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. 18 SERVING THE HUB OF NORTH-WEST BERGEN May 14, 2014 40¢ ☺ What’s News- Area Request for information Waldwick officials question sewer authority’s financial arrangement for expansion. Franklin Lakes Agreement reached 2 Borough planning to lease community center to Wyckoff YMCA for 10-year period. Midland Park Environmentally friendly 3 Bolger Community Center on Godwin Avenue receives green building recognition. Wyckoff Commemorative piece Labyrinth Garden mosaic dedicated in memory of long-time resident & library patron. Victory is sweet! Alex Delgado, a student at Waldwick High School, was the first overall winner at this year’s Waldwick 5K, posting a time of 17:58. “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 Gua ra 201-327-4900 201-327-4900 ces P ri ed Lowes nte We Will t Beat Any 3-6-13 Karen/Janine 12-1-10 Karen/Janine Advertised Price! AtlanicStewardshipFrPg AtlanicStewardshipFrPg 20 20 E. E. Main St., Ramsey NJ Main St., Ramsey NJ Is Your Insurance Premium Increasing? Call Allen & Allen Representing over 10 companies 201-546-7018 201.891.8790 www.Insurance4NewJersey.com Fairway Estate of Hawthorne • Wood Floor Refinishing • Area Rugs/Remnants • In Home & Area Rug Cleaning 1030 Goffle Rd. @ Rt. 208 973.427.7900 www.buyabbey.com Landscaping • Expert Property Maintenance • Lawn Care with Less Pesticides! Call Today! 201-447-3910 HALLIGAN ELECTRIC CO., LLC AUTHORIZED DEALER www.halliganelectricco.com Installation • Maintenance 201-447-3780 LIC. 14609A 7 What’s Inside Classified.......27 Restaurant.....25 Opinion.........20 Crossword.....26 Obituaries......22 Entertainment..24 3-19-14 ester/janine FairwayEstateFrPg(3-19-14) • Service AbbeyCarpetFrPg(7-17-13) Airport Worldwide Locally & 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 5 Kim/Janine HalliganElecFrontPage(2-26-14) rev2 Page 2 THE VILLADOM TIMES I, II, III & IV • May 14, 2014 Villadom Happenings May is Eyeglass Recycling Month For over 90 years, Lions Clubs across the United States have dedicated themselves to the preservation of sight and the prevention of blindness. As part of this initiative, May is Eyeglass Recycling Month. The Midland Park Lions Club collects used eyeglasses at the Midland Park Library at 250 Godwin Avenue, and in a Lions Eyeglass Box in front of Le Chein, 26 Central Avenue in Midland Park. Residents are urged to deposit any used or unwanted eyeglasses at either of these locations. The Lions will collect the used eyeglasses and arrange transportation to the Lions Eyeglass Recycling Center in Trenton. Any type of eyewear will be accepted, including regular glasses, bifocals, trifocals, sunglasses, progressive lenses, and tinted lenses. The donated glasses will be cleaned, repaired, and put to good use by someone who will now be able to see clearly – sometimes for the first time. Hazardous waste collection announced The Bergen County Utilities Authority will hold a household hazardous waste collection on Saturday, May 17 at the Campgaw Mountain Reservation, 200 Campgaw Road in Mahwah. The collection will be held from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Items to be collected include paints, automotive products, pesticides, aerosols, and flammable materials. For a complete list of hazardous waste and other details, visit www.bcua.org or call (201) 807-5825. Veterans invited to student presentation Veterans from the community are invited to a May 22 student presentation to honor their service and sac- rifice. This 7:30 p.m. program will be held at Benjamin Franklin Middle School, 335 North Van Dien Avenue in Ridgewood. American Legion Post 53 will present the color guard. Veterans are encouraged to wear a post cap or some other attire indicating their branch of service. Spa celebrates anniversary Massage Envy Spa in Waldwick is celebrating its fourth anniversary with a full week of giveaways and events for members and guests. On Thursday, May 15, the spa will host a Murad® Healthy Skin event featuring the Environmental Shield® Vitamin C Facial, complimentary in-depth skin analyses, and other activities. Anyone interested in attending the Murad® event may call (201) 689-8400. The spa is located at 26 North Franklin Turnpike in Waldwick. Chamber hosts networking cruise The Mahwah Chamber of Commerce, along with the Commerce & Industry Association of New Jersey, Newark Regional Business Partnership, and Hudson County and Meadowlands Regional chambers of commerce will host a dinner and networking cruise on “The Spirit of New Who will pay for sewer hookups? The Waldwick mayor and council want to make sure that any expansion of the Northwest Bergen County Utilities Authority is funded by the towns benefiting from the hook ups, not the present authority members. Franklin Lakes and Oakland are in the process of con- necting into the system. Last week the Waldwick governing body went on record expressing its concerns in a letter to Executive Director Howard Hurwitz. Waldwick want to know how is the financing being handled and what is being done to assure additional customers don’t exacerbate the odor problems near the treatment plant, which is located in Waldwick. “The letter drives the point home and gets us on the record,” said Councilman Don Sciolaro. At a previous meeting he had commented that any additional odor problems caused by an increase in users in essence becomes Waldwick’s problem. The letter questions the following: • Will Franklin Lakes and Oakland be financing Jersey” on Tuesday, May 20. Boarding time is 5 p.m. for dinner and networking. The boat will leave Lincoln Harbor in Weehawken at 6 p.m. and return to dock at 7:30 p.m. The event includes a dinner buffet, cash bar, DJ, and dancing. Free parking is available across the street from the dock. Sponsored by Sharp Electronics Corporation, this net- working event gives participants the chance to meet with local business people while enjoying spectacular views of New York City and New Jersey’s waterways. Seating is limited and will be sold on a first-come, first- served basis. Pre-registration and payments are required. The cost is $60 for Chamber members and $85 for non- members. For more information and to reserve space, call the Chamber office at (201) 529-5566, or visit Mahwah.com. Employment workshop scheduled Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church’s Career Resources Ministry, in its continuing effort to provide help to people seeking employment, will present the last of a four-part series of workshops on Sunday, May 18 at 1 p.m. The work- shop will be held in the meeting room in the lower church and is open to anyone seeking employment and those who anticipate possible unemployment. The workshops are free and parish membership is not required. Workshops are presented by the Career Resources Min- istry, whose members are dedicated to helping those seek- ing employment. Professionals in the field will present the workshop and will be on hand to give advice. This work- shop topic is “Interview, Cultivate Offers, and Negotiate.” Participants should bring a recent resume or job experience information. All are welcome, and refreshments will be served. For more information, call Tom Lewis at (201) 445-1864 or the feeder system into the authority’s trunk lines as the original municipalities had to do when the authority was established? • Will Franklin Lakes and Oakland have to pass man- datory connection ordinances before significant invest- ment occurs? • What are the authority’s plans to recapture some of the original construction costs from the connecting municipalities and from individual customers as they hook up? • What is the payback time from the new Franklin Lakes users to fully amortize the capital costs incurred by the expansion into that municipality and eliminate the subsidies being paid by the existing contributory members? The letter also requests current plant capacity and actual flow and what these numbers would be if the authority’s expansion plans come to fruition. “We are looking at the future,” said Borough Admin- istrator Gary Kratz. “We want the proceeds from those connections to offset future increases for us.” Carol Shea at (201) 447-4215. Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church is located at 1 Passaic Street in Ridgewood. BVMI hosts Game On! Northern New Jersey game aficionados are invited to Game On! This afternoon of games and fun is set for Thursday, June 5 at the Preakness Hills Country Club in Wayne. A luncheon and dessert bar will be open at noon followed by duplicate bridge, social bridge, canasta, mah- jongg, Scrabble, and more from 1 to 4 p.m. Men are wel- come and non-players are invited to come and socialize. Tickets are $75 and proceeds will benefit the Bergen Vol- unteer Medical Initiative. A separate room will be devoted to duplicate bridge players. Capri O’Hara, noted local bridge instructor and bridge director at the Bridge Table, will be on hand. ACBL Master Points will be awarded. For details, contact Kathleen DiGiulio at (201) 518-8487 or kdigiulio@bvmi.net. BVMI is completely dependent on contributed income (continued on page 28) May 14, 2014 THE VILLADOM TIMES I • Page 3 Franklin Lakes Borough to lease community center to Wyckoff Y by Frank J. McMahon The Borough of Franklin Lakes has reached a lease agreement with the Wyckoff Family YMCA to provide pro- grams and operate the Franklin Lakes Recreation & Com- munity Center on Vichiconti Way. The agreement was announced by Mayor Frank Bivona at last week’s council session and the governing body endorsed the agreement, which will be embodied in an ordinance that will be introduced at the May 20 council session. The borough will lease the community center building to the YMCA for a 10-year period without requiring any lease payments over that period of time. The building will retain its current name, although there might be a subhead- ing indicating that the building is operated by the Wyckoff Family YMCA. “It was important to us not to lose our identity,” Bivona emphasized. At the end of that 10-year period, the borough will have the option of ending the lease agreement or renewing the lease at market rates. In return, the YMCA has agreed to completely renovate the existing facility and to construct an 800 square foot storage building next to the community center. Bivona said the value of the construction has been esti- mated at $925,000 and that more than compensates the borough for not collecting lease payments for 10 years. In addition, the borough will save the $50,000 per year the community center is now losing in operating costs. The agreement will allow the renovated community center, which will have fitness and wellness programs and new fitness equipment, to be open longer hours and free up rec- reation staff members from the management and mainte- nance of the building to be more dedicated to running the borough’s sports programs. “There will be no impact on the borough’s recreation programs,” Bivona said. “The Wyckoff Family YMCA will have no involvement in the borough’s recreation programs.” In addition, any field use by the YMCA, which is expected to be limited, will be subject to the same conditions that are in the borough’s ordinance for the use of fields. Existing members of the Wyckoff Family YMCA will not have access to the programs at the community center and Franklin Lakes residents will get preferred rates for membership in those YMCA programs, Bivona said. In the event that memberships in the community center reach a maximum, Franklin Lakes residents will get one year of priority and a preference after that time. In addition, com- plimentary memberships would be offered to members of the borough’s fire department and ambulance corps. Franklin Lakes Borough Administrator Gregory Hart also pointed out that day care programs will not be oper- ated by the YMCA at this community center, although there might be a place for parents to “drop off their kids” while they use the exercise room. According to Bivona, borough officials have been talk- ing to the Wyckoff Family YMCA for several years to explore ways to bring a sense of community to Franklin Lakes. He provided the history of the community center and explained that the current building has structural prob- lems that limit its use and the second floor of that building can only be used for storage. In addition, Bivona said, until recently, there has been insufficient parking for that building. Bivona also pointed out that the community center has been limited by budget constraints and has limited its hours of operation due to staffing constraints, so the center has a limited number of members and is losing money. For those reasons, the mayor said the borough has been looking for a third party to increase the array of activities at the center that would be available to residents all year long. He pointed out the current success the YMCA has had in the borough running summer camps and organizing the borough’s triathlon and marathon each year, and it pro- vides a community service for people with special needs in neighboring towns. “The Y is a non-profit organization,” Bivona said, “and its mission is to serve the residents in the community and that is a good fit for us.” In March 2010, borough residents opposed a proposal (continued on page 29) Page 4 THE VILLADOM TIMES I • May 14, 2014 FLOW Area Trustees approve district’s $52.7 million budget by Frank J. McMahon The Ramapo Indian Hills Board of Education has adopted a $52,764,553 budget for the 2014-15 academic year that is $1,727,282 or 3.39 percent higher than the school district’s 2013-14 school budget. The new budget will require a tax levy of $47,272,946 for 2014-15, which is $1,221,312 or 2.65 percent higher than the 2013-14 school budget. Frank Ceurvels, the school district’s business admin- istrator, explained that the two percent tax levy cap was exceeded this year in order to fund the school district’s share of the cost of the masonry project at Ramapo High School by using $691,320 of the $2,369,993 in the banked cap fund to cover the local district’s share of that project. “By raising those additional funds we’ll also get a state grant of about $460,000,” Ceurvels said. The budget allocates $691,320 of the district’s banked cap money for the project at Ramapo High School and there is $1,159,200 in the budget for the masonry project at Indian Hills High School. The tax impact of the school district’s increased tax levy will raise Wyckoff’s property tax rate by 0.0053 cents to 38.37 cents. This will cost the owner of a home with Wyckoff’s average assessed value of $812,200 an additional $43 annually, for a total of $3116. Wyckoff’s 2014 tax assessment has not been finalized so the 2013 figures were used for this calculation. The increased tax levy will raise Oakland’s prop- erty tax rate by 0.0227 cents to 49 cents and will cost the owner of a home with Oakland’s average assessed value of $409,800 an additional $93 annually, for a total of $1,988. In Franklin Lakes, the budget will increase the property tax rate by 0.0088 cents to 44.36 cents. This change will cost the owner of a home with the borough’s $1,036,100 average assessed value an additional $91 annually, for a total of $4,596. The regional high school tax must be added to the (continued on page 22) Budget shows 20 percent decrease The Franklin Lakes K-8 Board of Education unani- mously adopted its 2014 budget at the April 29 public meeting. According to Michael Solokas, the school district’s business administrator, the $28,849,313 total budget is $58,669, or 20 percent, lower than the previous year’s budget primarily due to a $23,735 decrease in the school district’s debt service cost and special revenue funds of $65,084 which offset the general fund increase of $30,140. The total tax levy as a result of this budget will be $25,177,461, which is the same as the previous year after a $965,256 decrease in the tax levy required for debt ser- vice. That will result in a tax rate of 61.2 cents, which is slightly less than last year. That tax rate decrease, which amounts to a little more than three tenths of a cent, will result in a decrease of $32.60 on a home in Franklin Lakes with the average assessed value of $1,036,100. The tax rate established by the local K-8 school budget, and resulting tax levy, is just one of several tax rates that contribute to the total tax rate for a borough property owner. The total tax rate is used to determine each prop- erty owner’s tax obligation. The tax rate for the local K-8 school district must be combined with the regional high school tax rate, the municipal tax rate, the Bergen County tax rate, the Bergen County Open Space tax rate, and the borough library tax rate, to form a property owner’s total tax rate, which is often rounded up by the county before it is set as the offi- cial tax rate of the borough. That final total tax rate, usually established in July each year after the Bergen County budget is approved, (continued on page 29) May 14, 2014 THE VILLADOM TIMES I • Page 5 Midland Park Bolger Community Center gets green building award When the Bolger Foundation set out to convert the abandoned barn at the ITT Marlow property on Godwin Avenue in Midland Park into a community center and headquarters for the Midland Park Ambulance Corps, it also wanted to do it in an environmentally-friendly manner. That effort paid off recently as the building has been honored with a LEED Gold Award, the second high- est achievable rating. Leadership in Energy and Environ- mental Design (LEED) is a rating system for the design, construction, operation, and maintenance of green buildings. All LEED-certified projects are required to include certain elements or strategies to qualify for con- sideration. Beyond the practical uses of the building, foundation trustees David and JT Bolger wanted to provide the town a facility with minimal maintenance and the lowest pos- sible utility bills while striving to be a role model for the Welcome! Midland Park Mayor Patrick ‘Bud’ O’Hagan presents a welcoming proclamation to Michael Serventi and Catherine Freebody, owners of Provi- sions Home and Garden, a new storefront at 42 Central Avenue, across from Veteran’s Park, as Sage Janjigian, Nina Janjigian, Kaelyn Sharkey, Livia Jangigian, Christine Lynch, and Michael Lynch look on. The shop car- ries vintage modern sofas and tables, modern decorating ele- ments, lighting, specialty non- perishable food items such as gourmet olive oils and spreads, fine