4 M R AH A W M A SE H Y �� ZO N E � �� Copyright 2008 � �� Vol. 22 No. 49 SERVING THE HUB OF NORTH-WEST BERGEN December 24, 2008 40¢ ☺ What’s News- Mahwah Under consideration Township council may cover cost of revising FEMA flood insurance rate map. Ramsey Community service 3 High school students collect food, funds to benefit New Jersey residents. Mahwah Milestone 4 Foundation presents one millionth dollar to Mahwah’s public school district. Mahwah Road to recovery 5 Township woman runs marathon, raising money to help children with clubfoot. AIRPORT EXPRESS Only $28.60 to Newark Airport! Convenient Hourly Departures Call: (800)432-1826 �� Total Window & Wall Fashions • • CUSTOM DRAPERIES CUSTOM DRAPERIES • • UPHOLSTERY UPHOLSTERY • • SHUTTERS SHUTTERS �� 20 E. E. Main St., Ramsey NJ 20 Main St., Ramsey NJ 201-327-4900 201-327-4900 Ramsey What’s Inside Classified..........25 Restaurant........23 Opinion.............18 Crossword........24 Obituaries........20 Entertainment..22 Allan Bellezza Contracting A Full Service Landscape Contractor Ho-Ho-Kus, NJ 201-444-1672 www.TheABCLandscapes.com Glass Doctor of Ramsey Formerly Window Repairs In Your Home, LLC 201-825-4600 Lovely at 100 7 Some 100 women attend Candlelight Tea in honor of church’s 100th anniversary. 19 Page 2 THE VILLADOM TIMES I, II, III & IV • December 24, 2008 Gone Fishin’ The Villadom TIMES will not publish on Dec. 31 & Jan. 7. Look for our next edition on January 14, 2009! Deadline for press releases and ads is Wednesday, January 7. Villadom Happenings Chambers meet for card exchange The Mahwah Regional Chamber of Commerce, together with other local chambers of commerce, will hold a regional business card exchange for members and non-members on Thursday, Jan. 8, from 6 to 8 p.m. at Wayne Tile, 50 Spring Street in Ramsey. Join members of the Wyckoff and Waldwick chambers of commerce at this gathering, while exploring Wayne Tile’s newest showroom. Enjoy light refreshments and make new business contacts. The cost is $20 for Chamber members and $30 for non- members. Prepaid registration is required; an additional $5 processing fee will be charged if paid the day of event. Reg- ister on-line at www.mahwah.com or call (201) 529-5566. Classic ﬁlm screenings at library The Waldwick Public Library hosts screenings of classic ﬁlms on Thursdays at 2 p.m. A brief introduction, setting the ﬁlm in its historical context, will precede each screen- ing. The schedule of screenings for the month of January is as follows: Jan. 8, “Sunset Boulevard;” Jan. 15, “Rebel without a Cause;” Jan. 22, “Double Indemnity;” and Jan. 29, “Dead Ringer.” Registration for the ﬁlm series is not necessary; however arrival before 2 p.m. is encouraged. Call (201) 652-5104. Internet safety presentation set The Bergen County Prosecutor’s Ofﬁce Computer Crimes Unit will present an in-depth presentation on Inter- net Safety on Jan. 14, at 7:30 p.m. in the Franklin Avenue Middle School Multipurpose Room in Franklin Lakes. The presentation, “Staying Safe in Cyberspace: Internet Safety for Parents,” is a comprehensive examination of today’s Internet. For further information call D/Lt. Andrew W. Donofrio at (201) 226-5521. Embroidery Guild meet The Bergen Chapter of the Embroidery Guild of Amer- ica will hold its next meeting on Monday, Jan. 12, at 9:30 a.m., at in the Red Barn of Guardian Angel Church, located on the corner of Allendale Avenue and Franklin Turnpike in Allendale. Dr. Richard Wedeen will give a lecture about Mayan textiles. Everyone is welcome to attend. For further information visit www.bergenega.org. New Year’s Day Gala set On Thursday, Jan. 1, Manfred Knoop, Director of Music at the Church of Saint Elizabeth in Wyckoff, will conduct an orchestra of 50 musicians during the sixth annual Vien- nese New Year’s Gala at The Brownstone in Paterson. The event, which will take place from 3 to 7 p.m., is modeled after the annual New Year’s Day celebration in Vienna, Austria, featuring the music of Johann Strauss. Gifted professional artists will lend their talents to the occasion, which will feature a sumptuous buffet dinner fol- lowed by dancing to the swing sounds of Cheryl Spirer and Night Wind. Ticket information is available by contacting Marlene Nardone at newyearsgala@yahoo.com or (201) 891-1122, extension 202. English Country Dancers plan event The North Jersey English Country Dancers welcome newcomers to their Sunday afternoon dance. All dances are taught and called and the music is live. Come with or with- out a partner on Sunday, Dec. 28 to the Unitarian Society of Ridgewood, 113 Cottage Place in Ridgewood. Instruction Lions support area charities The Franklin Lakes Republican Club held its Annual Holiday Distribution Dinner at the High Mountain Golf Club in Franklin Lakes. President Alex Arns presented checks on behalf of the Lions Club to a variety of charitable organiza- tions, many of which have been struggling this year due to the economic downturn. Among the honorees were ARC, the Center for Food Option, the Christian Health Care Center, the Creative Living Council, Eva’s Village, Operation Link Up, Paterson Habitat for Humanity, Paterson Memorial Day School, Several Sources, YWCA of Bergen County, Eman- uel Cancer Foundation, and Eastern Christian Children’s Retreat. The event, which was attended by approximately 75 people, raised nearly $30,000 through the efforts of Lions in the community, including a Wine Tasting at Indian Trails Club in Franklin Lakes and a circus held on McBride Field in Franklin Lakes. The Lions Club now serves a variety of charities, having expanded dramatically from its original mission to help children who are visually impaired. Anyone interested in joining the Lions Club is encouraged to contact Alex Arns at aarns@netrom.com, Robert Warsack at drroberwarsak@verizon.net, or Charles Kahwaty at cjxkahwaty@gmail.com. for beginners is at 1:30 p.m., and the main dance is from 2 to 5 p.m. For more information at maxellute.net/njecd.html or call Nancy at (201) 652-4014. ‘Try an Instrument’ over the holidays The Ridgewood Conservatory is offering a special “Try an Instrument” program during the holiday break. Designed to maximize the success of learning to play a new instru- ment, the program is a great way for children, teens, and adults to get a jump start in just three 30-minute private les- sons. Taught by The Conservatory’s faculty of world-class virtuosi, “Try an Instrument” lessons are offered Dec. 22 through 24 and Dec. 29 through 31, and times may vary each day to accommodate holiday schedules. Special gift certiﬁcates are available for holiday gift-giving. For more information, call (201) 612-6686. New Rock Program at The Conservatory The Rock Shop at The Ridgewood Conservatory will be providing musical training to Rock musicians of all ages and levels starting Jan. 3. “Intro to Rock” offers raw beginners four one-hour group lessons on guitar, bass or drums. “One-on-One Rockology” gives students of all levels private guitar, bass, keyboards and/or vocal lessons. “Bandology 101” enables band members to ﬁne-tune their songwriting and sound by learning from a pro in eight weeks of two-hour sessions. For more info or to request a brochure, contact Bill Seco at (201) 612-6686. T’ai Chi Chih classes offered The Valley Hospital will present courses on T’ai Chi Chih for beginners at