ivy that (Julianne withstand your The sisters bring along the men Nicholson). can herein, see there are problems aplenty in power. Oh, show and me viewers AUTOMOBILES their lives my in you this are extended mother. Oh, Based on the play by Tracy Letts, family. WANTED this Mary, film conceived without at the extent to which cruelty can is a brutal look sin, pray for us who have destroy lives. thee (3x). works her cinematic magic in painting recourse to Streep Holy CASH FOR CARS: Cars/ a Mother, I place real cause in being whose horrible childhood disturbingly this human trucks Wanted! Running or has your left hands (3x). scars. Spirit, superb We supporting You! Any lifelong Holy The Not! Come To cast includes you solve all Ewan Margo who Martindale, problems, McGregor, Chris Instant Offer- Dermot Make/Model, Cooper, light all Mulroney, roads so that Cumberbatch, 1-800-569-0003 Benedict I can Call: and Sam Shepard. attain my goals. You who Adapting actual events into a dra- “Captain Phillips.” gave me divine gift to matic film and the has forget difficulties. Events and characters often its all evil forgive have to be me combined in for all time considerations, certain facts against and that altered or in deleted, you are occurrences amped up for dra- instances my life actual matic me, I want and in dialogue composed by writers when there with effect, this short all is prayer record thank actual for discussions. “Captain Phillips” is an no to of you things account as of you the confirm once four Somali pirates to gain com- attempt by again I never want to mand of that a huge American merchant ship and hold it for be separated from you in ransom. Directed Thank Paul Greengrass (“United 93”), the by you eternal glory. film your a taut, minute-by-minute look at the event. As an for is mercy toward me action mine. The the person must is superior entertainment with A- movie and film, prayer 3 list say star this Tom Hanks consecu- on the role of Phillips. Barkhad taking tive a After 3 the Abdi, days. native-born days, Somali from the Midwest, is amazing as request pirate be leader, Muse. As circumstances change, Muse the will granted. This prayer processes, must favor be is published his men and Phillips accord- thinks, and orders after the granted. ingly. Abdi is Heart of Mary, on target in conveying exaspera- Immaculate absolutely tion combined answering my Thank you for with intimidation. Greengrass has given the film a lightning-fast pace that heightens suspense each step prayers. kr of the way. “Blue Jasmine.” This is Woody Allen’s character study of a fragile woman who cannot adjust to drastic changes. Jasmine (Cate Blanchett) has come to stay to stay with her sister, Ginger (Sally Hawkins) after her husband (Alec Baldwin) has been arrested for financial fraud. Moving in with Ginger and her boyfriend, Chili (Bobby Canavale), is no picnic. She manages to get a job as a dentist’s reception- ist, but is unhappy in this blue-collar life. Blanchett takes on a difficult role, revealing numerous facets of Jasmine’s personality. On the surface, she is a spoiled, aloof, irritat- ing, bejeweled fashion plate. She is a rudderless dependent who is nothing without her husband’s wealth. At the same time, there is a fierce integrity in the way she maintains a death grip on her illusions. Blanchett’s flawless perfor- mance is Oscar-worthy. Notable, too, is the soundtrack, which includes jazz and blues performances by Louis Armstrong, King Oliver, and Trixie Smith, and standards by Rodgers and Hart and W.C. Handy. “Twelve Years a Slave.” Solomon Northup (Chiwetel Ejiofor) is an educated, talented violinist who lives with his wife and children in Saratoga, New York, in 1841. He is also black. Two circus promoters offer him a lucrative two-week gig in Washington, D.C., and Solomon accepts. In Washington, Solomon is wined and dined, but the next morning, he finds himself in chains and is soon stashed aboard a steamboat bound for Georgia, to be sold as a slave. The movie chronicles the years Solomon works on plan- tations, is passed from one owner to the next, witnesses unspeakable inhumanities, and is subject to the whim of his “masters.” He hides his education, remaining silent, taking orders, enduring unspeakable hardship, trying to survive day to day, always hoping he will reunite with his family. Director Steve McQueen bases the film on Northup’s book of the same name to take viewers through the slave experi- ence. Ejiofor gives a breakout performance. This is a tough role, demanding