textiles, and more. All are welcome! borough by reinventing an existing building as a sustain- ably designed community building. According to project Architect Peter Wells, these goals were achieved by focusing on three factors: social, eco- nomic, and the environment. Reusing an existing building to serve as a community/ambulance corps center satisfied the social criteria. Wells satisfied the financial criteria by incorporat- ing into the design high insulation, water reducing fix- tures, geothermal heating and cooling, and LED lights and occupancy sensors to enable the building to have low maintenance costs and minimal use of natural resources. To provide the staff, volunteers, and visitors with an environmentally friendly, healthy environment and opti- mal indoor air quality, low VOC paints and operable windows were used. The design reused materials from the original building, including wood siding and wood beams, and specified locally sourced materials with high recycled content. On the exterior of the building, permeable pavers were used to reduce runoff, drought-tolerant plants that require less water were used for landscape, and high reflective roofing material was installed to reduce heat island effect and thermal gains. A bike rack and preferred parking spaces for fuel efficient cars were provided to encourage environmentally-friendly modes of transportation and help reduce carbon emissions. The building conversion is nearly completed. The ambulance corps has already begun to move into the facility, and a ribbon cutting is expected next month. Page 6 THE VILLADOM TIMES I • May 14, 2014 Midland Park Berninger to call meeting of deli owner, neighbors Midland Park Zoning Officer Mark Berninger will bring all concerned parties to the table in hopes of solv- ing the quality of life issues raised by neighbors of the Park Wood Delicatessen at the corner of Glen and Erie avenues. “Before a lawyer gets involved, let’s look at other options: the sign turned off, shortened hours, figure out parking, etc. If you hire a lawyer, the town is out of it. You will get nowhere, because the zoning laws are not so clear cut,” Berninger told Erie Avenue residents after a lengthy discussion during last week’s mayor and council meeting. “Let’s set up a meeting and see what we can hatch out,” he added. He said the deli’s owner, Roger Schnorrbusch, was cooperative and willing to be respon- sive to neighbors’ requests, but they hadn’t asked. “Let’s continue the process and see how we can bring things together,” said Councilman Bernie Holst. “The neighbors have legitimate concerns.” Several Erie Avenue residents had complained about noise, traffic, parking and other inconveniences they said were caused by the thriving deli, a legal, pre-exist- ing non-conforming use in their residential neighbor- hood, according to Berninger. They charged that the establishment’s addition of pizza ovens and increased catering business constituted an intensification of the non-conforming use. Berninger, who had been asked to investigate the res- idents’ complaints and report to the governing body, said in his report that the deli was in full compliance with borough ordinances and had secured permits for all its improvements. He said the present owner had reduced the number of seats from 25 to 10, all of which were permitted as accessory uses to the deli operation; and that serving a different kind of food, such as pizza, did not, in his opinion, constitute an expansion. He said the traffic and parking issues were not related to zoning and were not within his purview. “I would have approved it, just as John did,” Ber- ninger said of the oven installation. He took over the zoning officer position from John Wittekind this year. Councilman Mark Braunius said that, in his opinion, taking on additional catering constituted an expansion, and therefore would have required a variance. He said more employees were needed, and the deli did not meet the parking requirements. “It’s a fine line. When a business grows, you can’t stop it. I disagree but will look into it further,” Berninger said. Councilman Jack Considine raised the question of employee parking on Erie Avenue, noting that if cars are parked on both sides of the street, emergency vehi- cles and two-way traffic cannot get through. Neighbors had also complained that employees parked in front of their homes made noise and idled their cars when they returned from catering jobs in the early morning hours or even when the deli closed at 10 p.m. Police Chief Mike Marra said that the parking ordi- nance would have to be changed to restrict parking to one side or to limit hours. Councilwoman Nancy Peet questioned the additional traffic and parking requirements generated by a seam- stress business operating on the floor beneath the deli. That business had been granted a variance in1999, Ber- ninger said. Neighbor Anne Polhemus said the high pitch noise generated by an exhaust fan from the new oven made it impossible to use her outside deck. Another neighbor, Susan Rovi, objected to the fan noise as well, adding that early morning deliveries and refuse pick ups also created a disturbance in the neighborhood. “They are not a good neighbor. They add to the noise, traffic and congestion in the area,” said Tovi. New lieutenant Midland Park Mayor Patrick “Bud” O’Hagan swears in Michael Powderley as the police department’s new lieuten- ant, as Powderley’s wife, Jamie, holds The Bible. Current and former police officers as well as family members filled the council chambers to capacity to witness the event. The position had been vacant since the promotion of Police Chief Michael Marra in March, 2012. Powderley began his carrer in the department as a patrolman in January, 1992 after a year as a special police officer and dispatcher. He was promoted to sergeant in February, 2009. May 14, 2014 THE VILLADOM TIMES I • Page 7 Wyckoff Mosaic at Labyrinth Garden commemorates Berkowitz by John Koster A triptych of five-foot-by-three-foot ceramic tile mosaic panels at the Wyckoff Public Library now commemorate Rita S. Berkowitz, a long-term township resident and library patron who passed away in 2012 at the age of 83. The mosaic panels were created by Rhonda Heisler, of Skillman, and were financed by a $15,000 donation by Rita’s husband Bernard Berkowitz, and by her children Robert L. and Nina A. Sobel and Richard D. and Gail M. Sobel. The mosaic is located near the Labyrinth Garden at the library. This permanent outdoor installation is entitled “A World of Potential: Imagination, Exploration, Commu- nication,” and recognizes the many contributions a library makes to the community. “It was been an amazing journey to be involved in this once-in-a-lifetime project,” said Wyckoff Library Direc- tor Mary Witherell. “Rhonda’s work is magnificent -- the crowning glory of our Labyrinth Garden.” Rita Berkowitz had a long-standing relationship with the Friends of the Wyckoff Library and was frequently the largest donor in any given year. She was also a supporter of the Montclair Art Museum, one of the finest small muse- ums in New Jersey, and chaired or co-chaired that muse- um’s “Art in Bloom” exhibit multiple times. Art in Bloom was the museum’s major fundraiser, and involved the cre- ation of elaborate floral displays that would complement artworks in the collection. She loved flowers and books, and had served as the Montclair Garden Club’s president in earlier years. “Ever since it was built in May of 2012, I have felt that the Labyrinth Garden, though beautiful (and conducive to meditation) was incomplete,” said Library Director With- erell. “When I heard of Rita’s interest in art, I thought long and hard about what sort of outdoor art might provide the finishing touch to this space, and after I discovered Rhonda Heisler’s work, I knew this was the answer.” In addition to the panels, Witherell commissioned Heisler to make two matching ceramic planters called “The Beauty of Flowers,” another nod to Rita’s dual passions. The planters are 27 inches tall and 20 inches in diameter, and they flank the entrance to the Labyrinth Garden to draw visual attention from the library’s parking lot toward the secluded, peaceful space. Heisler, a former book editor, turned her hobby of making mosaics into a full-time business a dozen years ago. Her work can be seen in AtlantiCare Regional Medical Center in Atlantic City. She has 24 mosaics on display at Capital Health’s new hospital in Hopewell Township. She is a member of the Society of American Society of Mosaic Artists and she has been featured in many juried and inter- national exhibitions. When Berkowitz passed away in July 2012 following a battle with cancer, the Friends of the Wyckoff Library paid their respects with a mention in their newsletter. Past presi- dent and current treasurer Beth Wharton also sent a note of condolence along with the newsletter to Rita’s husband of 36 years. He was so touched that he offered to fund a library project in Rita’s memory. The Friends of the Wyckoff Library were instrumental in managing this project every step of the way. They funded the cost of the installation, the bronze plaque hung next to Rita S. Berkowitz the panels, and the landscaping in the Labyrinth Garden. The Wyckoff Garden Club has also gotten involved, agree- ing to design and install an arrangement of perennials in the planters at the end of May. State accepts township’s emergency management plan Wyckoff’s update of its emergency management plan has been accepted by the State of New Jersey and Wyckoff Police Chief Benjamin Fox thanked everyone involved in the update process. “Having a comprehensive emergency management plan potentially impacts every resident of our commu- nity as the government services their needs in emergency and disaster situations,” Fox wrote to Wyckoff Township Administrator Robert Shannon. “Only through effective planning can we be sure that we have the ability to meet those needs.” Fox thanked Shannon, who is a deputy emergency management coordinator and a volunteer firefighter. “The assistance you have provided through the comple- tion of this project has been invaluable,” the chief wrote on April 29. “This has been a team effort to complete this project, and the residents of our fine community benefit as our emergency services and government stand prepared to handle and emergency and disaster needs that may arise.” Fox also thanked Emergency Management Coordina- tor/Wyckoff Police Lieutenant Charles Van Dyke, Deputy Emergency Management Coordinator/Wyckoff Police Lieutenant David Murphy, Police Sergeant Brian Zivkov- ich, and Patrolman Kyle Ferreira, the Wyckoff Volunteer Fire Department, the Wyckoff Volunteer Ambulance Corps, the public schools, and many private citizens and organizations who contributed to the update. The updated plan will be effective through April 17, 2018. J. KOSTER Page 8 THE VILLADOM TIMES I • May 14, 2014 May 14, 2014 THE VILLADOM TIMES I • Page 9 Pros and cons of securing a reverse mortgage Geared toward senior citizens, reverse mortgages are growing in popularity and inspiring the curiosity of older homeowners. A reverse mortgage is a loan available to people over the age of 62 that enables borrowers to convert part of the equity in their homes into cash. People of retirement age may find that their limited income can make monthly expenses more difficult. Reverse mortgages were con- ceived as a method to help people at this stage in life use the money they put into their homes to pay off debts or cover routine living expenses. The loan is dubbed “reverse mortgage” because instead of the homeowner paying money to a lender as is customary with a traditional mort- gage, the lender makes payments to the borrower. The borrower is not required to pay back the loan until the home is sold or vacated. As long as a person is living in the home, he or she is not required to make any payments toward the reverse mortgage loan balance. However, the borrower must remain current on insurance and tax pay- ments. When a person takes out a reverse mortgage, he or she may borrow a portion of the market value on the home. As of 2012, the maximum loan amount available in the United States was $625,000. Any outstanding existing mortgages are paid off with the proceeds of the reverse mortgage, and either a lump sum of the balance or monthly payments are established. A homeowner may also opt for a line of credit with the reverse mortgage proceeds. Here is a more in-depth look at the pros and cons associated with reverse mortgages. A reverse mortgage enables seniors to live in their homes for the rest of their lives without fear of mortgage payments. Because there are no payments being made during the life of the loan, borrowers do not have to meet income requirements or credit checks. As long as the borrower continues to maintain resi- dence in the home, he or she is still eligible for the monthly payments received through the reverse mortgage. This money can be used for any purpose and is tax-free. Bor- rowers can opt to modernize their homes or make safety improvements. The funds can also be put toward medical expenses or travel. Because the government insures the reverse mortgage program, borrowers need not worry about receiving their payments. Should a lender fail to make a payment, the borrower is eligible for that money and a late fee. Another benefit of reverse mortgages is they protect homeowners against falling home prices. If the value of the home drops after the loan is negotiated, it will not affect the equity value assessed for the life of the loan. One down side to reverse mortgages is that the loans have higher up-front fees than other types of financing. Borrowers have to pay an origination fee, closing costs, and mortgage insurance costs. These initial costs can total several thousands of dollars. Unlike a traditional mortgage, where the balance gets lower and lower over time, with a reverse mortgage, no payments are being made on the loan. This means the loan balance simply gets larger over time depending on how much money is drawn from the home’s equity. At the end of the loan, when the homeowner moves from the prop- erty, or the house is vacated upon the borrower’s death, the value of the estate decreases based on the pay-off value of the reverse mortgage loan. Heirs will pay off the mortgage by selling the home and will only inherit the remaining money after the reverse mortgage lender has the loan sat- isfied. This means people will be leaving less money for their heirs, but those heirs will not be personally liable if the home sold for less than the value of the mortgage. The mortgage lender has to claim a loss and request reim- bursement from the Federal Housing Administration. Something many seniors may not know about reverse mortgages is that these loans can affect eligibility for some need-based programs. Although Social Security and Medicare are not affected, Medicaid and other gov- ernment assistance programs can be affected if a senior has a surplus of funds from a reverse mortgage that is not spent during the month. A reverse mortgage is a long-term solution. People who are looking for a short-term fix will find that this type of loan probably does not meet their needs. Furthermore, it is hard to be approved for reverse mortgages on newly purchased homes. Lenders usually like to see at least six months or a year chain of title on a property before issuing a reverse mortgage. Many seniors find reverse mortgages confusing. Seniors may unwittingly agree to a loan without fully understanding the scope of the reverse mortgage. It is advisable to seek counseling on reverse mortgages before applying for one. Page 10 THE VILLADOM TIMES I • May 14, 2014 May 14, 2014 THE VILLADOM TIMES I • Page 11 Buying a condo is not the same as buying a house Stringent lending policies and the esca- lating costs of home ownership have led many prospective home buyers to consider condominiums instead of single-family homes. Condos are typically less expensive than single-family homes, which makes lenders and borrowers feel more comfort- able. Lenders feel better because the loans are not as large, while borrowers are more comfortable because such loans allow them to improve their standing with lenders, potentially setting the table for a low-inter- est home loan down the road. But the differences between buying a condo and buying a single-family home go beyond the bottom line. The following are a few things prospective buyers should know about condos before they view any proper- ties. Condos come with fees. Unlike single- family homes, condos come with home- owners’ association fees. These fees cover landscaping, garbage collection, and gen- eral repairs throughout the condominium complex. Fees vary significantly from com- munity to community, and the best deal is not always the one with the lowest hom- eowners’ association fees. Low fees tend to provide less bang for the buck, gener- ally covering only the most basic services. Higher fees often mean the community has more amenities, such as a private pool and gym for residents. Some people prefer such amenities, while others would rather find better deals on their own. Prospective condo buyers must include fees in their monthly budgets when determining how much they can afford to spend. Condos come with rules. Owners of single-family homes can create their own rules for their households, while condo owners must agree to follow rules estab- lished by the homeowners’ association or the property management firm responsible for maintaining the community and enforc- ing the rules. Rules may not allow pets, or may only allow pets of a certain size. Other rules may restrict how owners can decorate their condos during the holiday season or how they can furnish the exterior of their properties, limiting patio furniture to a set number of chairs or tables. Some condo owners are glad such rules are in place, while others might find such stipulations intrusive. Each community has different rules, and prospective buyers should famil- iarize themselves with a community’s rules before buying any properties within that community. Condos often have management firms. (continued on page 22) Page 12 THE VILLADOM TIMES I • May 14, 2014 Franklin Lakes Borough’s 2014 tax levy falls below state cap by Frank J. McMahon The Franklin Lakes Council recently adopted a $16,342,354 budget for 2014 that will result in a 1.95 per- cent increase in the borough’s tax levy to $11,233,414. That figure is under the state cap