the Luckow Pavilion in Paramus. Courses will begin Tuesday, Feb. 10, at 4:30 p.m. and 6:15 p.m., and Thursday, Feb. 12, at 9:30 a.m. Intermediate-level classes will start Tuesday, Feb. 10, at 1 p.m., and Thursday, Feb. 12, at 4:15 p.m. The intermediate classes are designed for those who have completed the beginners program. All classes are eight sessions and the cost is $60. Each class is one hour and 15 minutes in length. Call (201) 634- 5359 to register or for more information. TIC TOC Theatre offers Shakespeare for children The TIC TOC Sunday Theatre Program for children and families will present “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” on Sunday, Feb. 8 at 2 p.m. This is a child-oriented production of the classic Shakespeare play performed by the Shake- speare Company of New Jersey. This one-hour children’s adaptation of “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” is the ideal “ﬁrst Shakespeare” for elementary grades and a riotous roller coaster ride for audiences of all ages. All Tic Toc shows take place at the Ben Franklin Middle School in Ridgewood, begin at 2 p.m. and last about an hour. Call (201) 447-9110 for group information To order tickets go to www.tictoc.org and print out the order form. Send check, completed order form and self-addressed stamped envelope to: Tic Toc Theatre Series, 49 Cottage Place in Ridgewood. �� Published every Wednesday by The Villadom TIMES Inc. P.O. Box 96 (333 Godwin Avenue) Midland Park, New Jersey 07432 General Office: 201-652-0744 • Fax: 201-670-4745 email: editorial@villadom.com ZONE 1 Franklin Lakes, Wyckoff, Midland Park ZONE 2 Ridgewood, Glen Rock ZONE 3 Allendale, Waldwick, Ho-Ho-Kus, Saddle River, Upper Saddle River, ZONE 4 Ramsey, Mahwah ALBERT & ESTER VIERHEILIG Publishers Jennifer Crusco, Editor Nancy Badkin Antlitz, Art Director Staff Artists: Janine Mistretta • Allison Sosinsky Peggy Carriero • Karl Vierheilig Editorial Staff: John Koster • Frank J. McMahon Classified Department: Karen Rau Advertising Representatives: Pat Mazzacano • Kathy Scarpelli Mike Lynn • Joan Wilkinson The Villadom TIMES is available by subscription outside our circulation area for $65 per year. The publisher is not responsible for typographical errors, nor the omission of copy in advertisements in the event of error. The newspaper will furnish a letter to be posted stating the correct price or description. The liability of this newspaper will be limited to the actual cost of the space in question on the first insertion only, provided that the publisher is notified of the error within three days of the publication date. December 24, 2008 THE VILLADOM TIMES IV • Page 3 Mahwah Township may change ﬂood insurance rate map by Frank J. McMahon The Mahwah Township Council is expected to fund the cost of revising the Federal Emergency Management Agen- cy’s ﬂood insurance rate map for the area around North Railroad Avenue, which is near the New Jersey Transit train station on East Ramapo Avenue at Old Station Lane. One of the residents of that street, Barbara Alberts, recently advised the township council that when she attempted to reﬁnance her home she was told by her bank that she had to purchase ﬂood insurance. But she claims that Steven Koestner, an engineer she hired to review the map, has told her that the ﬂood insurance rate map is wrong and needs to be changed. “We need the map changed so FEMA can take me out of the ﬂood area,” Alberts told the council. Koestner wrote to Boswell McClave Engineering, the township’s engineering ﬁrm and asked that ﬁrm to submit a letter of map revision to FEMA on behalf of the township in order to authorize a revision to the ﬂood insurance rate map. Koestner claims the FEMA map depicts a railroad crossing over the Masonicus Brook that appears to act as an obstruction in the channel, causing water to build up to a ﬂood elevation. That crossing was removed some time ago, according to Koestner, yet the latest ﬂood study still includes the impact of that controlling structure. “The removal (of that structure) should have a signiﬁ- cant effect on lowering the ﬂood elevation and the antici- pated ﬂood water damage to (Albert’s property) and the upstream vicinity,” Koestner wrote. The FEMA map has not been revised, however, to reﬂect the existing site conditions and, therefore, it does not cor- rectly reﬂect the ﬂood elevations of the brook, according to Michael Kelly, the Boswell representative for the town- ship. “This adversely affects properties located along the brook between Railroad Avenue and the location where the railroad crossing was removed,” Kelly told the council, “requiring some property owners to be required to pur- chase ﬂood insurance.” Kelly told the council certain things would be needed to correctly delineate the ﬂoodplain limits of the Masoni- cus Brook and to submit an application for a letter of map revision to FEMA, including topographic survey informa- tion and a review of FEMA’s stream cross section data with the existing current topographic survey information. Data would then have to be revised and the FEMA ﬂood panel and ﬂood proﬁle of the Masonicus Brook would have to be amended to depict the revised ﬂoodplain and ﬂoodway limits along with ﬂood elevations for this area. Then, cer- tain forms would have to be completed and submitted to FEMA along with certain computations, topographical data, photographs, and an annotated ﬂood map and pro- ﬁle. The township would then have to ﬁle a request for a letter of map revision and coordinate the review process with FEMA. Kelly estimated the fee for his ﬁrm to perform these FIREWOOD SERVICES SAVE BIG PRINT HAPPY 201-934-0020 375 Route 17 South Ramsey, NJ n Co �� serve Energ y May the Holidays Decorate Your Home (hopefully bought from Geeta or Christine) with Special Warmth and Happiness The Mahwah Public Library will continue showing movies on Thursday at 1:30 p.m. on the 10’ x 18’ screen in the Winter Room. The library now has a new high resolu- tion digital projector and sound system. During the month of December, the ﬁlm series will celebrate the holiday season, but not in a traditional way (the movies will be all cartoons). These ﬁlms are free. The library will provide popcorn and drinks. No tickets are necessary. Seats are on a “ﬁrst come” basis. The Mahwah Public Library is located at 100 Ridge Road. Call (201) 529-READ. 100% Guaranteed �� Library hosts screenings �� services would be approximately $11,000, not including application fees, which could be about $800. Kelly emphasized that the township has not made any error in this matter, but the map was just not updated by FEMA even though the bridge was removed 15 to 20 years ago. He explained, however, that FEMA has a policy that requires an engineer to prove that the map is wrong and to show how it should be before it will be updated. �� you can’t afford to be cold! OLD COLD and DRAFTY doors can be a problem and a heat loss! We repair and refurbish all types of doors, locks and weather stripping. 