a range of emotion with little or no dia- logue. Much of his performance is in reactions, particularly in his eyes. Viewers can read his thoughts, even see into Solomon’s soul. In almost matter-of-fact objectivity, the movie documents dehumanizing events in graphic detail. This is an important story told well, with uniformly first- rate performances. It is the best film of 2013. January 22, 2014 THE VILLADOM TIMES I • Page 23 Franklin Lakes Scribe ten readiness. Additional information is available at www.franklin- lakes.k12.nj.us or by calling the schools. Kindergarten registration announced The Franklin Lakes Public Schools will hold kindergar- ten registration Feb. 3 through 7 from 9 a.m. to noon and 1 to 3 p.m. Parents of students who will enter kindergarten in Sep- tember may register their children at their school of atten- dance: Colonial Road School, 749 Colonial Road, (201) 337-0336; High Mountain Road School, 765 High Moun- tain Road, (201) 891-4433; or Woodside Avenue School, 305 Woodside Avenue, (201) 891-5600. For those uncertain which school a child will attend, contact the board of edu- cation at (201) 891-1856. To be eligible for kindergarten, students must have been born on or before Oct. 1, 2009. Children do not have to be present during registration. An orientation program will be scheduled in May, and parents will schedule an appointment for their child to par- ticipate in a screening activity to help determine kindergar- Library board to meet The Franklin Lakes Library Board of Trustees will meet on Monday, Jan. 27 in the Local History Room of the library at 470 DeKorte Drive. The 7 p.m. meeting is open to the public. For more information, call (201) 891-2224. Club to host makeup artist The Woman’s Club of Franklin Lakes will host skin care consulting and makeup artist Jean Greco on Monday, Feb. 10. The club will meet at 11:30 a.m. at the Bender Court Ambulance Corps Building. Greco has worked as a makeup artist for Christian Dior and Elizabeth Arden. With more than 30 years of experi- ence, she currently focuses her time on skin care consult- ing and makeup artistry for special occasions and wedding parties. Greco will demonstrate her techniques following the club’s general meeting. Members of the community are Borough upgrades its website (continued from page 3) and the preparation of a natural resource inventory. The video also points out that Franklin Lakes is recognized as a “Tree City” and it has established a tree farm at the Franklin Lakes Nature Preserve, formerly the Haledon Reservoir. The recreation video points out there are 270 acres of parkland in the borough which provides plenty to do, and the Nature Preserve and a two-mile trail that connects to an extensive trail network. It also highlights the borough’s Memorial Pond Park and its cascading waterfall, the tennis courts on Old Mill Road, and the Memorial Field behind the municipal building, which is one of five recreation fields in the borough including a state-of-the-art artificial turf field at the Pulis Avenue recreation facility and com- munity center. The video also highlights an active recreation program that includes baseball, softball, lacrosse, soccer, basketball, cheerleading, and football, and a summer program for chil- dren with special needs. The history video explains that, in the 17th century, the Lenape Indians traveled the area now known as Franklin Lakes and found food among the wildlife and fish in the many streams in the area. The Dutch settlers then made their way to the area from the Hudson River Valley. In 1772, Franklin Township was formed and it included much of northwest Bergen County. According to the video, estate homes and mansions began to appear at the turn of the 19 th century, and the Industrial Revolution brought wealth to the area. In 1922, Franklin Lakes separated from Franklin Township and elected William V. Pulis as the borough’s first mayor. The education video states that only the most qualified teachers are selected to provide borough students with “the highest quality of learning to reach their full academic potential.” It points out there are three elementary schools, a middle school, and two regional high schools that provide University Programs in engineering, international studies, business, and science and medicine. The video notes that the two high schools are rated in the top 50 in the state. In March 2013, the Franklin Lakes website was rated second best in the state by the Monmouth University Poll- ing Institute and Graduate