by $1.4 million. The budget will increase the borough’s tax rate from 26.9 cents to 27.3 cents and raise the municipal portion of the property tax for the owner of a home with the average assessed value of $1,030,000 by $39, to $2,814 per year. That increase, however, must be added to the tax increases for the local and regional school districts, Bergen County, and the Bergen County Open Space tax, to determine that homeowner’s total property tax increase for 2014. When the budget was presented to the public, Frank- lin Lakes Borough Administrator Gregory Hart empha- sized that the municipal tax represents 15 percent of a property owner’s tax bill, while the local school system accounts for 39 percent, the regional high school district accounts for 28 percent, the county accounts for 16 per- cent, and the public library accounts for two percent. Hart emphasized that the borough’s tax rate is one of the lowest in Bergen County and he pointed out that the appropriations in the budget decreased by $187,658 from the 2013 budget, even though there were major increased costs, such as $160,000 for snow plowing and salt, and $98,125 for health insurance. (continued on page 14) May 14, 2014 THE VILLADOM TIMES I • Page 13 Wyckoff Eisenhower School celebrates 50th Anniversary by John Koster A 50-minute program with hula hoop competitions, a scavenger hunt, and a musi- cal assembly with a Broadway professional who is also an Eisenhower alumnus marked the 50th Anniversary Celebration of the Eisenhower Middle School. Gym teacher and advisory leader Col- leen McCurry was credited with coordi- nating the detailed planning that made the event possible with the help of teachers, staff, and PTO leaders. Constantine Maroulis, an alumnus of Eisenhower, American Idol Season 4 Finalist, and Tony-nominated Broadway performer, was a featured artist at the assembly, along with the Chorale and Jazz groups of the student body. He sang “This Is the Moment” from “Jekyll & Hyde” and “Don’t Stop Believing.” “Georgie,” an eighth grader, sang “For the First Time in Forever.” A video of the performances is being produced. Buildings and Grounds John Doller helped dig up the time capsule planted when the Eisenhower School opened 50 years ago, and assisted in planting another time capsule for a future event. Governing body, board to share repair services The Wyckoff Township Committee and the Wyckoff Board of Education have signed a shared services agreement in which the township will perform repairs to the board of education’s vehicles as a cost significantly less than the board could have obtained through a private repair firm. The agreement will run through June 30, 2015. The committee and the board have long since operated a cooperative pricing system in several areas to promote savings to the Wyckoff taxpayers. The township uses its fuel dispensing facility for school board vehicles, and the township also uses a school building for a summer camp for K-4 students organized by the Wyckoff Recre- ation Department, which is operated by the township government. Bergen County Open Space grants con- ferred on the township have been used to replace backstops, foul line fences, and player benches at school fields, and for the larger purposes of acquiring land for municipal parks. Comprehensively, Wyckoff has 23 shared services with the local schools or with other communities aimed at tax reduc- tion for citizens without loss of services to residents. J. KOSTER Wyckoff Township Committeemen Brian Scanlan, Anastasia Maroulis, Constance Maroulis, Constantine Maroulis, and Superintendent of Schools Richard Kuder. Page 14 THE VILLADOM TIMES I • May 14, 2014 Area Sam Cassell earns McConnell Award for volunteerism The American Medical Association has announced that Samuel Cassell, MD will receive the 2013 Jack B. McConnell MD Award for Excellence in Volunteerism, in recognition of Cassell’s outstanding accomplishments as founder of the Bergen Volunteer Medical Initiative. The BVMI Healthcare Center in Hackensack, which opened in 2009, provides free medical care to working, low-income, uninsured residents of Bergen County. More than 1,000 patients receive care from 65 volunteer physi- cians, nurses, and other health care practitioners at nearly 6,000 medical visits each year. “The Excellence in Medicine Awards honor physicians who represent the highest values of altruism, compassion, and dedication to patient care,” the AMA said in a state- ment announcing Cassell’s award. “Your selection from the impressive group of nominees speaks volumes in rec- ognizing your dedication to the profession of medicine.” A resident of Wyckoff, the honoree is a highly- respected internist with a pulmonary sub-specialty. He served the community for over 40 years in private prac- tice and as an attending physician in Valley Hospital in Ridgewood. He is also a long-time clinical instructor at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey. Soon after his retirement in 2003, Dr. Cassell recruited colleagues to help him create a volunteer health care center for uninsured, working Bergen County residents in need of medical care. Modeled on the Volunteers in Medicine program with a premise of “A Culture of Caring,” BVMI opened in 2009 thanks to efforts by Cassell and a commit- ted group of medical professionals. Today, BVMI’s medical volunteers and small part- time staff offer excellent care five days a week, provid- ing primary care and special programs in diabetes care and education, and in women’s health. BVMI’s successful partnerships with the county’s five major medical centers and 300 area medical specialists, spearheaded by Cassell and his colleagues, make it possible for patients to receive (continued on page 18) No-kill animal shelter gets makeover Sam Cassell Tax levy (continued from page 12) According to Hart, the budget line items as a percentage of the overall 2014 budget included: police salary and wages, 18 percent; the insurance group plan for all employees, 10 percent; salary and wages of other employees, nine percent; the oper- ating cost of the free public library, nine percent; municipal debt service, nine per- cent; salary and wages of the department of public works, six percent; pension costs for all employees, six percent; the reserve for uncollected taxes, five percent; and solid waste collection and disposal costs, five percent. Hart advised that the borough’s surplus will remain at $750,000 as will construction The Ramapo-Bergen Animal Refuge, Inc. in Oakland was recently the scene of Save the Caged’s live reveal and Amarillo Grilling Barbecue block party. The afternoon reveal featured a live band, a Zumba class, giveaways, and the opportunity to adopt one of the pets currently making their home at the shelter. Save the Caged, a give-back project by “Hotel Impossi- ble’s” Blanche Garcia and Wigzi Pet Products CEO Nathan Chefetz, chose RBARI to benefit from their labors of love for the animals. Their mission is to give back in a big way to help animals in local shelters. Garcia and Chefetz have pooled resources and talent to perform makeovers for shelters in need. Each shelter code fees at $480,000 and the state aid the borough will receive is also anticipated to stay at $1,781,701. The borough’s budget goals are to con- tinue to decrease the municipality’s $13.9 million debt, stabilize the use of the surplus, fund capital expenditures in the operating budget, control expenses, and continue to reinforce the message of fiscal responsibil- ity in all departments in the borough. Moody’s Investor Service recently con- firmed the borough’s Aaa bond rating, which is held by only four municipalities in the county and only 16 in the state. The investor service included the follow- ing statement in its report, “Moody’s expects the borough’s financial position to remain satisfactory with healthy reserve levels given management’s history of conservative budgeting, implementation of formal finan- cial policies, and, use of forward planning.” is nominated through social media or by word of mouth. Members from Save the Caged visit the shelter and review each facility’s specific needs. The RBARI project involved a large-scale renovation of the shelter in only five. In addition to a crew of local contractors and volunteers, over 15 local businesses have made large donations of time and products totaling over $50,000 so far. Ramapo-Bergen Animal Refuge, Inc. is a no-kill animal shelter located at 2 Shelter Lane in Oakland. For over 35 years, RBARI has been finding forever homes for approxi- mately 600 dogs and cats each year while helping hundreds (continued on page 18) May 14, 2014 THE VILLADOM TIMES I • Page 15 How to approach saving for a college education Parents typically have a lot on their plates. In addition to juggling life’s daily events, parents also must keep their eyes on the future, which typically involves plan- ning for retirement and saving money for their children’s college educations. Though both rank high on many parents’ priority lists, parents should approach college sav- ings much differently than they do retire- ment savings. Prioritize retirement savings over saving for college. Some parents might feel a degree of guilt if they deposit more money into their retirement accounts each month than they do into their kids’ college funds, but such a strategy is nothing to feel guilty about. College students who take out loans have a lifetime ahead of them to repay those loans, while their parents have far less time to grow their retirement savings. Parent don’t want their children to be saddled with debt after they earn their degree, but that does not mean parents should sacrifice security in their golden years just so their child can have minimal or no debt when they graduate from college. Studies show that the average college graduate still earns roughly a million dollars more over his or her lifetime than someone with just a high school diploma, so a college diploma still offers financial incentives that can soften the blow of repaying college loans. Look into college savings plans. Simply socking money away in a savings account is no longer enough to finance a college education. That is because interest rates on standard savings accounts are very low, and as The College Board® notes, the col- lege tuition rate of increase is substantially higher than the general inflation rate. In addition, according to The College Board, the average 2013-14 tuition increase was 3.8 percent at private colleges and 2.9 per- cent at public universities. Both of those figures are higher than the average increase in personal incomes, meaning parents are earning less, while tuition costs are rising. Parents who want to finance all or some of their kids’ college tuitions need to be more creative. College education savings plans are an option, and many, including a Coverdell Education Savings Account and the popu- lar 529 Savings Plan, allow earnings in the account to grow tax-free. Even withdraw- als from college savings plans are typically tax-free so long as those withdrawals are used to finance educational expenses. Rules vary depending on the type of account, so parents should not assume all withdrawals are tax-free. College savings plans can also have an impact on a student’s financial aid eligibil- ity, as these investments are often treated as parental assets. Retirement account assets are typically not considered parental assets when determining a student’s eligibility for financial aid. So parents should explore all of the ins and outs of the various col- lege savings plans available to them before opening any accounts. Encourage students to save for their own expenses. Many high school students are not in a position to work a lot or even at all during a school year. And working too much may ultimately affect students’ per- formance in the classroom. But parents can allow kids to work during summer vaca- tions, and encourage youngsters to save a substantial amount of their earnings from summer jobs. This can teach kids valu- able lessons about money management, and money kids save from summer jobs can be used to pay for additional expenses that do not fall under the umbrella of col- lege tuition, including books, food or even housing. Saving for their children’s college edu- cation is a priority for many parents, and there are various ways parents can do just that without sacrificing their retirements. Page 16 THE VILLADOM TIMES I • May 14, 2014 Ideal volunteer opportunities for youngsters According to the United States Bureau of Labor Statis- tics, roughly 64.5 million people volunteered through or for an organization at least once between September 2011 and September 2012. While those statistics do not include children under the age of 16, that does not mean youngsters cannot lend a helping hand and chip in as volunteers. For many youngsters, exposure to volunteering oppor- tunities begins with Mom and Dad. In fact, the Corpora- tion for National & Community Service notes that a youth from a family where at least one parent volunteers is nearly twice as likely to volunteer as a youth from a family with no family members who volunteer. Youngsters are often enthusiastic about volunteering, and that enthusiasm only increases when kids find the right volunteer opportunities. The following are a handful of places that typically have volunteer opportunities tailor-made for youngsters who want to give back to their communities. Nature cleanup: Many children love to spend time in the great outdoors, making a local beach or park cleanup an ideal way for kids to volunteer. Kids can join large groups to clear beaches and parks of litter and debris, all the while spending a few hours outdoors in the sun. Such projects also keep kids on their feet, providing a healthy dose of exercise for youngsters who may not be into organized sports. Soup kitchen: While soup kitchens may not be best suited to younger volunteers, middle school students and high school students can learn a lot when volunteering at neighborhood soup kitchens. Kids can accompany parents on weekend mornings, preparing and serving food to the less fortunate in their communities. Soup kitchens may open youngsters’ eyes to the reality that not everyone is as fortunate as they are, instilling a sense of obligation to the less fortunate that can serve kids well for the rest of their lives. Nursing home: Residents of nursing homes may expe- rience newfound vigor when getting a visit from a child. Parents can contact local nursing homes or retirement communities to learn about volunteer opportunities for children. Many facilities encourage local youths to read to residents whose vision might be fading, and some facili- ties even host arts and craft projects where youngsters are paired with elderly residents. Such activities make great opportunities even for younger volunteers, who can often connect with elderly men and women in ways that younger adults cannot. Animal shelter: Local animal shelters and veterinary hospitals often have ample volunteer opportunities avail- able to youngsters with a love for animals. Some shelters may not allow kids under the age of 18 to have direct con- tact with the animals, so parents should inquire ahead of time before dropping kids off at the shelter or animal hos- pital. Garden centers: Kids who have shown a knack for gar- dening might be interested in volunteering at the local garden center or nursery, where they can learn the basics of gardening, including planting, watering, and grooming, from trained professionals. Some cities even host garden- ing programs geared specifically to teenagers who want to learn more about the environment and how to plant trees and flowers. Religious organization: The Corporation for National & Community Service notes that many youths are likely to volunteer through a religious organization. Such organiza- tions tend to encourage their younger members to give back to their communities, and many are involved in a variety of volunteer opportunities aimed at kids of all ages and interests. Parents can contact the religious organization to which they belong or another organization in their commu- nity to learn about any affiliated volunteer opportunities for children. These experiences can expose kids to an array of volunteer activities and help kids make new friends. Children often make great volunteers. Finding the right volunteering opportunity for a youngster can foster a love of volunteering for years to come. May 14, 2014 THE VILLADOM TIMES I • Page 17 After-care options for dual-income families In a perfect world, school and work hours would run concurrently. However, the average school day begins at 9 a.m. and continues until 3 p.m., while the average work day lasts from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. As a result, parents must arrange for child care during those hours when school is out, but Mom and Dad are still at work. The two-income family is more common than ever before. Up until the 20th century, a dual-income family was rare. Today, however, roughly 80 percent of families in North America have both parents working, and many find it is impossible to live on one income. Dual-income families often have to make difficult choices about child care. If a mother returned to work shortly after giving birth, day care was probably arranged early on. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, in 2010, 48 percent of children ages 0 to 4 with employed mothers were primarily cared for by a relative. Twenty-four percent spent the majority of their time in a center- based arrangement. As children grow and attend elementary school, traditional day care is usually not an option and parents have to make other arrangements. Many schools have programs both before and after school, many of which are reasonably priced. This helps dual-income families, but may not be practical during early-release days, teacher planning days, or holiday breaks. Programs that help parents before school typically allow working parents to drop off their children before the parents head to work. Students are kept in the school gym or cafeteria until the regular day begins. The same scenario applies to after school programs. At dismissal, after-care students will return to the designated location to work on homework or engage in some activities with other after-care participants until their parents arrive to take them home. Parents who prefer a different situation than school-based care frequently turn to friends or family members to bridge the gap between school and work. Students who carpool may be dropped off early at the driver’s home and stay there after school until their parents get home. Many families have welcomed older relatives back into their homes. In such instances, grandparents or aunts and uncles can look after the kids once school has ended for the day. Some children are enrolled in care cen- ters that watch children before school, bus them to school, and then return in the after- noon to pick up the children. This is one of the more costly options in child care. How- ever, it may be more educationally struc- tured than the care programs provided at school. Students who participate in sports or academic clubs may have an arrangement to stay with a teacher, coach, or club admin- istrator until their parents are home from work. These programs vary depending on the region of the country and the particular school district. Personal finances also play a role in the type of care families can afford. When the decision is made, there are (continued on page 29) Page 18 THE VILLADOM TIMES I • May 14, 2014 Villadom Socials Julia Merz to wed McConnell Award Happy birthday! Family and friends recently gathered to celebrate Midland Park resident Henrietta ‘Hummy’ Klopman’s 90th birth- day. Pictured are the guest of honor (seated) with her sis- ters Minnie Siegers of Midland Park (left) and Jean ‘Jennie’ Marcus of Wyckoff (right). Animal shelter (continued from page 14) of others find homes by working with other rescues. The shelter has a trainer on staff who works with staff and vol- unteers to rehabilitate animals with many different stories. Sponsors for this project include B. Garcia Designs; Wigzi; Shaun Killman Design and Fabrication; Atlas Desk Office Furniture & Services; Petropics - Tiki Cat, Tiki Ken and Jennifer Merz of Allendale have announced the engagement of their daughter, Julia Paige Merz, to Joshua Lee Westbrook, son of David and Teri West- brook of Greenfield, Massachusetts. The bride-to-be is a 2008 graduate of Northern Highlands Regional High School in Allendale. She graduated from Lehigh University in Bethlehem, Penn- sylvania in 2012 with a degree in English and psychol- ogy and a minor in French. She is currently an editorial assistant at Rodale Books. Her fiancé, also a 2012 graduate of Lehigh Univer- sity, majored in computer engineering. He is employed by Da Vinci Concepts as a software engineer. The couple resides in Bethlehem. A September wed- ding is planned. Dog; Zeigler’s Distributor; Amarillo Grilling; Boards and Beams Wood Products; Cirino Construction; 1-800-Pet- Meds; Home Hardware and Supply; Bella Casa Floor and Home Fashions; Rated R Band; Zumba instructor Crystal Gaynor; Ricciardi Brothers; and City Space Design and Build, Inc. Donations to RBARI’s Save the Caged project may be made at http://www.crowdrise.com/savethecaged. Anyone interested in adopting a cat or dog or learning more about RBARI and how to help, may visit www.rbari.org, call the shelter at (201) 337-5180, or visit the shelter. (continued from page 14) necessary specialty care, diagnostic testing, surgery, and other medical interventions at little or no cost to the patient. With the introduction of the Affordable Care Act, BVMI’s medical experts anticipate that thousands of working resi- dents in Bergen County who fall within 100 to 300 per- cent of federal poverty levels will still be unable to afford health insurance, and will need BVMI’s free services for years to come. The Excellence in Medicine Awards ceremony will take place June 6-8 at the Annual Meeting of the Ameri- can Medical Association. As part of the award, the AMA Foundation will grant $2,500 to BVMI in appreciation for Dr. Cassell’s leadership. “Sam Cassell is absolutely untiring,” said Dr. Earl Wheaton, a colleague who was part of the creation of BVMI. “He showed us that the need was great. While we live in a relatively affluent county, there is a large popula- tion of under-served people, many of them immigrants who work in the service sector yet live in poverty and have no health insurance. Despite many challenges, he persisted, and pulled together an unstoppable community effort. He single-handedly created a momentum that convinced the major medical centers to join us in this initiative, and was the force behind critical corporate support and fundrais- ing. Sam was also the primary recruiter of volunteer phy- sicians to serve the center, and he clearly took to heart the culture of caring; he made sure that those of us who joined him from the earliest days knew that his vision was to pro- vide the best possible care to those in need.” BVMI Board Chair and former president and CEO of Valley Hospital Michael Azzara, noted, “Dr. Cassell’s accomplishment in creating Bergen Volunteer Medical Initiative is nothing short of remarkable -- and inspira- tional. After his distinguished medical career, he decided it was time to do something of significant value in helping others and make a difference. He learned of the work of Dr. Jack McConnell who established the first Volunteers in Medicine health center and used that model to create BVMI. He was on a mission, in the best sense of the word, and enlisted friends, donors, legislators, and community leaders to transform an idea into reality. He was unrelent- ing, passionate, and convincing and many of us had no choice but to get on board and support this worthwhile mission. The obstacles were many and complex but it was his tenacity and leadership which made the difference.” Holy Name Hospital President and CEO Michael Maron joined colleagues in endorsing Cassell’s nomination. “As a hospital CEO, I know many physicians and their work, and I feel confident in characterizing Dr. Cassell as espe- cially distinguished in the area of medical volunteerism. He is a doctor in the complete sense of the word, espous- ing BVMI’s care philosophy which, in addition to physical illness, addresses ‘injury caused by bias, prejudice, and indifference.’ For Dr. Cassell, health care means more than pharmaceuticals, testing, and sutures; it is a matter of social justice.” Dr. Cassell transitioned out of the leadership of BVMI’s board after the opening of the center, and he continues to serve as an active member of the board, a member of the Medical Services Committees, a key recruiter of vol- unteer talent, an active fundraiser, and a valued medical consultant. May 14, 2014 THE VILLADOM TIMES I • Page 19 Area Alzheimer’s Association recognizes Van Dyk Health Care The Alzheimer’s Association, Greater New Jersey Chap- ter presented its Circle of Honor Award, in the category of Corporation of the Year, to Van Dyk Health Care, to honor the company’s outstanding contributions to improving the lives of people with Alzheimer’s disease and their families. Accepting the award was Robert Van Dyk, president and CEO of Van Dyk Health Care. The Circle of Honor Award is the chapter’s most prestigious award and is presented annually by the board of directors at the Alzheimer’s Asso- ciation’s benefit gala, Memories Should Last a Lifetime, which was held at the Pleasantdale Chateau. “For almost 20 years, Van Dyk Health Care has exem- plified commitment to the Alzheimer’s community through involvement in our mission,” said Kathleen Town- shend Dugan, board chair of the Alzheimer’s Association, Greater New Jersey Chapter. “The company’s efforts have helped the Alzheimer’s Association support the over half a President and CEO of Van Dyk Health Care Robert Van Dyk (right) accepts the Alzheimer’s Association, Greater New Jersey Chapter Circle of Honor Award, in the category of Corporation of the Year, from Association Board Vice Chair Frank Ciriello. HackensackUMC is Hospital of Year finalist for 2014 HackensackUMC at Pascack Valley has been named a finalist in the Hospital of the Year category in the 2014 NJBIZ awards program. This program, produced by NJBIZ, New Jersey’s premier business news publication, is spon- sored by Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey, Hackensack University Medical Center, Comcast Business, New Jersey Hospital Association, WithumSmith+Brown, PC, MD Online, and Comcast Spotlight. “We are thrilled to have been selected as finalist in the category of hospital of the year,” said Chad Melton, CEO of HackensackUMC at Pascack Valley. “We know that local residents have a choice when it comes to their health care provider and we are committed to improving the quality and accessibility of health care for the people of this region.” The awards program honors individuals and organiza- tions making a significant impact on the quality of health care in New Jersey. Finalists and winners were chosen by an independent panel of judges including: Jeff Brown, Affiliated ACOs at the NJ Health Care Quality Institute; Beverly J. Lynch, Advocacy and Management Group; Dean Paranicas, Healthcare Institute of New Jersey; and Wardell Sanders, New Jersey Association of Health Plans. Healthcare Heroes awards finalists will be recognized and the winner in each category will be announced during a breakfast to be held June 24 at the Palace in Somerset Park in Somerset. For more information about the NJBIZ Healthcare Heroes awards program, or to reserve seats to the event, visit www.njbiz.com/events or contact Melissa Sullen- berger at melissas@njbiz.com or (732) 246-5737. HackensackUMC at Pascack Valley is a 128-bed, full- service, acute-care community hospital, providing the same nationally recognized quality care for which Hackensack University Medical Center is known. The hospital features all private patient rooms at no additional cost, a state-of- the-art obstetrical unit, an intensive/critical care unit, five operating rooms, one special procedure room, and a car- diac catheterization laboratory. This inpatient hospital acts as an anchor to many in-demand, outpatient services such as radiology, women’s health, and same-day surgery. For more information, visit www.hackensackumcpv.com. million New Jerseyans who are impacted by Alzheimer’s disease. We are very thankful for Van Dyk Health Care’s support.” Van Dyk Health Care, Inc. is comprised of two skilled nursing and post-acute care facilities, one assisted living residence, a rehab company, and the HeartWays cardiac rehabilitation program. Van Dyk Health Care has been a supporter of the Alzheimer’s Association since 1996, sponsoring and attending association events, ranging from the Walk to End Alzheimer’s® to the annual Education and Research Con- ference. At the corporation’s 60 th Anniversary party last year, the Alzheimer’s Association was presented with a generous donation to help provide programs and services to affected New Jersey individuals and families. (continued on page 20) Page 20 THE VILLADOM TIMES I • May 14, 2014 How times have changed Later this month we will celebrate Memorial Day and honor the veterans who served in the armed forces, and the memories of those who served and did not come back. The holiday as celebrated today usually features a parade, a speech, and a three-day weekend with picnics and huge sales. Memorial Day was originally like a gigantic national funeral -- and not without good reason. Some months ago, Thomas Fleming, author of a number of controversial best-sellers, took on the causes and the casualties of the Civil War in “A Disease of the Public Mind.” Fleming pointed out in terms of casualties that the death toll of the war of 1861-1865 was probably about 850,000 rather than the official 618,222, based on the dis- appearance from the records of men who never recovered and died shortly after they returned home. The toll may ultimately have been close to a million people. More recently, Dr. Thomas Lowry, a physician and pro- fessor of medicine and a life-long student of the Civil War, shows what the process of death or very limited recov- ery looked like in “A Thousand Stories You Don’t Know about the Civil War.” Lowry, who had two members of ancestral families killed in the Union Army at Fredericks- burg, one at New Market, and a near-death at the horrific prison camp at Andersonville, deals in one chapter of his anthology with the career of Colonel Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain, where he summarizes the Union cause and then leads the heroic defense of Little Round Top, a key to the three-day battle of Gettysburg. Chamberlain was clipped by a bullet that scratched his right ear and neck at Fredericksburg -- an ominous shot if ever there was one in the one-sided slaughter of Union troops attacking entrenched Confederates. He was a col- lege professor before his enlistment and he undoubtedly thought about what would have happened if the bullet had been an inch or two to the left. He also suffered a serious bout of sunstroke that kept him off duty for about a week in the days before Gettysburg. Chamberlain got through Gettysburg with a bullet hit on his sword scabbard that bruised his leg, and a graze from a flying rock fragment. In the aftermath of the battle where he was one of several officers who helped stave off a Confederate victory, he suffered from neurasthe- nia -- “weak nerves” -- which is a psychological problem brought on by stress and by neuralgia, often caused by a mixture of stress and physical illness. He shook them off and survived a mild bout of malaria. At Petersburg, the end-game battle before Richmond, on June 18, 1864, Chamberlain was struck by a Confed- erate bullet that hit him in the thigh, traveled upward damaging his bladder, and partially shattered his pelvis before it lodged inside him. Chamberlain’s loyal brother coerced two stretcher bearers to lug him to a field hospi- tal and demanded immediate surgery. Under chloroform, in a night operation by dim lantern light, the surgeons removed the dented musket ball and reconnected the uri- nary passages, which began to leak almost as soon as the surgery was completed. The newspapers printed Chamberlain’s obituary, but he lived and returned to active service after four months. He served until the end of the war, though he was never able to mount his horse Charlemagne without a hand up. He also endured post-war operations for infections and urinary troubles, his sex life appears to have been termi- nated, and his career as governor of Maine and president of Bowdoin College took place despite frequent pain and constant medical problems. Perhaps through sheer will power, or an incredibly robust constitution -- and an ade- quate income that permitted special medical attention -- Chamberlain lived to be 85. He was a heroic anomaly. Perhaps more typical was Garth Wilkinson James, the adjutant of Colonel Robert Gould Shaw of the 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry. Wilky James had sup- ported emancipation as a matter of family principal. His family members were Swedenborgians. Like most Spiri- tualists, they saw Africans and American Indians as being worthy of equal rights. Wilky at 18 at Battery Wagner was a brave young man but not a particularly good solder. His revolver went off by mistake just before the attack and the bullet missed Colonel Shaw by a couple of feet, but earned Wilky a very dirty look from the more experienced 25- year-old colonel. In the night assault on Battery Wagner, Wilky joined the second color party a short distance behind Shaw. He never made it to the parapet. A Confederate musket ball smashed through one of his feet and a canister pellet from overhead struck him on one kidney. Two of his soldiers got him into a stretcher. Back on the parapet, Sergeant Lewis Douglass, 23-year- old son of Frederick Douglass and the designated sergeant major, was rallying the black troops who recovered Colo- nel Shaw’s body. Some of the black soldiers were shot, but Lewis wrote to his future wife that he had not been hit. Medical records I located in the National Archives sug- gest Lewis was sparing her feelings. His Army medical reports say a musket ball hit him in the crotch and he spent several weeks in the hospital with an infection. His mar- riage was childless and he spent a lot of time seeking his fortune far from home. Wilky James was being carried to the rear by two stretcher bearers when a round-shot killed one of them. The other stretcher bearer ran for it. Wilky never knew how he got to the hospital ship, but a rich abolitionist, looking for his own son found Wilky semi-conscious in the hospital and got him shipped home to his family at Newport, Rhode Island, where he got first-rate medical attention. Multiple operations restored the use of his foot after multiple infections. He spent a year recovering from wounds and nervous problems and the last year of the war on active service, among other things hunting for John Wilkes Booth after the assassination of Abraham Lincoln. After the war, Wilky and some friends tried to orga- nize a farm in the former Confederacy to teach freed slaves about agricultural self-sufficiency while they also educated them. Most of these idealistic young men had never worked a day in their lives. The former slaves some- times saw no reason to work now that they were free, Southerners refused to sell land or buy crops, and the farm flopped. Wilky’s rich eccentric father cut him out of the will. Wilky was horrified and outraged. Wilky’s brother Robert, and the more famous James brothers, William and Henry, each designated a share of their own inheri- tances to his support. He was able to sustain himself at a low-paying clerk’s job and married a fellow idealist from a family where nobody had worked in three generations. However, the canister ball in the kidney he sustained at 18 Battery Wagner -- perhaps coupled with overwork an the malarial Southern climate -- turned into Bright’s disease, also known as nephritis, and he died in his 30s as a man of principle and courage but no achievements except on the battlefield. Ambrose Bierce, who wrote some of the darkest Civil War stories ever to hit print, may have passed on his pen- chant for embittered heroism to his two sons. One was killed in a gunfight over a woman and the other died of pneumonia pushing himself too hard to make a newspa- per deadline. He considered both their deaths to be manly and brave. Bierce said at the end that the Civil War had not been worth it, urged the United States to get out of the Philippines where reported massacres of rebel inhab- itants had clouded the Army’s reputation, and finally dis- appeared into rebellion-ravaged Mexico looking for an interview with Pancho Villa or a firing squad, whichever came first. Bierce