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Direct: (201) 847-1111 Email: geeta@realtor.com Geeta Khanna-Gorwara Broker-Sales Associate Christine Moore Home Sales Specialist RESIDENTIAL BROKERAGE We treat doors like furniture in every room Experts in complete door systems 620 Swan Street, Ramsey, NJ • (201) 327-1414 (800) 366-7754• www.njdoor.com • E-mail: njdc54@yahoo.com 372 Franklin Avenue Wyckoff, NJ 07481 Girls Croc Boot Visit Us At Our New Location in Mahwah �� New Location �� 12-10-08 Joan/Janine NorthJerseyDoor2x4.5(12-10-08) Page 4 THE VILLADOM TIMES IV • December 24, 2008 Ramsey High school’s DECA group collects food, funds The Ramsey High School DECA chapter recently raised $500 to be donated to UMDNJ to fund Autism Research. The funds were raised through three in-school bake sales hosted by the DECA members in the marketing, and sports and entertainment marketing classes. Sophomores Erin Branna and Amanda Triglia docu- mented the project by authoring an original 10-page DECA paper. The RHS DECA chapter also held a food drive to ben- efit two food banks in New Jersey. Students donated over 450 items to be distributed in December to food banks in Belleville and Paterson. The five marketing classes held a competition to see which class could donate the most per student in the class. The sports and entertainment marketing course students won the competition, donating 16.45 items per student. Amanda Triglia and Erin Branna Helpful Hints Helpful Hints from ome Mary Says... “To test the freshness of an egg, place it in a pan of cool, salted water. If it sinks, it is fresh, if it rises to the surface, discard it.” 27 Franklin Tpk, Waldwick 201-652-5666 Open Sundays 9-3 Caroline Epstein, Lauren Mastriano, Jennifer Kretschmer, Scott Rothlisberger and Kelsey Consiglio. PC need a BAILOUT? We set-up and fix your PC/Mac & network $25 savings thru 2008 We specialize in recovering photos, music & email Fred Litt, 201-315-4943 - Since 1998 Family Technology - www.FamilyTechnology.com Visit our office at Suite C, 70 W. Allendale Ave., Allendale Dieting? Working Out? But STILL can’t lose that Tummy or Cellulite? Call me about VelaShape TM A NEW Nonsurgical method of Fat reduction and body contouring • Non-invasive • No Anesthesia • No Downtime Beverly Dunn, MD Waldwick, NJ • 201-445-0032 December 24, 2008 THE VILLADOM TIMES IV • Page 5 Mahwah Foundation donates one millionth dollar to district by Frank J. McMahon The Mahwah Schools Foundation recently celebrated the granting of its one millionth dollar to the Mahwah school district since the foundation’s inception in 2000. The grant was presented at a special invitation-only event held last week. The event, funded by the Mahwah Education Associa- tion, was attended by about 70 people including Angela Clarkin, the president of the schools foundation, Super- intendent Charles Montesano, and Catherine Bennett, the principal of the Betsy Ross Elementary School, all of whom addressed the attendees, including a number of the foundation’s larger corporate and individual sponsors. “We are deeply proud of our town and our schools,” said Clarkin, “but keeping up with unprecedented growth comes with many challenges for our school system. More students, more state mandated programs and a limit to the money that can be raised through taxes have stretched tra- ditional resources to capacity. In order to meet this chal- lenge, a group of concerned citizens formed the Mahwah Schools Foundation and this foundation seeks alternative ways to fund programs that might otherwise remain beyond the reach of a hard-stretched school budget. Clarkin explained that the foundation’s grant program also includes mini-grants that assist teachers in provid- ing enrichment activities that cannot be met by the board of education’s budget. They include public speakers, the development of a club, or the purchase of additional mate- rials to encourage creativity or innovation. Montesano expressed his thanks for the foundation’s support of the school district and he described the impact that support has had on the schools in the district. “When I considered what the foundation means to our schools I thought for a moment about what our schools would look like without their support. We would be like other schools where creativity, innovation and exciting ideas die because of the lack of resources.” Principal Bennett also described the benefit of the grants to the schools saying, “The projects that have been funded by the foundation in each school over the past several years have made the difference between great schools and excel- lent schools.” Following the event, Charles Rann, the vice-president of Betsy Ross School Principal Cathy Bennett, Mahwah Education Association VP Sharon VanDerbeek, MEA President Kathy Schal, Mahwah High School Principal John Pascale, Lenape Meadows School Principal Christine Zimmermann, Mahwah Schools Foundation President Angela Clarkin, and Superintendent of Schools Dr. Charles Montesano. corporate development for the foundation, emphasized that achieving a million dollars in grants is a significant event and the foundation wanted to say thank you to its many sponsors, many of whom are major corporations located in the township. “We wanted to let them know that we very much appre- ciate what they have done,” Rann said. “This is a very sig- nificant milestone that we have reached and the Mahwah School Foundation has been recognized nationally as being one of the most successful school foundations.” During the event there were several demonstrations of how the 354 grants the foundation has made to the schools have been used by the school district over the years. One demonstration described the use of Promethean Interactive Whiteboards by the students in the first through sixth grades and Rann said the funding of the purchase of these expensive boards has been a primary target of the foundation over the past three years. The Promethean Interactive White Boards enables anything that can be seen or done on a computer screen to be projected onto a large white board where students can participate in and interact with the lesson. “In another couple of years all of our schools should be fully inventoried with these boards,” Rann predicted. Another grant by the foundation funded an art project at the Joyce Kilmer School where children painted what are known as Mandala tiles representing different cultures in the world and they were glazed and fired and mounted onto a large display that currently exists in the hallway of that school. Rann said the project has won a national award for innovativeness. The high school’s Robotics Club also demonstrated the use of an erector-set-like robot that was constructed by the club and it was explained how the club has grown from its original six or seven members to its current membership of 40. Rann advised that the Robotics Club was financed from its inception by the foundation but the club has also raised money for some of its projects and the club is now included in the school district’s budget. In its first year of existence in 2004, the club participated in a national competition and won the “Rookie of the Year Award” and Rann said the foundation will continue to finance the club so they can continue to compete on a national basis in robotics. 2 Locations Glen Rock & Passaic PASSAIC LOCATION NOW OPEN SUNDAYS! 