Program in Public Policy. In November, the borough won the New Jersey League of Municipalities award for the “Best Website/Social Media” in the League’s Municipal Public Information Contest. In conferring this award, the league specifically recognized the borough’s “E-Blast” e-newsletter system and how it effectively communicated with residents. The E-Blast system and all elements of the borough’s communications programs, including the website, Face- book, Twitter, Swift911, cable channels, calendar, resident handbook and recycling pamphlet, are administered in- house by the borough’s Web team, which consists of Hart and Lynette Sidoti, the tax assessor secretary/assistant to the borough administrator with the assistance of interns. F.J. MCMAHON welcome. The WCFL is a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting community, area, and national causes. The 2013-14 beneficiaries are the Imus Cattle Ranch for Kids with Cancer, student scholarships, and local charities. Founded in 1949 as part of the General Federation of Women’s Clubs, the Franklin Lakes organization donates funds and offers support to the borough. To learn more, contact Alice Booth at (973) 696-3476 or Lois Vitenson at (201) 891-5119. Temple sets Mitzvah Mall, breakfast On Jan. 26, Barnert Temple will host its 14 th Annual Mitzvah Mall and Pancake Breakfast. The event will be held from 9 a.m. to noon at the temple located at 747 Route 208 South in Franklin Lakes. The temple community is once again raising money and awareness for 11 carefully selected charities close to home and around the world. All money raised will go directly to these grassroots organizations to help them fulfill their missions. The public is welcome and encouraged to partici- pate in the activities. Tickets for the breakfast may be purchased at the door or online at http://www.wizevents.com/register/2409. Break- fast will start at 8:30 a.m. The cost is $10 for adults and $5 for children. The Charities Showcase, which will be held from 9 a.m. to noon, will include information, hands-on activities, vol- unteer opportunities, fundraisers, and more. An adult study and discussion with Rabbi Elyse Frish- man is scheduled from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. For details and to donate online, visit http://www. barnerttemple.org/MitzvahMall/ or call (201) 848-1800. Board of education to meet The Franklin Lakes Board of Education will meet on Tuesday, Jan. 28. The session will be held at 8 p.m. in the Franklin Lakes Middle School located at 755 Franklin Avenue. The public is invited. Nesenoff to speak at center On Feb. 2, David Nesenoff will be the featured lecturer at the Chabad Jewish Center, 375 Pulis Avenue in Franklin Lakes. The program will begin at 10 a.m. Nesenoff, widely known for his 2010 viral video-inter- view on the White House lawn with the dean of the Wash- ington Press Corps, the late Helen Thomas, will present his story of cyber hatred, life-threatening danger, a spiritual odyssey, and humor. Admission is $10 or $180 for sponsors. Adults, teens, and children age 10 and over are welcome. A pre-lecture meet and greet and light breakfast will begin at 9:40 a.m. RSVP to (201) 848-0449 or rabbi@chabadplace.org. Library hosts children’s programs Franklin Lakes Public Library, located at 470 DeKorte Drive, invites borough children to a Hearts & Crafts pro- gram with local artist Jacque B. Attendees will also make a Valentine’s Day sweet. Children in kindergarten through grade two may attend on Wednesday, Feb. 5. Students in grades three through five are invited on Thursday, Feb. 6. Both programs will be held at 4 p.m. In celebration of author Mo Willems’ birthday, children in kindergarten through grade two are invited a Pigeon Party on Tuesday, Feb. 11 at 4 p.m. The event will include stories, games, a craft, and more. To register, call (201) 891- 2224 or visit during regular hours. Ordinances (continued from page 5) Sundays and holidays. Parking on Highland Avenue from a point 35 feet east of the easterly curb line of Wyckoff Avenue for a distance of 41 feet is to be limited to 15 min- utes from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. Parking on Highland Avenue is to be limited to one hour from a point 138 feet east of the easterly curb line of Wyckoff Avenue for a distance of 72 feet. Public hearings on both ordinances will be held Feb. 4 at 8 p.m. The governing body will then consider these items for final adoption. J. KOSTER Page 24 THE VILLADOM TIMES I, II, III & IV • January 22, 2014