appears never to have gotten the inter- view, but he left behind yet another mystery. After World War I, the term “Lost Generation” was used to describe people who had escaped death by shell- fire and bullets, but had been destroyed by constant con- tact with violence, most of it seen as gratuitous after the armistice. The Civil War produced many similar men. Elizabeth Custer noted that many men who had served and been wounded died within a decade of Appomattox. These were the men Memorial Day was first organized to remember -- the ones who were killed in battle like Colo- nel Robert Gould Shaw and the ones like Wilky James and Lewis Douglass who lost the promise of their youth due to wounds that crippled, but did not kill. We should pause for more than a moment to honor those World War II veterans who are still with us and have a full right to our respect. We should remember the veterans of more recent and more controversial wars. We should remember the soldiers of the war that made America “a free country” -- which it never was before 1865. They were the men whose service led to Memorial Day. Letters to the Editor Club held successful breakfast Dear Editor: The Midland Park Lions Club held its 43rd Annual Pan- cake Breakfast on Sunday, April 6 at the Midland Park Firehouse. I want to thank all those from Midland Park and the surrounding communities for having their Sunday breakfast with the Lions, thus supporting our continued charitable endeavors. I also want thank our sponsors who helped make the breakfast such a success: Atlantic Stewardship Bank; Acqua Pools; Bob Bush at State Farm Insurance; Boy Scout Troop 157; Brunswick Bowling Lanes in Fair Lawn; Dunkin Donuts; Family Hair Care; Girl Scout Troops 95, 468, and 558; Haitz Electric; Larry & Phil’s Barber Shop; Midland Bagel Emporium; Horizon Pest Control; Jacobsen Landscape Design; LAN Associates; Le Chien; Olthuis and Vander Plaat funeral homes; Paragon Auto Body in Wyckoff; Pattman Plumbing; Robert J. Hazen/Hudson City Bank; the Baseball Card Store; the Body Works Auto Body; Suburban News; Villadom TIMES; Town Home & Garden; Wade Odell Wade/United Van Lines; and the Bor- ough of Midland Park for the use of the electronic message board to advertise our event. I hope to see everyone at our 44th Annual Pancake Breakfast! John L. “Jack” Romano, President Midland Park Lions Club Midland Park Van Dyk Health Care recognized (continued from page 19) The Alzheimer’s Association is the leading volun- tary health organization in Alzheimer care, support, and research. The association’s mission is to eliminate Alzheimer’s disease through the advancement of research, provide and enhance care and support for all affected, and reduce the risk of dementia through the promotion of brain health. It is estimated that there are currently more than half a million individuals and their care partners in New Jersey who are struggling to cope with the challenges of Alzheimer’s disease. Headquartered in Denville with regional offices in Oradell, Princeton, and Red Bank, the Alzheimer’s Association offers education and training, support groups, respite care assistance, and a 24-hour, toll-free telephone Helpline. For more information about Alzheimer’s disease or the Alzheimer’s Association, call 1-800-272-3900, or visit at www.alz.org/nj. May 14, 2014 THE VILLADOM TIMES I • Page 21 Wyckoff Wanderings Memorial Day events planned Wyckoff’s Memorial Day Ceremonies and Parade will be held on Monday, May 26. This year’s parade theme is “Gone but not Forgotten.” The Firefighters’ Memorial Service will be held at 9 a.m. at Firehouse #1. At 10 a.m., the community will gather on the green of the Wyckoff Reformed Church on Wyckoff Avenue, site of the township’s war memorial, for the annual memorial ser- vice for veterans. All local Gold Star Mothers, Blue Star Mothers, military veterans, and members of the commu- nity are invited to attend the service and parade. Wyckoff resident Erik Ruebenacker of Midland Park- Wyckoff VFW Post 7086 will serve as master of ceremo- nies for the veterans’ service and Mayor Douglas J. Christie will give the welcoming address. The memorial address will be given by Lieutenant Colo- nel Matt Noble, USMCR. Noble is still in active reserve status and a veteran of Operation Iraqi Freedom. The invo- cation and benediction will be delivered by Pastor Jeff Riley of Powerhouse Christian Church. Matthew Fairchild of Powerhouse Christian Church will be the vocalist. New to the memorial service this year will be the read- ing of the award-winning essay written by Wyckoff resi- dent Kathleen Roughgarden. Her essay was selected as the winner of the Midland Park-Wyckoff VFW Post 7086 Patriot’s Pen Contest. This year’s parade grand marshal is United States Army WWII Veteran Arthur “Art” Coppe. The parade will begin at 11:30 a.m. at Cornerstone Church, located at the intersec- tion of Wyckoff and Russell avenues. Parade participants will assemble behind the church. The parade will proceed left onto Wyckoff Avenue, right onto Main Street, right onto Franklin Avenue, and onto Scott Plaza. The parade will conclude at the ambulance corps building. Refreshments will be provided behind Fire Company #1 courtesy of the Wyckoff Township Committee and the Parade Committee. In the event of rain, the parade will be canceled and the memorial service will be held inside Wyckoff Reformed Church. Chamber to host Stephen Borg The Wyckoff Chamber of Commerce will meet at 7:45 a.m. on Thursday, May 15. The group will gather at the Larkin House located at 691 Wyckoff Avenue. The meeting will be hosted by the Wyckoff YMCA. Coffee and a light breakfast will be catered by Nicholas Markets. Stephen Borg, president of North Jersey Media and publisher of The Record will be the guest speaker. Borg will discuss the newspaper industry and the effects of social media on businesses. RSVP to www.wyckoffcham- ber.com. Addiction and recovery program set The Christian Health Care Center, Wyckoff Municipal Alliance, and the Wyckoff Health Department will sponsor a special presentation, “The Road to Recovery: Stories of Addiction,” from 7 to 8:30 p.m. This program will be held May 15 in the Christian Health Care Center Auditorium at 700 Mountain Avenue, Wyckoff. The program may not be appropriate for children under 12 years of age. Alumnae of Spring House, Bergen County’s halfway house for women recovering from alcohol and drug abuse, will share their stories. Following the presentation, experts from Spring House and Christian Health Care Counseling Center will be available to answer questions. Representa- tives from the Center for Alcohol and Drug Resources, and Balance and Thrive Therapy Center will also be present. Refreshments will be served. To RSVP, or for more information, e-mail khockstein@chccnj.org or call (201) 848-4463. For more information, visit ChristianHealth- Care.org. Neiberg to discuss ‘Massive Missteps’ Michael S. Neiberg, author of “Dance of the Furies: Europe and the Outbreak of World War I,” will present “Massive Missteps: Lessons Learned from World War I” at the Wyckoff Public Library on Thursday, May 15. The program will be held at 7 p.m. To commemorate the centennial of the start of the Great War, Neiberg, a professor of history in the Department of Operation Take Back tops in county Wyckoff recently participated in the United States Drug Enforcement Agency’s Operation Take Back, and earned the top statistics in Bergen County, according to Wyckoff Police Department Detective Mike Musto. “Wyckoff submitted the highest total number of pounds of drugs collected in the program (held recently) in Bergen County,” said Musto, who reported that Wyckoff collected 159 pounds of medication. Musto theorized that the take back poundage would have been even higher had residents not participated so enthusiastically in the previous Operation Take Back campaigns held since 2010. The operations have been collectively credited with taking 1,428 pounds of expired National Security and Strategy at the U.S. Army War Col- lege in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, will look at the mispercep- tions that started it. Neiberg will be available to sign copies of his book afterward. To register, call the reference desk at (201) 891- 4866, extension 2, or visit www.wyckofflibrary.org. The library is located at 200 Woodland Avenue. Spend Monday at the movies The Wyckoff Public Library, located at 200 Woodland Avenue, presents free screenings of movies on Mondays at 2 p.m. There will be a screening of “Sergeant York” (1941) on May 19. Starring Gary Cooper and Walter Brennan, “Ser- geant York” is the true story of Alvin P. York, who evolved from a wild, undisciplined hillbilly to a pacifist and one of the most celebrated American heroes of World War I. Cooper won the first of his two Best Actor Oscars for his portrayal of York. This film is not rated and is 134 minutes long. Frech to exhibit at the YMCA Local artist Sandra Frech will exhibit her paintings, mixed media works, and prints at the Wyckoff YMCA, 691 Wyckoff Avenue in Wyckoff, through May 23. The exhibit is open to the public during the Y’s regular busi- ness hours. Frech studied at the Art Students League in New York City, the Art Center of Northern New Jersey, the New Jersey Center for Visual Arts, the Minneapolis Art Museum, and the Jocelyn Art Museum in Omaha, Nebraska. She has lived abroad and continued her art education at the Atelier Vaudou in Paris, France and the Santa Reparata Studio in Florence, Italy. She has received numerous awards, including a grand prize juried by noted painter Phillip Pearlstein at the New Jersey Center of Visual Arts, and the Grumbacher Gold Medallion from the Catherine Lorillard Wolfe Art Club at the National Arts Club in New York City. Frech is a member and past vice president of SALUTE to Women in the Arts, and the National Association of Women Artists. She has exhibited in SOHO galleries, and at the “Salon des Independants” at the Grand Palais in Paris. She is also a member of Painting Affiliates and Printmaking Affiliates at the Art Center of Northern New Jersey. Wyckoff Day festivities announced The Wyckoff Family YMCA will host its Fifth Annual Wyckoff Day on Saturday, June 7 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Y’s 14-acre campus at 691 Wyckoff Avenue in Wyckoff. The day will include vendors and local merchants from the area, food, live music, amusement rides and carnival games, and the “Duckie Derby.” Back by popular demand is the Wyckoff Chamber of Commerce “Chili Cook-Off” benefitting the Wyckoff Volunteer Fire Department and the Wyckoff Ambulance Corps. New this year is a Cookie Bake-Off and sale that will also benefit Wyckoff’s volun- teers. The lineup of live entertainment includes: Evan Tot, 11 a.m.; The Kootz, noon; Mike Fox of the Mighty Spectrum Band, 1 p.m.; Cleopatra Club, 2 p.m.; Jersey Royale, 3 p.m.; and No Time Lost, 4 p.m. Sponsorships are still available. This year’s supporters include: Shop Rite/Inserra Supermarkets Inc., Diamond; Stop & Shop, Platinum; Nicholas Markets Foodtown North or unneeded prescription drugs out of medicine cabinets -- and out of the reach of people who might have poisoned themselves or otherwise misused the medications. Police report that misuse of prescription drugs by accident or with the intent to intoxicate have killed more Americans in recent years than street narcotics sold by pushers with the intention of illegal drug abuse. The DEA collected the prescriptions and contain- ers from Wyckoff and incinerated them, protecting the privacy of the people who drop them off. The Wyckoff Township Committee thanked the police for their effi- ciency and the residents for their cooperation. J. KOSTER Haledon, and 3 Chicas Mexican Kitchen, Silver; and Power Training Center of Wyckoff Martial Arts, Columbia Bank, Wyckoff Florist and Gifts, Devon Fine Jewelers, Christian Health Care Center, Boiling Springs Savings Bank, Hori- zon Landscape Co., Millers Pharmacy, and Yee Medicine and Pediatrics. For more information, visit www.wyckoffymca.org or call (201) 891-2081. YMCA presents ‘Applause’ The Wyckoff Family YMCA will host the Shining Star Express 20 th Anniversary Show, “Applause” on Saturday, May 17. The program will be held at 1 p.m. at the Y, 691 Wyckoff Avenue in Wyckoff. The public is invited to attend this free performance. Shining Star Express is a social, cultural program with a multi-disciplinary and expressive arts approach that pro- vides programs for the special needs community through a variety of classes for everyone from age eight to adult. For more information, call Nina C. Reisman at (201) 891-2081. Press releases for this column may be sent to editorial@villadom.com. Deadline is Wednesday at noon. Page 22 THE VILLADOM TIMES I • May 14, 2014 Obituaries Adolph ‘Sonny’ Santorine memorial service correction The notice regarding Adolph “Sonny” Santorine’s memorial service published in last week’s Villadom TIMES included the wrong date. The service will be held on Saturday, May 17 at 11 a.m. at Trinity Episcopal Church located at 55 George Street (off Hillside Avenue) in Allen- dale. Santorine, the first athletic director of Midland Park High School, died at 89 on Nov. 24, 2013. In 2010, he was inducted into the Midland Park High School Hall of Fame. He is survived by his wife Helen and their children Dolph of Wheeling, West Virginia; Joseph of Lewisburg, Penn- sylvania; and Virginia Glazer of Vero Beach. Vincent D. Abbatiello Vincent D. Abbatiello of Ramsey, formerly of Wyckoff, died May 2. He was 23. He was a 2009 graduate of Ramsey High School. He was a parishioner of Saint Paul’s Church in Ramsey and worked at the Omni Grove Park Inn in Asheville, North Carolina. He was a musician. He studied at Montclair State University majoring in music compo- sition and was recognized as the 2013 Outstanding Com- poser Award as a junior, becoming the first non senior to receive this recognition in the university’s history. He wrote music of varying genres, including modern classi- cal, jazz, and electronic. He performed with John Pizza- relli, Elizabeth Brown, and Jason Robert Brown and was an alumnus of Bergen Youth Orchestra. He is survived by his parents Vincent T. Abbatiello of Wyckoff and Judy Abbatiello of Whippany. He is also survived by his sister Nicole M. Abbatiello of Wyckoff; his grandparents Domi- nick and Emily Spina and Vincent and Phyllis Abbatiello, all of Hawthorne; and aunts and uncles Stephen and Kathy Spina of Wilmington, Massachusetts and Phyllis and Willie Walsh of Dumont. Arrangements were made by Vander Plaatt Funeral Home in Wyckoff. Memorial donations may be made to the Bergen Youth Orchestra, P.O. Box 391, Park Ridge, NJ 07656-0391. Douglas Lee Couser Douglas Lee Couser of Hubert, North Carolina, for- merly of Midland Park, died April 23. He was 37. He was a graduate of Indian Hills High School in Oakland. He is survived by his mother Dorothy Couser of Hubert, North Carolina, and his siblings Doreen Lustig of Richlands, North Carolina, Donald of Vernon, and David of Newport, Rhode Island. Arrangements were made by Jones Funeral Home in Swansboro, North Carolina. Deborah A. Donkersloot Deborah A. Donkersloot, nee Douma, of Midland Park died May 5. She was 63. She was a homemaker and also worked as a secretary. She is survived by her husband Walter Donkersloot Jr. and her children Jason Donkersloot and Alison Botbyl, both of Hawthorne. She is also survived by three grandchildren, her mother Genevieve (nee Won- dergem) Douma, and her siblings Janice Alkema of Rich- field Springs, New York, Leslie De Jong of North Haledon, and John Douma of Troy, Virginia. She was predeceased by her father John Douma. Arrangements were made by Browning-Forshay Funeral Home in Hawthorne. Memo- rial donations may be made to the Midland Park Ambu- lance Corps, 42 Pierce Avenue, Midland Park, NJ 07432 or to the Christian Health Care Center, 301 Sicomac Avenue, Wyckoff, NJ 07481. William R. Kennedy William R. Kennedy of Wyckoff died May 5. He was a U.S. Navy veteran. He graduated from Manhattan Col- lege in 1952 and began his career in advertising for Ted Bates & Co in New York City. While at Ted Bates & Co, he ran its subsidiary, Custom Marketing. He was the author of many books. He was a member of the Hobbyists and a former member of the Ridgewood Country Club. He taught CCD at Our Lady of Mount Carmel R.C. Church for many years. He is survived by his wife Pamela (nee Critcherson) and his children Susan Christopher, Douglas, and Richard. He is also survived by four grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. Arrangements were made by C.C. Van Emburgh Funeral Home in Ridgewood. Memo- rial donations may be made to Saint Jude’s Children’s Hos- pital, Memorial & Honor Program, 501 Saint Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38148. Jennifer Landers Jennifer Landers of Jersey City, formerly of Wyckoff, died May 6. She was 45. She was a 1986 graduate of Ramapo High School and was a member of the Class of 1990 at Skidmore College. She was a senior vice president for Grey Advertising in New York City. She is survived by her parents John and Jane Landers of Wyckoff, her sib- lings Alyssa Gillen of Los Angeles, California and Mark Landers of Franklin Lakes, and four nieces and nephews. Arrangements were made by Vander Plaat Funeral Home in Wyckoff. Memorial donations may be made to Valley Hospice, 223 North Van Dien Avenue, Ridgewood, NJ 07450. Terence Anthony McBride Terence Anthony McBride of Franklin Lakes died May 6. He was 65. He was the chairman and master plumber of the Frank A. McBride Company in Hawthorne. He and his wife co-owned Urban Farms Landscape and Design in Franklin Lakes. He was a graduate of Stanford University where he was captain of the golf team. He was a nine time club champion at Arcola and Westhampton country clubs and a seven-time winner at the National Golf Links. He played in numerous U.S. amateur and mid-amateur tour- naments. He was a parishioner of Most Blessed Sacra- ment R.C. Church in Franklin Lakes, volunteered at Eva’s Kitchen, and was a member of various clubs and charitable organizations. He is survived by his wife Mary (nee Purdy) McBride of Franklin Lakes and his children Scott B. McBride and John J. McBride, both of Chatham, and Laura Parkinson of Kingsburg, California. He is also survived by eight grandchildren and his brothers Michael X. McBride of Ridgewood and Dr. Mark J. McBride of Madison. He was predeceased by his sister Sheila James. Arrangements were