201.345-5621 We Offer Line Of Credits And Financing Plans �� 595 North Maple Ave Ridgewood �� 201-444-5763 � � �� Mon-Sat 9:30-5:30 Thurs ‘til 9:00 Page 6 THE VILLADOM TIMES IV • December 24, 2008 Business Atlantic Stewardship Bank supports Calvin College Pictured are Mary Beth Steiginga, ASB assistant secretary and Calvin College alumna; Jef- frey Pluymert, director of special gifts for Calvin College; Paul Van Ostenbridge, ASB presi- dent and CEO; and Arie Leegwater, member of the ASB Board of Directors and Calvin College alumnus. Atlantic Stewardship Bank recently made a donation to Calvin College as a result of the bank’s tithing program. Located in Grand Rapids, Michigan, Calvin College is an educational institution of the Christian Reformed Church. Founded in 1876, Calvin is one of the largest Chris- tian colleges in North America. This com- prehensive liberal arts college offers nearly 100 academic options. Each year, Atlantic Stewardship Bank makes hundreds of donations in accor- dance with its unique tithing program; sending or hand delivering checks to food pantries, police and ﬁre departments, mis- sions and ministries, schools, libraries, and other organizations. This year the bank will share $627,000 with over 350 deserving recipients. To date, the bank’s tithe dona- tions total $6,350,000. “Tithing is a Biblical principle, meaning to give or devote one-tenth to God,” said Atlantic Stewardship Bank President and Chief Executive Ofﬁcer Paul Van Osten- bridge. “The concept of a bank giving away 10 percent of its proﬁts every year is quite unusual, especially in the current ﬁnancial and economic climate. But the Atlantic Stewardship Bank has been blessed with continued growth, and we consider it a priv- ilege to share our proﬁts with worthy orga- nizations that reach out to help so many.” Van Ostenbridge noted that the bank’s board of directors selects all tithe recipients at year-end. As the Atlantic Stewardship Bank’s cus- tomer base grows, so does the bank’s abil- ity to help others via increased donations. A strong community bank, Atlantic Stew- ardship attracts hundreds of new accounts annually with its outstanding customer service, convenient locations, and diverse range of products. Atlantic Stewardship Bank maintains branches in Hawthorne, Midland Park, Montville, North Haledon, Pequannock, Ridgewood, Waldwick, Wayne, Westwood, and Wyckoff. Established in 1985, ASB is a full-service community bank serving indi- viduals and businesses. Environmentally friendly landscaping, snow removal discussed Mike Ciofﬁ, director of maintenance services for Borst Landscape & Design, recently addressed a group of 30 business leaders at the Paramus Sunrise Rotary Club. He discussed techniques for improving curb appeal to sell a home, landscaping and snow removal, and environmen- tally-friendly approaches in use today. “When selling a home, ﬁrst impressions really matter,” Ciofﬁ noted. “Whether trying to attract homebuyers in a tough real estate market like ours or to create an image for your commercial property, what visitors see ﬁrst sets the tone for everything that follows.” Tips for improving a property’s image in the winter involve cleaning up and putting away items from warmer weather, and keeping the property neat. In addition, holi- day decorations, including wreaths, garlands and container plantings and festive lighting can enhance the exterior of the home and landscape. Ciofﬁ ﬁelded Rotarians’ questions about environmental trends for snow removal. Borst’s new snow management division provides commercial services, and the company has a strong commitment to use environmentally safe prac- tices for snow removal. This includes the use of products like Magic Salt, which are less corrosive to the hardscape, and less harmful to lawn, plants and shrubs. This led to a lively conversation about all aspects of landscaping and the impact on the environment. Borst (continued on page 27) December 24, 2008 THE VILLADOM TIMES IV • Page 7 Mahwah Marathoner raises $1,800+ for children with clubfoot On a chilly morning, Mahwah resident Allison Jackson crossed the ﬁ nish line in front of the Philadelphia Museum of Art, successfully completing her quest to com- plete the Philadelphia Marathon. But ﬁ nish- ing the race was only a fraction of what she accomplished. She also raised more than $1,800 to cure children who have clubfoot. All proceeds will be donated to CURE International, a nonproﬁ t organization that treats children in developing countries. With the money Jackson raised, the organi- zation can cure nine children of clubfoot. Clubfoot is the most common physical birth defect. Each year, clubfoot affects more than 200,000 newborn children in the developing world. This condition twists and deforms a child’s feet, making walking extremely difﬁ cult. Jackson was born with clubfoot, and the condition was corrected. “I am very thank- ful I had a chance to receive medical care Allison Jackson at the ﬁ nish line. for my clubfoot so I could grow up without physical limitations,” she said. “When I discovered there were millions of children with this condition in the devel- oping world who need help right now, I decided to use my participation in the mar- athon as a platform to raise awareness and money for their medical treatment. I would like to thank everyone who joined me in supporting my run.” Through its CURE Clubfoot Worldwide program, CURE International reached more than 2,000 clubfoot children last year. In the last two years, CURE Clubfoot Worldwide has already helped start clubfoot treatment programs in 10 developing countries, and its goal is to reach 50,000 children in the next ﬁ ve years. To ﬁ nd out more about CURE Interna- tional and CURE Clubfoot Worldwide, visit online at www.cureinternational.org. Dr. Heather Sculthorpe is proud to present Tracy Collins, a 2006 winner of the Hygienist of the Year from RDH Magazine. Now Accepting Patients Tracy Collins, RDH and Heather Sculthorpe, DMD CHILDREN’S DENTAL SPECIALIST BRAND NEW STATE-OF-THE-ART OFFICE 841 Franklin Ave, Suite 2 FRANKLIN LAKES • 201-891-0096 hsculthorpedmd@yahoo.com • Specially Trained Staff • Digital X-rays • Latex-Free • TVs • Video Games • Toys • Prizes SATURDAY HOURS AVAILABLE Specialty Permit #5582 Page 8 THE VILLADOM TIMES IV • December 24, 2008 Emmanuel asks Can You Help? Our hat’s off to all of our supporters this past year. You have all made it possible for us to do our work in the north- ern seven county area (Bergen, Essex, Sussex, Hudson, Passaic, Morris and Warren counties). It has been a chal- lenging year and there are many challenges still ahead. We appreciate your year-end ﬁ nancial support. (Please write a check before Dec. 31 to make your tax-deductible contribution to our families.) We do need your direct help in order to keep up with the current level of programs that we offer. Underwriting the costs of electricity, telephones, the rent and salaries may not be romantic, but they are real expenses that we must meet each month. Help us to help them. Your funds are meticulously well spent and most of the money goes directly help the families. Involve your group now and in the New Year. Enlist the aid of your coworkers, team, or other organization members in conducting a fundraiser or food collection to help get us through the winter months. Keep in mind that whether the times are hard or are good, many people dealing with a child diagnosed with cancer have a tough go of it, espe- cially those with a moderate income. We thank you for helping this little girl who has big problems in her daily living! Allie, age four, was diagnosed with Wilm’s Tumor seven months ago. She had one kidney removed and then months of chemotherapy treatment. The treatment, unfortunately, left her with one kidney an overac- tive bladder and leg muscle damage. She now suffers from bladder spasms, discomfort, frequent urges, accidents, and constant urination. She goes through multiple packages of Pull-Ups every day, with night time being the worst. She wakes up two to three times a night needing a change of PJ’s and bedding. All of this is happening at the vulnerable age of four years old! Her mom, Sarah, is handling this as a single parent who had to quit work as a teacher’s aide. Allie has a string of doctor’s appointments, medical tests, check-ups, and physical therapy. Basically, you could say that she is under siege. The next hurdle is leg casting to correct leg damage and prevent walking difﬁ culties. The main cost this small family has is the high expense for many packages of Pull-Ups. Any help with donations is greatly appreciated. She wears a 4T or 5T Pull-Ups or SHOTMEYER BROS. “We’re the Energy Experts!” Goodnights brand (38 pounds plus). Her family desperately needs ﬁ nancial help, so we ask you to step up and write a check to Emmanuel earmarked for our Family Financial Assistance Fund. Call us at (201) 612-8118 before you stop by. Please do not leave items at center without ﬁ rst checking with us, as our storage space is limited. Hours are 10 to 5 Monday through Friday. Our address is 174 Paterson Avenue, Mid- land Park, NJ 07432. Our website is www.emmanuelcancer. org. As always, thank you for helping the children and their families! Mites on Ice New Jersey Devils defense- man Bryce Salvador (back row right) greets Coach Chris Botta and members of the Ramsey Hockey Association Mite Ice Hockey team prior to the Ramsey team’s recent participation in the ‘Mites on Ice’ program at the Pruden- tial Center in Newark. The Ramsey Mite team played an exhibition hockey game between the ﬁ rst and second period of a recent Devils game and had the opportu- nity to meet with New Jersey Devils players and tour the Prudential Center as guests of the New Jersey Devils. �� The Finest Heating Oil and Service Company in the Industry! AUTOMATIC DELIVERY! COMPLETE INSTALLATION! EMERGENCY SERVICE! Dependable, Reliable Service for Over 80 Years! Call Us Today! 973-427-1000 �� December 24, 2008 THE VILLADOM TIMES IV • Page 9 Ramsey Fine Arts Council to offer “A Sampling of the Arts” Ramsey Fine Arts Council will host a new program for 2009: a workshop called “A Sampling of the Arts.” The work- shop will introduce and inspire children in grades two through six by exploring the art forms of hip hop dance, improv, vocal music, and fine art. Each child will spend part of the day in each genre being taught by different specialists. The work- shop will be held on Saturday, Jan. 31 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Dater School. The fee is $20 and includes a pizza lunch. Space is limited, so register early. Anyone interested should contact Jackie Gersht at JackieG18@aol.com or (201) 934-5450 for more information. All students must be pre-registered. Upcoming workshops will include photography, songwriting, drum circle, and dance. The Open Mic at Borders at the Interstate Shopping Center will be back on Jan. 24. The Fine Arts Council meets the first Tuesday of the month at 7:30 in the back conference room at the municipal building. All are welcome to attend. Children’s programs available The Ramsey Adult School will be offering Winter Sensations for Kids, a six-week enrichment program that features a variety of quality courses offered to students currently enrolled in first through seventh grade. Each course meets once a week after school, begin- ning the week of Jan. 5 and ending the week of Feb. 9. Each child can choose from a multitude of courses includ- ing painting, movie making, jewelry making, yoga, guitar, and foreign lan- guages. Let Your Reading Grow will be offered to children who are currently in first through third grade. This program consists of two workshops designed to support specific reading needs. Word Wise Wiz Kids is designed for children who are struggling or reluctant readers, or need help with phonics. Crafty Clue Seekers is designed for children who need to develop and strengthen their comprehension skills. Workshop information and regis- tration can be found at www.ramsey- adultschool.com or by phoning the Ramsey Adult School at (201) 327-2025. Participants need not be Ramsey resi- dents, but space is limited. OEM addresses Woman’s Club Ramsey OEM Senior Planner James Keeney and OEM Coordinator Michael Adams (standing, back) pose with the members of the Ramsey Woman’s Club after giving the presentation ‘Ramsey Is Prepared.’ Ramsey Woman’s Club President, Anne O’Loughlin, is to the left of Adams. DO TURKEYS HAVE TEETH? Michael Ashabi from Upper Saddle River answered “NO” and won a Shop Rite gift card. Happy Holidays and Congratulations from your Friends at Valley Dental Group, LLC in Ramsey. HARDING WINE & SPIRIT So far to date we have sold almost one thousand bottles of Liberty Creek. It’s amazing when you have a great product, even in tough times people respond. That’s why we are so excited to continue to offer this wonderful Californian wine for the incredibly low price of $5.99 for a 1.5 liter bottle. (This is not a misprint!) Before we bought it, we tried it. Very simply this wine is easily worth twice this price. Winter specials available now for a limited time only. Call Robin at 973-636-7000 WE DELIVER Great News! The “Zin” is in ! We now have Liberty Creek White Zinfande l. You’ve got to try it! HUGE WINE SELECTION Beer • Super Premium Spirits Party Planning • Gift Baskets Free Parking • Ice • Soda 201-445-7122 305 E. Ridgewood Ave Ridgewood, NJ DEBIT CARDS ACCEPTED Lots of holidays and family events are quickly coming upon us. Why not buy a case each of Liberty Creek Chardonnay, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon & White Zinfandel! Page 10 THE VILLADOM TIMES IV • December 24, 2008 Ramsey Review Redeemer Church celebrates Christmas The Nativity of Our Lord will be celebrated with three different Christmas Eve services on Wednesday, Dec. 24 at the Lutheran Church of the Redeemer, 55 Wyckoff Avenue in Ramsey. Christmas Eve will begin with the Family Ser- vice at 5 p.m. This brief service includes the reading of les- sons by children of the church, singing numerous carols, sharing a children’s sermon given by the Rev. Dr. Carol Brighton, and enjoying a birthday cake for Baby Jesus. At 7 and 9 p.m., the congregation will gather for Candle- light Services of Holy Communion. These services include the reading of the Christmas gospel, a sermon by Pastor Brighton, anthems by the adult choir, performances by spe- cial instrumentalists, and the sharing of the Eucharist as a gift to any Christian regardless of his or her denomination. At the end of the service, each worshiper will light a candle for hope and peace and sing “Silent Night.” Redeemer is barrier-free and has large print books and aids available for those who are hearing impaired. Every- one is invited. For more information, call (201) 327-0148 or visit www.redeemerramsey.org. Christmas schedule announced Saint John’s Memorial Episcopal Church, located on the corner of Franklin Turnpike and East Main Street in Ramsey, will