made by Vander Plaat-Vermeulen Memorial Home in Franklin Lakes. Memorial donations may be made to Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, Lung Cancer Research, P.O. Box 27106, New York, NY 10087-7106. Joseph B. Strzelczyk Joseph B. Strzelczyk, formerly of Glen Rock, died May 1. He was 93. Before retiring, he was a machinist with the New York Transit System for many years. He is sur- vived by his son James Strzelczyk, eight grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren. He was predeceased by his wife Grace (Caferio) Strzelczyk and his son Bruce Strzel- czyk. Arrangements were made by Vander PlaatCaggiano Funeral Home in Fair Lawn. Memorial donations may be made to a charity of choice. Budget approved (continued from page 4) taxes associated with the local municipality, the local school district, the Bergen County tax, and the Bergen County Open Space tax, to determine the total property tax increase for 2014. Based on the above figures, Franklin Lakes will pay 38 percent of the taxes required for the regional high school district, while sending 554 students to the district’s two high schools. Oakland will pay 22 percent of the taxes required for the district, while sending 805 students to the two high schools, and Wyckoff will pay 40 percent of the taxes required for the district, while sending 992 students. During a budget presentation to the public, several high- lights were emphasized. The budget will permit a part time music teacher to become a full time employee; it funds the employment of a new full time nurse; and it provides fund- ing for several capital projects. The base tax rate, not including the money from the banked cap fund, will increase two percent despite higher expenses for health insurance, building costs, and special education. In addition, the cost per pupil ranking of the school district has improved. Officials noted that 58 per- cent of the budget covers the cost of instruction while 15 percent covers the cost of employee benefits. Buying a condo (continued from page 11) Property management firms can be great to deal with, but they can be troublesome. A good property management firm produces satisfied community members who speak glowingly of their communities, while a poorly run man- agement firm can frustrate homeowners who feel they are not getting what they are paying for. Some property man- agement firms fail to collect association fees for months at a time, only to send letters demanding back dues down the road. Others simply do not live up to expectations, failing to make repairs in a timely manner while letting the property fall into disrepair. If possible, speak to current community residents about how the property is managed. If residents are not available, potential buyers should attempt to attend a homeowners’ association meeting, which can shed light on what it is like to live within a given community and how accessible the management firm is to community members and how well it tends to those members’ needs. Condos are not as private as single-family homes. Much like apartment dwellers, condo owners often share walls with neighbors. That means condo owners will have to sacrifice some privacy. Prospective buyers who consider privacy a top priority may want to continue living in an apartment until they can afford to buy a single-family home. Though condo owners rarely have someone living above or below them, sharing walls with neighbors is still not as private as owning a single-family home. Condominiums are great options for people who want to own their homes but do not have enough money or credit history to buy a single-family home. However, buyers must educate themselves about condominium life before signing on the dotted line. May 14, 2014 THE VILLADOM TIMES I • Page 23 Park Windmill Have coffee with the mayor Midland Park Mayor Bud O’Hagan will host his monthly “Coffee with the Mayor” on Saturday, May 17. O’Hagan will welcome the public at 10 a.m. in the second floor con- ference room at borough hall. Residents are encouraged to stop by and discuss any items of interest in this informal setting. Borough hall is located at 280 Godwin Avenue in Mid- land Park. Interact Club to hold Car Show The Midland Park High School Interact Club will hold its Third Annual Charity Car Show on Saturday, May 17 from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m. at Cornerstone Christian Church, 495 Wyckoff Avenue, Wyckoff. The event will benefit Kevin Gnehm, a victim of spinal cord injuries, and surgery for a child sponsored by the Rotary Club’s Gift of Life pro- gram. Day of show registration is $20 (space permitting). In the event of inclement weather, the show will be held May 24. All makes and models of cars, motorcycles, and trucks are welcome. Vehicles must be in the lot prior to 11 a.m. to be considered for an award. Food and drinks will be avail- able for purchase. E-mail mpinteractclub@gmail.com with any questions. Fire department to host memorial The Midland Park Volunteer Fire Department invites the community to its Annual Memorial Service on Wednes- day, May 21. The service, which will be held at 7:30 p.m. at the firehouse on Witte Drive, will honor the department’s deceased members. Light refreshments will be served. Library board to meet The Midland Park Memorial Library Board of Trustees will meet on Thursday, May 15. The board will gather at 7:30 p.m. at the library located at 250 Godwin Avenue. Pool badges available Waldwick is offering pool memberships to Midland Park residents. When purchased by May 23, the price is $55 for adults ages 18 through 61. Memberships for children ages four through 17 are $50, and badges for seniors age 62 and up are $45. Children age three years and younger are admitted free. Badges are now on sale and may be purchased via mail. The registration form is available at www.waldwicknj.org. Mail the completed form and fee to: Waldwick Borough Clerk, 63 Franklin Turnpike, Waldwick NJ 07463. First- time registrants must register in person at the Waldwick borough clerk’s office to have an ID picture taken. For details, call (201)-652-5300. After May 23, an additional fee of $10 will apply. Prayer counts More than 75 Midland Park residents and the religious leaders from most of the borough’s houses of worship, attended Day of Prayer observances on May 1 at the Midland Park firehouse. Young children whose mothers belong to the local Moms in Prayer Group provided the music. In photo at right, Mayor Patrick ‘Bud’ O’Hagan presents church representa- tives with a Day of Prayer proclamation. The pool will open May 24 and close on Labor Day. Waldwick’s facility includes a main pool, a wading pool, a concession stand, and a swing set. Memorial Day Parade planned Midland Park’s Memorial Day Parade and observances will be held on Saturday, May 24. Events will begin with a flag raising ceremony at 9 a.m. at the Vietnam Memorial on Dairy Street. The parade will step off at 10 a.m. from the Midland Park Municipal Building and proceed down Franklin Avenue and onto Godwin Avenue to Veterans Plaza, where a memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Fol- lowing the service, the American Legion Ladies Auxiliary will serve hotdogs and soda at the firehouse. In the event of rain, the memorial service will be held at the firehouse at 11 a.m. Community groups interested in participating may con- tact Lorraine (201) 445-5967 or lawrein@aol.com. SEPAC hosts Open Gym program The Special Education Parent Advisory Committee will host an Open Gym at the Midland Park Recreation Barn for special education students and their siblings. This program will be held on Tuesdays from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. and is open to students in pre-K through grade 12. Special education children of all ages will have the opportunity to play in a judgment-free environment while their parents socialize. SEPAC is seeking students age 12 and up to volunteer as Season opener The Midland Park baseball and softball associations opened the season recently. Above young players watch the opening day program, which followed a parade through town under sunny skies. helpers and as game coordinators. For more information, contact Colleen Monahan at jcmonahan111@yahoo.com or Claude VanKleeck at claude_vankleeck@yahoo.com. Scouts host All American Café Boy Scout Troop 157 will hold its annual “All American Scout Café” on Friday, May 23 at the Midland Park Fire- house at 45 Witte Drive. The event will be held from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Tickets are $8. Those who attend will have a choice of meatball subs, sausage and pepper subs, hotdogs, and old fashioned apple pie, chips, and a beverage. Items may also be purchased separately, and takeout orders are welcome. Church sets Spring Garage Sale The Midland Park United Methodist Church, located at 269 Godwin Avenue, will host its annual Spring Garage Sale on Saturday, June 7 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The event will be held rain or shine. The church is seeking donations of items for the sale. Donations may be dropped off Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays from 9 to 11 a.m. and Tuesdays from 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Please note that the church cannot accept computers, printers, computer parts, TVs, or chil- dren’s car seats. For more information, or to schedule an additional drop off time, call Jean Hansen at (201) 652-5654 or contact the church office at mpum@optonline.net. Register for pre-school program The Midland Park School District is now accepting applications for its three- and four-year-old general educa- tion preschool integrated program. The integrated preschool program incorporates the education of special education children with that of general education preschoolers, fol- lowing general education curriculum standards. For the 2014-15 school year, the program will be housed at Godwin School. To be eligible, a general education child must be three or four years of age on or before Oct. 1, 2014. Children will attend the morning class from 8:30 to 11 a.m., or the after- noon session from 12:20 to 2:50 p.m., five half-days a week in accordance with the Midland Park school calendar. Current students will have priority for program regis- tration. Students will be assigned to either the morning or afternoon session at the discretion of the district. Parents will be responsible for transportation. The annual tuition for the program is $2,900, either paid in full no later than Sept. 1 or in two installments with a $25 fee, due Sept. 1 and Jan. 1. All students will be regis- tered at the time of entry requiring birth certificate, copy of immunizations and proof of residency. This program is open to Midland Park residents only. Applications are available on the district website www.mpsnj.org. For more information, contact Christina Gouraige at (201) 444-7445. Page 24 THE VILLADOM TIMES I, III & IV • May 14, 2014 New Spider-Man film features well-crafted characters by Dennis Seuling The problem with so many superhero movies is their over-dependence on elaborately staged action sequences. With computers making anything possible, moviemakers throw most of their energies into a wild ride of mayhem, explosions, nick-of-time rescues, and mad superhuman villains. “The Amazing Spider-Man 2,” the second Spider-Man movie directed by Marc Webb, shatters this tired tradi- tion by devoting more screen time to the mortal char- acters: Peter Parker (Andrew Garfield); his sweetheart, Gwen (Emma Stone); Peter’s old friend Harry Osborn (Dane DeHaan); Aunt May (Sally Field); and Max Dillon (Jamie Foxx). The scenes in which they express their emotions, fears, and resentments are far superior to the requisite action sequences that are overproduced and overly long. Garfield seems to have lost a lot of the charm he brought to “The Amazing Spider-Man.” As Peter, he no longer has that goofy, endearing manner and, at age 30, he no longer looks like an 18-year-old high school gradu- ate. This is no problem when he is in spandex, but in his normal-kid persona, he looks too mature for viewers to suspend disbelief. As Spidey, his dialogue features inces- sant wisecracks and jokes in the midst of life-threatening situations that undermine the efforts the crew has made in staging the huge action set pieces. Spider-Man comes Peter Parker, a/k/a Spider-Man (Andrew Garfield), saves sci- entist Max Dillon (Jamie Foxx) from a dangerous predica- ment in ‘The Amazing Spider-Man 2.’ off as arrogant, like a spoiled adolescent -- far less admi- rable than the iconic character should be and was in the earlier film. An awkward scene involving a young child is meant to show that his role-model status is intact, but the scene is clumsy and out of place. DeHaan is effective as Harry, who takes over lead- ership of Oscorp and ponders his role in the world. Handsome and with an air of prep-school entitlement, his Harry (replacing James Franco from the three Sam Raimi Spider-Man films) conveys inner turmoil as he attempts to assert his independence from an intimidat- ing, much older board of directors. He holds the audi- ence’s attention in his key scenes as Harry, but becomes a ridiculous, even laughable vision in his alter-ego of the Green Goblin. Foxx overdoes it as Max, a mid-level Oscorp employee, combining horn-rimmed glasses, a hunched shuffle, and downcast eyes. Max is a brilliant nerd and Foxx’s portrayal draws on every cliché he can muster. Director Webb should have toned him down. When Max transforms into Electro, Spider-Man’s newest nemesis, he has little to say. Though he becomes far more awesome in appearance, with a glowing blue face and hoodie, he is merely a centerpiece for all sorts of computer razzle- dazzle. Stone’s Gwen makes clear that she is more than Peter’s girlfriend. She has goals of her own and demands on Peter, and is not content to be second banana to Spider- Man. This presents a serious relationship issue and is an important underlying storyline. The scenes of Spider-Man soaring through the streets of Manhattan are still impressive, as the real Spidey and CGI Spidey are seamlessly blended with exhilarating camera moves. In 3D, these sequences are especially thrilling. Rated PG-13, “The Amazing Spider-Man 2” is less interesting for its plot and effects than for its perfor- mances. Webb is just what a superhero franchise needs: a director more concerned with dialogue and character- ization than with staging bigger and more costly action sequences. When the movie shifts into adrenaline-rush mode, its luster dims considerably. May 14, 2014 THE VILLADOM TIMES I, III & IV • Page 25 Experience American Nouveau cuisine at Pearl The word “pearl” has become synony- mous with something rare, fine, and admi- rable, and Pearl Restaurant strives to live up to that reputation. Here, diners are greeted by Maximil- lian, a second generation restaurateur. Max was educated at the University of Hartford and Barney Business School. He learned the restaurant business working alongside his father in his restaurants in New York City and New Jersey beginning at a very young age. Pearl Restaurant, which specializes in American Nouveau cuisine, opened with 25 seats in March 2011. After one year, the restaurant expanded to seat 75 people. Max picked the location because he believes Ridgewood residents appreciate hard work, dedication, and the love he puts into his work. Pearl Restaurant has received many awards, included being voted Best BYOB by Bergen Life & Health Magazine (July 2011 edition). Max’s vision for Pearl is a restaurant where the emphasis is on freshness and high quality food. There are no fryers, freezers, or microwaves in use. Food is purchased daily. Meat, poultry, and fish come from local purveyors such as Anthony’s Oradell Prime Meat Market, Goffle Farms, and Peter’s Fish Market. The freshness of the products coupled with the skill of Pearl’s chefs promise a meal that will delight the palate. “Dinner is served seven days a week in our elegant dining room,” Max said. “Bring your favorite wine to complement your deliciously prepared dinner, and be sure to enjoy a delectable homemade dessert.” He added, “Come visit Pearl Restaurant, where superb food and great service are united for a memorable dining experience.” Pearl is conveniently located at 17 South Broad Street in Ridgewood – just (continued on Crossword page) Above: The elegant dining room at Pearl Restaurant. Left: Fresh oysters from a local purveyor. Page 26 THE VILLADOM TIMES I, III & IV • May 14, 2014 Pearl Restaurant (continued from Restaurant page) one block from the Ridgewood Train Station and adjacent to the municipal parking lot. All major credit cards are accepted. Hours of operation are Monday through Thursday from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m., Friday and Saturday from 4 p.m. to 11 p.m., and Sunday from 3 p.m. to 10 p.m. As about the restaurant’s party room, which can accommodate up to 50 people. For more information, visit www.pearl- ridgewood.com, e-mail pearlridgewood@gmail.com, or call (201) 857-5100. Above: Food being prepared tableside. Left: Outdoor seating space at Pearl Restaurant. May 14, 2014 THE VILLADOM TIMES I, III & IV • Page 27 ��������������������������� 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 Pet SItters Needed To be considered please fill out an employment form on our employment page www.coddledcreatures.net Immediate opening for exp’d Dental Assistant to join our Midland Park Family Dentistry Practice. Ideal candidate will possess excellent communication skills and be hard-working with good attitude. Must have at least three years experience in all phases of general dental four handed chair side assist- ing and dental radiography with a license. Great envi- ronment. Please respond with your resume and brief cover letter describ- ing why you are the ideal candidate for this position. Fax 201-444-6079 FT/PT Lifeguards Swim Instructors 201-857-4957 Print Shop - Part Time Customer Service Rep. 25 hours per week. Print knowledge preferred. Fast-paced fun work. Comptime Print, Ramsey Call 201-760-2400 ACCOUNTING Accounting, bookkeeping, payroll. Exp’d, reasonably priced. Call 201-873-7263 AIR CONDITIONING Air Conditioning Service $89.95 - 6 Pt service check Refrigeration Service Temperature Pride Inc. Butler, NJ 201-294-7502 Credit cards accepted. AUTO REPAIR Plastic bumper repairs. Parts replacement on the spot, we come to you. We buy cars. 201-951-1810 Looking for a job? Check our help wanted section BOOKKEEPING QB/Quicken/AP/AR / PR Personal/Business Call Lucille 201-803-5439 CLEANING SERVICE Affordable Low Rates. Apt $50.00, House $75.00 Insured/refs.201-385-2271 ����������������� Springtime Cleaning! DRIVEWAYS HOME IMPROVEMENT ���������������������������� ���������������������� Bergen County Home Improvement s .Small repairs to remodel. Will beat any prices. 