celebrate Christmas Eve (Dec. 24) with a Family Service at 5 p.m. and a Candlelight and Caroling Service at 10:30 p.m. Holy Eucharist will be celebrated at 10 a.m. on Christmas Day, Dec. 25. Church School is offered on Sunday mornings at 9:30 a.m. from September through June for children ages three through 14. Saint John’s also offers an active youth group program for teens in grades seven through 12. Baby care is available every Sunday during the 10 a.m. ser- vice for children under age three. For more information about Saint John’s, call (201) 327-0703 or e-mail stjohns- ramsey@verizon.net. The website is www.stjohnsramsey. org. Church celebrates holiday season The First Presbyterian Church of Ramsey will offer a Living Nativity on Tuesday, Dec. 23 at 5, 6 and 7 p.m. This dramatic offering, open to the community, will include live animals, professional lighting, and meditative music. This reenactment will take place on the church lawn facing Shuart Lane. This is a walk-up or drive-by experience. The production has received both local and international acclaim, and will be led by Joel Robertson, Broadway actor and co-director of Northern New Jersey’s Action Theater Conservatory. The Annual Christmas Pageant will be presented on Wednesday, Dec. 24 at 5 p.m. The pageant features music, drama, and liturgical dance by the Children’s Performing Arts Program. The cast will present a dramatic staging of the Nativity with a thematic emphasis on the role of the Annunciation of Mary in our own lives. The Candlelight Celebration will be at 10:30 p.m. on Christmas Eve, Dec. 24. The Men’s Choir will sing Christ- mas carols beginning at 10:30 p.m. At 11 p.m. an intimate evening candlelight service will be held, featuring the Chancel Choir and traditional music selected to enliven the spiritual impact of this holy season. The First Presby- terian Church in Ramsey is located at 15 Shuart Lane in Ramsey. Market Day at Dater School Market Day is a monthly opportunity to save time while providing support for Dater School. A wide variety of products are available including low-fat, low-calorie, and all-natural food options. Anyone interested in participat- ing may contact Amy Reisﬁ eld at (201) 327-3474 or place an order at www.marketday.com by Wednesday, Dec. 31. Order forms may also be returned directly to Dater School by Tuesday, Dec. 23. The pickup day will be Tuesday, Jan. 6 between 3 and 4 p.m. Friends group sponsors programs, fundraisers The Friends of the Ramsey Library is selling 2009 Book Lovers’ Calendars this season to enhance children’s ser- vices and cultural arts programs throughout the year. The calendars will be available at the reception and during reg- ular hours. This winter, FORL will sponsor a jazz performance featuring the Jimmie Divine Quartet and a vintage instru- ments guitar concert with Ken Lelen. FORL will also spon- sor a book sale in the spring. Check out the library website at www.ramseylibrary.org or call (201) 327-1445 for more information. Final Centennial event set Concluding Ramsey’s Centennial year will be the New Year’s Eve Gala on Wednesday, Dec. 31. Tickets are $155 per person. The gala will be held at The Woodcliff Lake Hilton. For more information and to order tickets, log on to celebrateramsey2008.org or call (201) 825-1350. Holiday Gift Drive announced Ramsey Responds is seeking donors for its annual Holiday Gift Drive to help brighten the holiday season for Ramsey’s neediest residents. Residents are invited to “adopt” a family or an individual. Donations of any size are welcome. Visa or American Express gift cards in any denomination would be especially appreciated. Call Ramsey Responds at (201) 312-4843. Russian art exhibit at library Ramsey Public Library, in sponsorship with Barbara Winski of Upper Saddle River, will be presenting the exhibit “Land and Its People through the Eyes of Russian Artists” during the month of December. For information call (201) 327-6967, or phone the library at (201) 327-1445. This exhibit represents the works of six contemporary Russian artists who continue the traditions of Russian real- ism from the turn of the century. Artist Yurl Maianenkov is an outstanding Moscow artist who is famous for his plein air landscapes of Moscow and the Russian provinces and for his unique portraits of his contemporaries. His works have recently been selected for the collection of the State Tretyakov Gallery in Moscow. The artists represented in this exhibit span a number of generations, yet they are united by the classic realism tradi- tion, a deep devotion to their homeland, and an exception- ally high level of artistic professionalism. Each one of the artists has earned a graduate degree in art and is a member of the Union of Artists of Russia, a highly regarded profes- sional organization. Their names are well known in Russia and Europe, and their works have been acquired by muse- ums, galleries, and private collectors in the United States, Italy, France, England, and Germany. The exhibit provides an opportunity to experience Russia through the eyes of Russian artists and to discover the history, culture, and humanity underlying the Russia of bygone years and the Russia of today. The Ramsey Public Library is located at 30 Wyckoff Avenue in Ramsey. Engaged? Just Married? Celebrating an Anniversary? Share the news with neighbors and friends! Announce your Special Event in We welcome photographs. Send announcements to: The Villadom TIMES P.O. Box 96, Midland Park, NJ 07432 editorial@villadom.com December 24, 2008 THE VILLADOM TIMES IV • Page 11 Page 12 THE VILLADOM TIMES II, III & IV • December 24, 2008 Last Minute GIFT GUIDE Tips for a responsible host (ARA) ‘Tis the season for planning the perfect holiday celebrations with family, friends, and coworkers, and many hosts are thinking ahead to decide what food to serve, what music to play, and what deco- rations to hang. If you’re inviting guests over for a party, follow these simple tips to promote responsible holiday revelry and help everyone have a safe, enjoyable time: When serving alcohol, serve food. Offer non-alcoholic beverages. Have something for everyone, includ- ing soft drinks and coffee. Serve each guest one drink at a time. Spacing drinks throughout a party can help your guests stay within their personal limits. Never force drinks on anyone. If serving wine, do not keep refreshing unﬁnished glasses as this makes it difﬁ- cult for guests to keep track of how much they are drinking. Serve “measured” drinks. Beer and ﬂavored malt beverages con- tain 4.2 to 6 percent alcohol by volume and come in standard-size packages, so it is easy to keep track of how much you are drinking. Hard liquor drinks can have dra- matically different amounts of alcohol, as well as calories and carbohydrates. Many factors contribute to these wide variances: brands of liquor used, alcohol by volume in brands chosen, drink recipe, mixers, and bartender’s pouring preferences. If you choose to serve hard liquor, use a shot glass to avoid making drinks too strong. If serving wine, do not use oversized glasses. The amount of time during which an alcohol beverage is consumed greatly impacts how alcohol is absorbed into the body. Beer is widely recognized as a bev- erage of moderation. Even though a 12 ounce beer may contain the same amount of alcohol as a 1 1/2 ounce shot of 80-proof liquor, a beer is enjoyed leisurely, while a shot is usually consumed in one swallow. Stop serving alcohol at least one hour before the party ends. Serve desserts and other foods, coffee, and soft drinks. But only the passage of time will eliminate alcohol from the body. Encourage your guests to designate a driver before they arrive. Don’t ever hesi- tate to call a cab or ask someone to spend the night if he or she may have had too much to drink. Plan ahead to help ensure the holiday season is fun and safe by designating a driver before the festivities begin. Honda. 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Sharp Shop, Inc. 251 Godwin Avenue Midland Park, NJ 07432 201-444-3646 Please read the owner’s manual before operating your Honda Power Equipment. (c) 2008 American Honda Motor Co., Inc. Connection of a generator to house power requires a transfer device to avoid possible injury to power company personnel. Consult a qualified electrician. (c) 2008 American Honda Motor Co., Inc. December 24, 2008 THE VILLADOM TIMES II & IV • Page 13 Last Minute GIFT GUIDE The recipe for bite-sized holiday baking (ARA) The holidays supply an endless array of mouth- watering treats. Miniature versions of favorite desserts are perfect for holiday entertaining, especially when grouped together on a dessert buffet. This season try bite-sized, scrumptious cookies and candies to share new flavors with your friends and family. Instead of baking massive batches of cookies, your des- sert buffet can inspire awe with three to five bite-sized versions of different types of desserts: an array of small cookies, candies, bars and cupcakes. It is easy to make existing recipes bite size -- simply cut bars into one-inch square portions or prepare cookies in smaller shapes and reduce the bake time accordingly. Feel free to experiment with recipes that feature trendy or unusual flavors since the small treats are perfect for first- time tastings and give nibblers permission to sample more than one. Be sure to use only the best ingredients, such as real butter and premium chocolate because you only cel- ebrate the holidays once a year. The following bite-sized recipe from America’s Dairy Farmers pairs coffee with a buttery chocolate layer that kicks up these rich, cheesecake-like Espresso Chocolate Squares. Espresso Chocolate Squares Makes two dozen bars Ingredients: Crust: 1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour 3/4 cup confectioners’ sugar 1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder 3/4 cup butter, chilled and cut into pieces 1/2 cup miniature semisweet chocolate chips Filling: 1/4 cup heavy cream 1 tablespoon instant espresso coffee powder 2 (8 ounce) packages cream cheese, softened 1/4 cup (1/2 stick) butter, softened 3/4 cup sugar 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour 1/4 teaspoon ground allspice 2 eggs Glaze: 6 tablespoons miniature semisweet chocolate chips 1 tablespoon heavy cream 1/2 tablespoon butter 1/4 teaspoon instant espresso coffee powder Directions: Preheat oven to 350 F. Line a 9-by-13-inch baking pan with foil; butter bottom of foil. Whisk together 1 1/4 cups flour, confectioners’ sugar and cocoa together in medium bowl; add 3/4 cup butter. Using a pastry blender or two knives, cut in butter until butter is the size of small peas. Stir in 1/2 cup chocolate chips; press into bottom of pan. Bake 20 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean; cool slightly. Meanwhile, stir 1/4 cup cream and 1 tablespoon instant espresso together until coffee is dissolved. Using an electric mixer, beat cream cheese and 1/4 cup butter together. Add sugar, 1 tablespoon flour and allspice; beat until blended. Slowly beat in cream and coffee mixture. Add eggs, one at a time, beating until smooth. Pour batter over crust. Bake 20 to 25 minutes or until edges are slightly puffed and center is set; set pan on a cooling rack. 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STOP IN AND SEE US FOR: • BIRD SEED • BIRD FEEDERS • BIRD HOUSES • BIRD BATHS • WIND CHIMES • UNIQUE GIFTS NEW LOWER SEED PRICES • NATURE MUSIC • MUCH MORE ! 32 G ODWIN A VE , M IDLAND P ARK , NJ • 201.444.1043 ( ACROSS FROM W ENDY ’ S ) H OURS : 10-6 M ON -F RI -, 9-5 S AT , 12-4 S UN Gift Certificates Membership • Swim Lessons • Water Exercise • Strength Training • Fitness Classes • Sports • Art/Dance Classes Available in person or by phone. 201-444-5600 ext. 335 or 333 The Squirrel Buster Plus 112 OAK STREET, RIDGEWOOD • www.ridgewoodymca.org Page 14 THE VILLADOM TIMES I, II, III & IV • December 24, 2008 Last Minute GIFT GUIDE Trimming the tree, while still trimming the costs (ARA) This year, crews won’t just be trimming the National Christmas Tree, they will also be trimming the nation’s energy bill with the most energy-efficient holi- day display in our national history. Lit almost entirely by light-emitting diodes called LEDs, the 2008 National Christmas Tree display will be 50 percent more energy efficient than last year’s display. While LEDs were used on the National Tree for the first time in 2007 at the request of the White House, this year’s display saves even more energy by eliminating the lighted garland and making use of smaller, lighter-weight orna- ments. In fact, 2008 marks the first year that all 56 U.S. state and territory trees will be powered by LED lights donated by GE, for a substantial savings in energy. “LEDs have become the cool, new technology in lighting, and with good reason,” said Kathy Presciano, designer of the National Christmas Tree and lighting designer for GE. “They use a fraction of the energy, and they last 10 times as long as a traditional incandescent light. They worked so well for last year’s National Tree, this year we decided to expand them to the state trees, too,” Presciano said. Building a tradition of savings Having entered the market in force last Christmas season, pre-lit LED trees, LED light sets, and even LED outdoor decorations are now a mainstream choice for con- sumers looking to decorate their homes for the holidays. “Expect to see them become brighter, more efficient, and more versatile with each passing year,” Presciano said. This year’s National Tree will carry more than 37,000 individual LED lights, including the topper and the back- ground lights. The 42-inch tall, star-shaped tree topper is an “heirloom” topper used for the last two years. It is outfitted with industrial grade, white GE Tetra LEDs - - a product offering of GE’s LED business, Lumination, LLC. As many as 680, 50-light strings of clear, C5 LEDs will provide a dazzling backdrop to the tree. Each string costs only 14 cents to run for a full four-week holiday season. Presciano noted that for reasons of brightness and weight restrictions, more than 140 star-shaped ornaments were created using clear, C7 incandescent lights. Each ornament weighs less than two pounds. This year’s 12- inch, 3D ornaments are made from interlocking Lexan panels with applied, bright gold, holographic mosaic vinyl. Designed to catch the sun, the ornaments will make the tree look lit, even when it’s turned off during the day. While groups from each state are responsible for the ornaments decorating their own state tree, GE donated more than 360 strings of clear, C5 LED lights to serve as their background lights. The clear lights will match