201-264-2103 Sebastian Construction ������������������������������ ������������������� ��������������������� ������������������� ������������ ������������� ������������������ Sealcoating by Bill Klein Hand applied, Commercial Grade Sealer Crack Filling/Pot Holes Repaired Free Estimates/Fully Insured 201-665-1221 ELECTRICAL All-Phases Electrical LLC No Problems, Just Solutions NJ Lic # 15529 Full Service Electricians Insured, Bonded, Free Quotes 201-888-8656 All-PhasesElectrical.com DUAL ELECTRIC LLC All electrical work Lic # 17002. 201-739-5671 GIFT BASKETS Sheetrock/Spackle. New & repair work * Carpentry. 20+ yrs in business. Free est. Clean & professional 13VH033167000. Call Mike 201-825-8813/908-872-8782 HOUSECLEANING Professional cleaning at reasonable. prices. Call Arleta 973-614-0117/201-425-8450 Agnes will clean home $80 Apt $55. Office $60. 10 yrs exp good refs. 845-309-4448 Reliable woman is looking for houses to clean. $75/ per house. 973-967-0750 LANDSCAPING & LAWNCARE CHRIS JAMES LANDSCAPING INC. ����������������� ������������������������������� ������������������������������� �������������������������������� � ����������������� ��������������� ������������ ����������������������������� ���������������� Louisa Cleaning Lady ������������������������������� ��������������������������������������� �������������������������������������� ������������������������������������������ ������������������������������������������ ���������������������������������������� ����������������������������������� ������������������� � ���� �� ������� � ���������� L AWN M AINTENANCE M ULCH I NSTALLATION T REE & S TUMP R EMOVAL A LL T YPES OF C ONSTRUCTION ������������������������� ������� � �������� ������������ � ���������� SITUATION WANTED CHHA seeks job to care for the elderly/sick. Grt refs. Own trans. 973-979-6875 � �� �� �� �� ������ �� � �� � �� �� � Need reliable, trustworthy and affordable house- keeper? Northwest Bergen Only. Call 609-287-5267 www.abclandscapes.com CLEAN OUTS PLEASE REMEMBER US WHEN YOU REMEMBER THEM. EMMANUEL CANCER FOUNDATION For The Children and Their Families Providing emotional and spiritual support, profes- sional counseling and financial and material assistance to New Jersey children with cancer and their families. Your donations are tax deductible Emmanuel Cancer Foundation PO Box 212 - Dept. H Midland Park, NJ 07432 or drop by our office 174 Paterson Avenue Midland Park, NJ 07432 201-612-8118 MITO’S RUBBISH REMOVAL Complete House Clean Outs We Will Clean: Attics • Basements • Garages Demolition Work: Pools • Shed • Deck Removal We Will Haul Everything Away Fully Insured • Free Estimates 201-803-0787 Junk Removal*We Haul It All! Fast/Reliable?Best Prices. Call 201-213-9071 RDGClean@gmail.com DECKS Decks Design Build Repair www.Home-Dr.com Free est. Kevin 201-248-8477 Decks Powerwashed & Stained/Sealed. 201-961-2634 Midland Pk DRIVER SERVICE The Friendly Chauffeur Airports, Drs, DWI, etc. Call Ed 201-447-1426 201-444-1672 GUTTER CLEANING AFFORDABLE CLEANING/REPAIRS ������� ���������� ��������������� ��������������� ������������ HANDYMAN Bill’s Handyman Service Water damage repair Wall board repair. Painting interior/exterior. Deck repair/ maint. No job too small . Lic. & ins. 201-447-6962 GIO’S HANDYMAN Repair/Maintenance/Install Painting int./ext. Wood floors & laminate. No Job Too Small. Fully Insured 201-264-2124 Martin Handyman Service Quality job. Good price Call 845-659-1216 Harry’s Painting & Handy- man Service. Repairs of all kinds. Driveway sealcoating. Call 201-927-5487 ELK Home Services Complete Lawn Care 973-423-3045 Knolls Landscaping LLC Weekly Lawn Maintenance Spring Clean Ups 201-891-2868 KnollsLandscapingNJ.com NJ Wildflowers LLC Landscape Design, Clean ups, native plants, stone work, rain gardens, tree svc, 201- 306-4375.NJWildflowers.com Weekly Lawn Maintenance Cleanups / Pavers / Plantings Design / Drainage / Sprinklers Dan Hook Property Maintenance *Spring/Fall clean ups *Weekly maint.*Mulching *Plantings *Powerwashing. *Seasoned Firewood Call Dan for a free est. 201-954-3164 LANDSCAPING & LAWNCARE ���������������������� Quality & Integrity Since 1979 Complete Maintenance Clean Ups, Drainage, Shrub & Tree Pruning, Mulch, Seasonal Color, New Plantings 201-848-9147 Justin’s Landscaping Cleanups*Lawn maintenance Plantings*mulch*trimming 201-848-9220 Free est. Your Lawn is our business Lawn Maint., Landscaping, M ulc hing, Pr uning, Low Voltage Lighting, Drainage, PowerWashing, Sod, Seed Lawns. Free estimates 973-207-0863 LAWN SPRINKLERS PLUMBING/ HEATING LAWN SPRINKLERS Larry Rogers Plumbing For all your plumbing and heating needs. 201-847- 1737. NJ Lic. # 6980 Spring Start Up New Installation Service • Winterization 201-857-8700 MASONRY ����������������� ����������������������� ������������������������� ��������������������� ������������������ �������������������������� ������������������������� ��������������������������� ������������ ������������������� ������ ������������������ ��������������������������� 201-857-8700 ������������� FULL SERVICE ������������ LANDSCAPE CONTRACTOR ������������ Bobcat & Backhoe Service 10% OFF CONSTRUCTION LABOR (MAX $500) New customers only with this ad. Free Estimates • Fully Insured C. Ising Landscaping, Inc. Spring Clean Ups Complete Lawn Maintenance Plantings, Mulching & Topsoil Free Estimates • Fully Insured 201-825-3326 ���������������� ������������������� ��������� ��������������� ����������� ������������ Academy Arborcare Tree & Shrub Care * Trim/ Pruning * Install./Fertilize Lawn aeration * Diagnose/ treat all trees & shrubs. NJ cert. pesticide control. Free est.*Fully Insured*40 yrs exp. 201-397-0767 MUSIC INSTRUCTION Doctoral Degree in Music Private lessons in Piano, All Styles of Guitar, Upright and Electric Bass Trumpet and French Horn 201-612-0041 steve@ridgewoodmusic.com Classifieds Work!! Place yours in The Villadom Times PAINTING & PAPERHANGING PERFECTION PLUS Professional Painting & Paperhanging Interior & Exterior Finest Quality Reas. Rates (201) 447-8836 Est. 1983 perfectionpluspainting.com BRUSHWORKS PAINTING int/ ext. Serving Bergen Cty for 25yrs. Allendale 201-264-2103 www.Brushworksnj.com CMH Painting Interior/Exterior. Clean & Reliable. Free Quotes Call Chris 973-349-4826 RECESSION BUSTER Lowest Pricing. Hedge&shrub trimming. Mulch * Topsoil* seed*plantings. No grass cut Call Scott 201-966-5420 Paint Troopers Int./Ext Repairs&home improvements. Insured. HHK 201-280-9198 Love in Bloom LLC. Spring clean, seeding, hedge trim beds & borders. 201-891-3043 Painting - Spring Special Complete home makeover Special base price, Limited space. Call now! 201-818-0742 Earthscape Landscape. Maint.* top soil*mulch*mach.work pavers & more. 201-424-6891 PLANNING ON DINING OUT? Check our Restaurant Guide for the Finest Dining JF Painting. Int./Ext. Wallppr remove, pwr wash. Neat & Rel. Qual Wrk. Refs. Reas. 973-478-0447 Harry & Sons Painting Power washing, Interior Personable, Reasonable 30 yrs exp. 201-327-0231 G.R. Goris Plumbing & Heating, LLC. NJ Plumbing Lic 12147 201-995-1380 Family trade since 1927 Mahwah area & surrounding towns. POWERWASHING Powerwashing Driveway Sealing Free est. 973-207-0863 PSYCHIC/MEDIUM CINDY MUNI Psychic/Medium Would You Like to Contact a Lost Loved One? Do You Have Questions About Business Decisions or Relationships? Are You Wondering About Your Spiritual Mission or What Your Future Holds? Call 201-707-5236 ROOFING BIG and TALL Roofing & Siding. Commerical/Resi- dential. Fair pricing. Refer- ences available. Visit www. broadberr yroof ing.com 973-881-9100 RUBBISH REMOVAL Complete clean-outs Basements/garages Shed & pool removal Free est. SAME DAY SERVICE 201-447-5887 Tell our Advertisers you saw their ad in The Villadom Times TREE SERVICE � ���� �� ������� � ��� �� ������ � ������ ��������� ����� ������� ������������ � Academy Arborcare Tree & Stump Removal. Shrub Trimming & Pruning Tree & shrub installation. Tree Spraying/Pesticide control. Root Feeding. Free est. Fully Insured 40 yrs exp. 201-397-0767 TUTORING Math Tutor - 20 yrs exp. All levels - College Prof. Call 201-925-9303 WINDOW CLEANING AFFORDABLE-Insured Est. 40 years 201-385-2271 continued on next page Page 28 THE VILLADOM TIMES I, III & IV • May 14, 2014 CLASSIFIED RELIGIOUS R E A L E S T AT E RELIGIOUS Prayer to St. Jude cont. from preceding page Prayer to the Blessed Virgin Hair Salon/Barbershop. $20,000. obo. Good location/ wkly income. 973-699-3620 Oh, Holy St. Jude, apostle and martyr. Great in virtue and rich in miracles; near kinsman of Jesus Christ; faithful intercessor 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 promise 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. mr FOR SALE Prayer to St. Clare RENTAL AGENT NJ Rental Queen No fee to landlord-FREE! I Qualify All Tenants 201-790-5544. Call Allison HOUSE WANTED Ridgewood family looking to purchase 3-4 bedroom home in HoHoKus or Oak- land. No brokers please. Cell # 201-390-4161 We Buy Houses. Foreclo- sures * Distress property * All situations. 201-444-8945 BUSINESS FOR SALE GARAGE SALE Wyckoff - Sat. 5/17 & Sun. 5/18, 9am-3pm. Furniture. & odds & ends. 304 Wiley Place RELIGIOUS May the Sacred Heart of Jesus be praised, adored & glorified today & everyday. Thank you St. Clare. MG Thank You St. Jude May the Sacred Heart of Jesus be adored, glori- fied, loved and preserved throughout the world now and forever. Sacred Heart of Jesus, pray for us St. Jude, worker of miracles, pray for us. St. Jude, help of the hopeless, pray for us. Say this prayer nine times a day by the ninth day, your prayer will be answered. Publication must be prom- ised. Thank you St. Jude. jc 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 & 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. sr St. Joseph of Cupertino O Great St. Joseph of Cupertino who while on earth did obtain from God the grace to be asked at your examination only the questions you knew, obtain for me a like favour in the examinations for which I am now preparing. In return I promise to make you known and cause you to be invoked. Through Christ our Lord. St. Joseph of Cuper- tino, Pray for us. Amen. ts CLASSIFIED Up to 3 lines .............................. $12.00 $13.50 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 (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 humbly beseech you from the bottom of my heart to succor me in this necessity There are none that can withstand your power. Oh, show me herein, you are my mother. Oh, Mary, conceived 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 problems, 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 confirm 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 consecu- tive days. After 3 days, the request will be granted. This prayer must be published after the favor is granted. Immaculate Heart of Mary, Thank you for answering my prayers. HB Prayer to St. Jude Oh, Holy St. Jude, apostle and martyr. Great in virtue and rich in miracles; near kinsman of Jesus Christ; faithful intercessor 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 promise 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. kr Thank You St. Jude May the Sacred Heart of Jesus be adored, glori- fied, loved and preserved throughout the world now and forever. Sacred Heart of Jesus, pray for us St. Jude, worker of miracles, pray for us. St. Jude, help of the hopeless, pray for us. Say this prayer nine times a day by the ninth day, your prayer will be answered. Publication must be prom- ised. Thank you St. Jude. js ANNOUNCEMENTS All Things Basementy! Basement Systems Inc. Call us for all of your basement needs! Waterproofing? Fin- ishing? Structual Repairs? Humidity and Mold Control FREE ESTIMATES! Call 1- 866-589-0174 DirectTV-2 Year Savings Event! Over 140 chan- nels only $29.99 a month. Only DirecTV gives you 2 YEARS of savings and a FREE Genie upgrade! Call 1-800-352-7157 BUILDING MATERIALS METAL ROOFING-REAL ROOF FOR YOUR HOUSE, GARAGE, BARN; ROOF, CELING, SIDING. TOP QUALITY/CLOSEOUT. LOW PRICES, FAST DELIVERY, FREE Literature, www.abmar- tin.net 1-800-373-3703 A.B. Martin Roofing Supply FOR SALE SAFE STEP TUBS. Enjoy safety, comfort and thera- peutic relief from the best walk-in tubs made in the USA. Call 1-888-734-4527 for FREE information and SENIOR DISCOUNTS! The path to your dream jobs begins with a college degree. Education Quarters offers a free college matching service. CALL 1-800-375-6219 LOTS & ACREAGE CATSKILL MTN TIMBER- LAND! 60 acres - $89,900. Quality timber, great hunting, secluded setting, adjoins State Land! Less than 3 hrs NYC! Town rd, survey, EZ terms! Call 866-495-8733 FARM SACRIFICE! 5 acres - $19,900. Great views, quiet country road, gorgeous hilltop setting! So. Tier, NY. G’teed buildable! Terms! Hurry! 888-738-6994. New- yorklandandlakes.com MEDICAL/HEALTH Canada Drug Center is your choice for safe and affordable medications. Our licensed Canadian mail order pharmacy will provide you with savings of up to 90 percent on all your medica- tion needs. Call today 1- 800-254-4073, for $10.00 off your first prescription and free shipping SCHOOLS HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA FROM HOME. 6-8 weeks. ACCREDITED. Get a Diploma. Get a Job! No Computer Needed. Free Brochure. 1-800-264-8330. Benjamin Franklin HS WANTED TO BUY CASH for sealed, unexpired DIABETES TEST STRIPS/ STOP SMOKING PROD- UCTS! Free Shipping, Top$, 24 hr Payments! Call 1-855-578-7477, espanol 888-440-4001 or visit www. TestStripSearch.com today. Villadom Happenings DirecTV-Over 140 channels HOW IS BUSINESS? Need only $29.99 a month. Call more customers? Adver- Now! Triple from $636.00 tise to over 4 million homes (continued savings! page 2) in and businesses throughout from Savings, Free upgrade individuals, businesses, community groups, and to Genie & NFL Healthcare the Mid-Atlantic Region foundations. 2013 BVMI Sun- Center, a state-licensed for with online day ticket ambulatory free!! Start sav- is located one 241 price Moore Street, care facility, at and print advertising. Visit ing today! 1-800-352-7157 Hackensack. www. macnetonline.com 800-450-7227 ANNOUNCEMENTS Prostate cancer support group to meet EDUCATION Medical Alerts a for supportive and informative resource for Seniors- LifeLines, MEDICAL OFFICE ASSIS- 24/7 FREE prostate monitoring. patients and NEEDED partners in northern cancer their NOW! TANTS Equipment. FREE Ship- Bergen Nationwide will Service Tuesday, May Office 27 from 7:30 to County, meet Become a Medical ping. NO 9 $29.95/Month. Church Assistant Presentation, EXPE- West Saddle p.m. at the CALL Medi- the at CTI! CAR DONATIONS of 271 River Guardian in Upper RIENCE NEEDED! Online cal Road Today Saddle River. 877- Training by you job cancer DONATE CAR- The 827-1331 group was formed gets prostate ready! YOUR patients to HS Diploma/GED & Computer TOWING 24 share information and needed. 1-888-528-7110 available treatment experience FAST FREE about Tax and service resources. Meetings hr. tion are Response the - fourth Deduc- held Tues- ATTENTION DIABETICS UNITED BREAST with the month. day of Medicare. Get a For FREE details, e-mail lifelines@optonline. CANCER FOUNDATION net talking visit www.lifelinespcsupport.com. Free Mammo- or meter and diabetic Providing testing supplies at NO ADMINISTRATIVE ASSIS- Breast Cancer Info COST, grams & plus FREE home TANTS Spring Boutique Shop delivery! NEEDED! Get holds 866-945-1156 trained Best of all, this meter elimi- now at CTI! NO The painful finger EXPERIENCE in NEEDED! Park is holding Community pricking! Shop Midland Thrift nates job 866-955-7746 The sale gets its Call Spring Boutique. Online training features you spring clothing of all ready! HS sizes for men, women, teens, Diploma/GED & The shop also and children. Computer needed. carries toys, ACREAGE bric-a-brac. 1-888- and LOTS & lamps, 627-1610 POLE The shop accepts donations of BUSINESS TO and house- and used clothing BUSINESS of the month DEAL OF on WEEK. 10 hold items THE Monday and the first Saturday ture, we acres-$24,900 from 10 a.m. to 2 or p.m. $318/ shop ADVERTISING holidays. The is closed on WORKS w w month! Bordors State Land, The thrift shop is a nonprofit organization E R and - - O is N located TOGETH LINE woods, views, So. Tier on NY! the Twn lower rd, level of build- Midland AND PRINT. Give us Center call at Park Shopping a G’teed the to For your business to 85 able! Godwin 888-738-6994 Midland Park. market more information, Call Avenue in or over 4 call (201) 652-7661. LOTS & ACREAGE million households newyorklandandlakes.com for just one price in publica- LENDER ABANDONED FARM 60 ORDERED SALE! this as well as our Learn 5 about - fresh tions like classified sites. Visit acres - water fishing $29,900 acres - $79,900 Beautiful POND online 10 of acres STREAM w w $39,900 netonline.c om Lemmon the Division of Fish and trout Craig stream, awesome New Jersey w.mac valley Wildlife views, quality Gorgeous So. Tier and hilltop Anglers of Bergen will address hard- the Saltwater call 800-450-7227 for wood on great hunting! View, fields, State County timber, Tuesday, setting! Lender Lemmon’s program will fea- May 20. more details. Land! Below fresh market opportunities terms! the 888- state, including the price! ture water in Call (888) 738-6994 738-6994 AUTOS fish hatchery and newyorklandandlakes.com WANTED stocking newyorklandandlakes.com programs. The meeting will begin at 8 p.m. at American Legion CARS/TRUCKS WANTED! Post 170 located at 33 West Passaic PayMAX in pays Rochelle MAX! Street Park. EVENTS information, call Chuck Santoro at the 446- For more One call gets you (201) TOP a 9047 or an visit www.swabc.org. DOLLAR offer! Any year/ Have Event to promote? make/model. 1-888-PAY- Want to market to towns & Garage kits SOAR summer program (1-888-729-6295) cities outside of your POLE BARNS MAX-5 available own pole hometown? We can and help barns, we manufac- West Bergen’s reach Asperger’s Related Services has your organization ture, we ship direct, you save. announced million it will w again sponsor the SOAR Experience, that readers w w.apmbuildings.c om over 1 a for summer $100. Visit 888-261-2488 LOTS & ACREAGE only program for children and teens with Asperger’s www. Syndrome and other related disorders. The ORDERED Experi- SOAR SALE! midatlanticevents.net for LENDER more therapeutic 800- ence, a details or call social skills program - in $19,900. camp-like a day Certified 5 acres 450-7227 & LOTS environment, ACREAGE held at the organic farmland! Views, and will be Center for Children Youth, One STATE LAND in Ramsey. The SOAR Experi- Cherry Lane fields, woods! Just off Ny ABUTS Thruway! Terms! ence is acres-$29,900 So. program, State specifically designed to a small, nurturing 10 Call thrive and 905-8847 help children farm, social challenges NOW! (888) succeed in with views, Tier hilltop upstateNYland.com a fields, woods! environment. The program is held weekdays supportive EZ terms! Call from 9 a.m. to 888-738-6994 a six-week or three-week option. 3 p.m., with BUSINESS NewYorkLandandLakes.com Activities include social skills training, weekly CARD Homes and themes, AD SPECIAL! 500,000 outside trips. for only $500. You choose MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS- The SOAR Counselor in Training Program provides the area of coverage in free FLUTE, CLARINET, VIO- teens and young Trombone, (ages 14 community 24) papers...we do through with Asperg- LIN, Trumpet, adults the rest. er’s vocational training and an opportunity Call to 800-450-7227 develop vari- Amplifier, Fender Guitar or visit macnetonline.com ous work Many others at skills. $70. ea. and social sim- ilar For savings. 516-377-7907 details, contact Brielle Senft, LAC at (201) 857-0080 or READERS & MUSIC LOV- or visit Top www.westbergen.org. bsenft@westbergen.org Cash for your junk ERS. 100 Greatest Nov- car. Running or not. Dent els (audio books) Concerts continue 201-951-1810 ONLY repairs. $99.00 (plus s h.) Includes The Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra Concert Series will MP3 Player & Accessories. continue 50 May Classical Music 8:30 p.m. performance. The con- 17 with an BONUS: cert will & Money Back Guar- Dr. Carol MISCELLANOUS per- Shansky, who will Works feature flutist antee. Today! 1-877- form the Call Reinecke Flute Concerto. GET Shanky is the principal HIGH-SPEED INTER- 407-9404. flutist of the orchestra and director of Starting music $19.99 a the at program NET at Iona College. She has performed in Bundle & get San up Jose, month. Boston, to a Wanted motorcycles pre New York all City, and other venues $100 on Visa Gift the Card! Order She both coasts. Now International has 1980.Running or not. at Japa- European 800-614-9150 Festival also performed the in nese, British, cash American, Geneva, Top Switzerland. free European. paid, HOME IMPROVEMENT will be held pick The up, concert 315-569-8094 at Benjamin Franklin Middle call School, 1315 Taft Road in Teaneck. Empire Today® to Call FREE Student Tickets are $25 for adults and schedule for a seniors. in-home $20 tickets are $10. Group Start- rates are estimate on For Carpeting and available. tickets & DISH TV Retailer. information, call (201) (for 837-1980, Flooring. Call Today! 1-800- visit www.bergenphilhar- ing at $19.99/month 12 955-2716. monic.org, High or Speed Inter- bergenphil.orchestra@gmail.com. e-mail mos.) & All net ages are at welcome. The school HOMES FOR SALE is barrier-free. starting $14.95/month (where available). David Gilbert, the Bergen Philharmonic Conducted by SAVE! About DAY is Ask comprised SAME musicians from HILLTOP every town in of almost FARMHOUSE Installation! CALL Now! 6 in - $99,900. Great Bergen County. Anyone 1- interested acres joining may e-mail country getaway! 5 BR, the 800-281-4970 orchestra. 2BA, decks, In laws cot- tage! Views, ideal set- ting! 866-495-8733. NewYorkLandandLakes.com May 14, 2014 THE VILLADOM TIMES I • Page 29 Franklin Lakes Scribe Trustees to meet The Franklin Lakes Library Board of Trustees will meet on Monday, May 19 in the Local History Room at the Franklin Lakes Public Library, 470 DeKorte Drive in Franklin Lakes. The public is invited to this 7 p.m. meeting. For details, call (201) 891-2224. Memorial Day Parade set The community is invited to pay tribute to the country’s military men and women at the Franklin Lakes Memorial Day Parade set for Monday, May 26 at 9 a.m. The parade will step off from Commerce Street and proceed down Franklin Avenue to Vet- erans’ Plaza for a ceremony commemorat- ing U.S. military heroes. This year’s grand marshal is Franklin Lakes resident Raymond Gibello, a deco- rated Korean War veteran. During the ceremony, Franklin Lakes Eagle Scouts will unveil their special proj- ect honoring fallen heroes. The popular Newark Firefighters Pipe Band will be marching with the Hawthorne High School Band and “The 17 North Band.” Accompanying the bands will be members of community organizations, along with the police department, fire department, and ambulance corps. Budget (continued from page 4) must be multiplied by the assessed value of a property in hundreds of dollars to determine a property owner’s total prop- erty tax obligation. Solokas pointed out that 80 percent of the school district’s budget is the result of the cost of salaries, benefits, and programs. He added that this budget will provide a fund balance, or surplus, of $496,940, and it includes revenues such as $1,500,000 in tuition from the Children with Autism in Wyckoff Y (continued from page 3) by the Wyckoff Family YMCA to assume responsibility for the borough’s entire recreation program, including the opera- tion of the community center and the recreational team sports, including the oversight of team sports and the mem- bers of the Recreation Committee, with the current employees of the recreation After-care (continued from page 17) some questions parents should ask before enrollment. What is the ratio of caregivers to stu- dents? What is the cost of the program? How are delayed opening days and early dismissal days handled? Holidays and breaks? What happens if I arrive late? What activities will take place? Is there ample time for homework? Are care givers teachers or volunteers? Are background checks conducted? Ramapo-Bergen Animal Refuge, Inc. welcomes citizens with pets to participate in the “Critter Walk.” Franklin Lakes chil- dren are welcome to decorate their bikes and ride along. Refreshments will be served. Tea Party hosts screening of ‘Women of Sharia’ on May 20 Sue Larkin will present a program on the “Women of Sharia” to the Franklin Lakes Tea Party on Tuesday, May 20. This 7 p.m. event will be held at the Franklin Lakes Ambulance Corps building on Bender Court. After Larkin’s program, there will be a showing of “Honor Diaries,” a Clarion Project film that features nine courageous women’s rights activists. It is a movement meant to inspire viewers to learn more about issues facing women in Muslim- majority societies and act for change. “Honor Diaries” is the first film to break the silence on “honor violence” against women and girls. An all-star cast including New York Times best-selling author Ayaan Hirsi Ali come together in the film to lift their voices and speak the truth: Culture is no excuse for abuse. Recently, Ali was invited and scheduled to speak at Brandeis University. However, the university with- Public Schools program at Colonial Road School. There was no public vote on the school district’s budget because, in early 2012, the K-8 school board voted 5-4 to move the district’s annual election to the date of the general election in November. That action was permitted by a new state law that per- mits a school district to forego a vote on its budget if the school board agreed to move its election to November for at least four years, and keeps its tax levy increase at or below the state-mandated tax levy cap, which is now two percent. F.J. MCMAHON center becoming Wyckoff Family YMCA employees. Many of those residents lived in the Mountain Shadows housing complex located adjacent to the recreation and community center. They said they were opposed to outsourcing the community center or any recreation programs to the Wyckoff Family YMCA. The lease with the Wyckoff Family YMCA is scheduled to begin in September and the construction at the site is expected to take 10 to 12 months. Is financial assistance available? What is the turnover rate of staff? Is there a nurse available? Who oversees the program? Is busing available? How are emergencies handled? How is poor behavior handled? May I visit the program for a check- in? With whom do I speak if I have a prob- lem? If my child is absent, do I receive a refund for that day? How long is the waiting list? These are just some of the questions to ask, and parents are encouraged to come up with their own to find the best program for their children. drew its offer, resulting in national coverage led by Fox TV News. There is no charge for viewing the film. The program is open to the community, and refreshments will be served. use rate in New Jersey currently stands at 91 percent. The goal for this year’s cam- paign is to increase the statewide rate to 92 percent. This year’s campaign will also target rear seat passengers. Seat belt campaign to begin The Franklin Lakes Police Department advises motorists it will be cracking down on unbuckled motorists and passengers as part of the national “Click it or Ticket” cam- paign. This annual initiative will run from May 19 through June 1, and will include law enforcement seat belt checkpoints and patrols. In addition, there will be local and national publicity designed to ensure that drivers and passengers recognize the life- saving value of seat belts. In 2010, seat belts saved an estimated 12,546 lives nationwide. The front seat belt Church hosts Vital Hues exhibit The Gallery at High Mountain Presby- terian Church will feature the works of four New Jersey artists known collectively as “Vital Hues” during the month of May. These artists’ unique talents include drawing, painting, sculpting, and print- making. Their diversity adds vibrancy, freshness, and originality to each of their shows. Located at 730 Franklin Lake Road in Franklin Lakes, the gallery is open week- days from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and on weekends by appointment. For more information, call (201) 891-0511. FLOW Notes Umbrella Sale under way Ramapo High School is holding an Umbrella Sale to raise funds for Project Graduation. The 60-inch, green and white golf umbrellas have metal shafts and wooden handles and sell for $21 each. A 36-inch telescopic folding version is available for $16. Both sport the Ramapo Raiders logo. To purchase an umbrella, contact Laura Policastro at laurapolicastro464@gmail. com or (973) 271-4056. FLOW Green Film Festival continues The Franklin Lakes, Oakland, and Wyckoff environmental commissions, in partnership with the Wyckoff Public Library, are hosting a “Green Film Festi- val” during the month of May. Film topics range from the effects of plastic on the envi- ronment to the concept of progress in the modern world. Screenings will take place at the Wyckoff Public Library at 200 Wood- land Avenue at 7 p.m. Panel discussions will follow each of the films. Admission is free, and refreshments will be served. All films are rated PG-13. “Blue Gold, World Water Wars” will be shown May 22. Wars of the future will be fought over water. Thalya Reyes, Ameri- Corps NJ Watershed Ambassador, will speak and lead the related discussion. The festival will conclude May 29 with “Surviving Progress.” This film guides the audience through major “progress traps” facing civilization in terms of technology, consumption, and the environment. The film features an introduction by Martin Scorsese and interviews with Jane Goodall, Margaret Atwood, Stephen Hawking, and others. Financial support has been provided by Becton Dickinson. Page 30 THE VILLADOM TIMES I & IV • May 14, 2014 How to select the right carpeting for your home Although many people may tout the benefits of hardwood flooring over carpeting, there are plenty of individuals who like to have the soft and luxurious feeling of carpeting under- foot. Selecting the right carpeting for a particular room and purpose can be a bit daunting because of the abundance of available colors and materials. According to the Carpet and Rug Institute, carpeting is an added safety measure that makes play areas safer, potentially lessening the severity of an injury in the event of a fall. This is why carpeting is often preferred in children’s rooms and play areas. Carpeting can also help insulate rooms in the summer and winter. It can be easier on feet than a hard floor, and few mate- rials absorb sound better than carpet. Choosing the right carpeting for a room comes down to identifying the kind of foot traffic within the home and which carpeting options suit the homeowner’s needs. Here are some tips to get started. Don’t overlook padding. Padding can make the difference in the way carpeting feels and how long it lasts. The thickest or most expensive padding is not necessarily the best. However, it is wise to pick a pad that matches the type of carpeting that has been selected. It may be possible to choose a thinner pad in low-traffic rooms and under dense carpeting like Berber. In high-traffic rooms, choose thicker, more durable padding. Padding prevents carpet backing and fibers from coming apart over time, so it pays to invest in a padding that will last the as long as the carpet does. Recognize the right type of carpeting. There are many dif- ferent types of carpeting, and they will not all be the perfect match for every home. For example, plush carpets are better in low-traffic areas. These carpets may show footprints, vacuum tracks, and dirt. Berber, meanwhile, is more flat and dense, making it highly effective at masking stains and tracks. Tex- tured carpets like frieze are cut from fibers of different heights, so they mask stains and are softer on the feet than Berbers. An entryway or a den may be better off carpeted in a dense type of carpeting, while a bedroom may be fine and luxurious with plush carpeting. Carpeting may come in stain-resistant variet- ies or low-maintenance options. These are generally best in homes with pets and children. However, it may be possible to save money by opting out of special treatments to resist stains and simply invest in a steam vacuum. Choose color wisely. Choosing a color comes down to pref- erence and how much the room will be used. Although light, neutral colors are often preferred because they work well in just about any room, lighter colored carpets will show stains much more easily than other carpet colors. Textured, multi- colored carpets are preferable to hide stains and can look just as elegant as solid-colored carpeting. Much in the way paint colors are chosen, carpeting colors come down to personal preference. Drama may be created with bold colors that draw the eye to the carpet. However, for those who want the carpet to fade into the background instead of upstaging décor, neutral colors are better. Hire a good installer. There are many beautiful carpets available, but without a reliable installer and store, consum- ers may end up paying more or receiving subpar service. Ask friends and family members for recommendations. Then be sure to have stores price out materials separately from the installation costs. Consider shopping around to find a separate installer. Carpeting can make a fine addition to a home and make it feel more comfortable and inviting. Remember to take time when selecting carpeting, as the decision will have long-last- ing effects. May 14, 2014 THE VILLADOM TIMES I • Page 31 Many varieties of roses have famous names In his play, “Romeo and Juliet,” William Shakespeare famously penned the line, “What’s in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet.” The line suggests a name is mere con- vention and meaningless compared to the person behind it. Why should the lovers’ family names matter when love is integral to their relationship? Names may have been trivial to Juliet, but some argue with her logic. Names evoke powerful emotions and even physi- cal responses, and everyone from business owners to product manufacturers to expect- ing parents put significant thought into choosing the right names. The names of particular roses also carry some weight. Many consider it an honor to be named after a beautiful flower, but flowers also have been named after some memorable people. In fact, anyone visiting a rose garden is likely to mingle with many famous names. A chance encounter with a favorite movie star is rare, but meeting his or her floral equivalent is a much more real- istic possibility. Roses were not always named after people. The first rose ever to be named after a person was the “Dorothy Perkins.” Busi- nessman Charles Perkins became interested in roses in 1882 and asked a man who spe- cialized in producing hybrid roses to intro- duce a brand new rose to the market. The grower created the “Dorothy Perkins” in honor of Perkins’ granddaughter in 1901. Roses have been named for liter- ary figures, musicians, actors, and other well-known personalities. There is the “Amadeus,” named after Mozart, and the “Caesar,” named for the famous emperor. There is a “Leonardo da Vinci” rose, and one named for Princess Diana. Many roses are named after female celebrities. The “Barbra Streisand” is a rich lavender and mauve rose named after the songstress. An “Elizabeth Taylor” rose has a strong fragrance and a deep pink hue. Television favorite Betty White even has a rose named after her. Some roses are named after famous men, including the “Cary Grant,” the “George Burns,” and even former Beatle Sir Paul McCartney. World leaders also have been horticul- turally honored. Roses are named after Napoleon Bonaparte, Abraham Lincoln, and Prince William of Wales. Time will tell if Prince George will follow in the foot- steps of his father, grandmother, and great- grandmother Queen Elizabeth, and have a rose named after him. Some roses are even named after fictional characters. Rose enthusiasts can delight over the “Robin Hood” shrub with small bright roses or marvel at the pure white petals of the “Snow White.” “Frankly Scar- let” pays homage to the memorable heroine from “Gone with the Wind.” Shakespeare’s star-crossed lovers also have roses named for them. The “Juliet” is a large, peach rose, while the “Romeo” produces a small cluster of double, well-formed, deep red blooms. By researching the vast array of roses, rose enthusiasts can cultivate a veritable garden of celebrities. Page 32 THE VILLADOM TIMES I, III & IV • May 14, 2014