the National Tree and help create a unified look when the trees are lit, Presciano said. Waste Not, Want Not Planning for the 2008 tree started last January as Presciano began creating architectural drawings of the ornaments and choosing lights from the GE inventory. But one of the biggest issues is how to take down the lights at the end of the season. “With LEDs lasting so much longer, we’re carefully taking them off and storing them so we can create an inventory of light resources for the country that will last for years,” Presciano said. Last year’s garland, topper, ornaments and multi-colored strings were saved, she noted, and should be rotated back into use in years to come. GE has been designing the National Christmas Tree since 1962, producing and donating the lighting and dec- orations. Presciano has personally designed every tree since 1995. “It may take months of planning and work to design the tree, but there’s nothing quite like the reward you get when the President flips the switch and the tree just comes to life. It’s the symbol of the holidays, and the blessing of being able to celebrate together, in freedom. It’s an honor for GE to be a part of that,” she said. The lighting of the National Christmas Tree is an unbroken tradition that began in 1923 when Calvin Coolidge lit the first tree on the Ellipse. The event is sponsored by the National Park Foundation, official charitable partner of America’s National Parks, and the National Park Service. December 24, 2008 THE VILLADOM TIMES II, III & IV • Page 15 Last Minute GIFT GUIDE Six resolution strategies that can change your life (ARA) Do you want to lose weight, spend more time with your family, or get a better job in 2009? These are just a few common New Year’s resolutions that many of us make in January and too often forget by mid- March. This year, if you want to keep your resolutions and truly change your life for the better, follow some expert strategies for success. “The New Year is a great time to self-evaluate and take steps toward your goals. But in order to set those goals and stay focused, many of us need to shift our way of thinking. With the right strategies, you can make permanent changes to your life,” said John G. Miller, an expert who has spent over 20 years studying per- sonal accountability, and author of “QBQ! The Ques- tion Behind the Question” and “Flipping the Switch.” Here are some of Miller’s tips for making your New Year’s resolutions stick: Don’t underestimate the power of personal account- ability. If you can shift the way you think away from blame, procrastination, and victim thinking, and focus instead on personal choices and responsibility, you can better position yourself for change in your life. Being busy is one of the top excuses people use when they don’t keep their resolutions. Stop blaming your calendar by saying, “I’m too busy to visit my parents,” or “My schedule is too hectic to eat healthy.” Adopt the “no excuses” way of living. Remember -- everything is a choice. It’s up to the individual to choose what priorities to make room for in life. Write it down and set a deadline. Write your goals down and consider tracking your progress in a journal. Set a deadline for when you plan to complete your goal. Do you want to lose 15 pounds in 90 days? Organize your entire house in the next six months? A deadline creates energy; without one your goal is just something you hope to do at some point, someday. Once you’ve reached your deadline, you can look back and measure your progress. If you’ve met the deadline successfully, you’ll feel great! If you haven’t yet reached your goal, you can revamp your plan, set a new deadline, and forge ahead. Reach out for support. Miller says, “Though we can’t change others and they cannot change us, it’s helpful for a close friend to know the path I’m on. If they are aware of my goal, they can support me by asking about my prog- ress, and by not offering chocolate cake if I’m trying to lose weight.” Tell a close friend or family member and encourage them to share their goals with you too. If you’re comfortable, you might also consider joining a support group with others who are working toward similar goals. Bite size goals are best. All Instead of saying, “I want to be a more organized person,” create a goal that is more specific. Set a goal like, “I will keep my car clean instead of it looking like a landfill on wheels.” You might want to lose 15 pounds but you can’t do it all at once. Try a goal like, “I will lose two pounds per month.” For a better chance at success, set your goals for the long term, but measure in the short term. Bite size pieces are easier to chew. Be aware of your feelings. Tough goals are not achieved easily. Expect a roller coaster of ups and downs and be able to recognize your emotions. When negative emotions arise, refocus your thinking. Miller suggests asking an effective ques- tion. “Instead of asking, ‘Why does this have to be so hard?’ instead ask ‘What can I do right now to change my thinking?’ When we change our thoughts, we take control of our feelings, which leads to better actions and habits, and ultimately, success.” Focus on the benefits of the change. When you start to drift from your goal, remind yourself why you have the goal in the first place. Are you losing weight so you have more energy? Are you organizing your house or exercising more so you have less stress? You have this goal for a reason. Especially during the bumps in the road, remind yourself why you have it and the positive outcome you’ll enjoy once it’s achieved. S easons... for the Holidays 50% OFF All Holiday Items Boxed Cards, Gift Wrap, Ornaments, Gifts, Candles, Plush, etc. Open 9am - Friday, Saturday, & Sunday Hamilton Square Shopping Center 140 Franklin Tpke, Waldwick • 201-251-7577 Hours: Mon-Sat 10-8 • Sunday 10-3 All Major Credit Cards Accepted 12-24-08 Mike/Janine Page 16 THE VILLADOM TIMES I, II, III & IV • December 24, 2008 Last Minute GIFT GUIDE Save pets from stress during the holiday season (ARA) End-of-the-year festivities may bring friends and families closer, but with all of the season’s hustle and bustle, many pets may become overwhelmed and confused or exhibit negative behaviors resulting from unfamiliar sounds, smells, and visitors that surround them before the New Year. “Holidays can be a hectic time for everyone, including the family pet, which is why it’s important to make sure pets receive the attention and care they need amidst this busy time of year,” says certified veterinary technician and dog trainer, Gayle DiMenna. “Providing consistency for your pet by maintaining the same feeding and exercise schedule will lessen your pet’s stress and confusion.” “During the holidays, we always have friends and family over, which is difficult for our dog, who is very shy and ten- tative around strangers,” says Jill Diffendaffer, pet parent to beagle-dachshund mix, Gracie. “We’ve found over the past couple of years that by planning ahead for guests and setting aside some play time for Gracie, the holidays are much more enjoyable for everyone.” To ensure your pets have a happy, safe and low stress holiday, take extra care for your pet and plan ahead with these simple solutions: Try to maintain your pet’s usual routine, including con- sistent feeding, play and exercise schedules. If possible, try to exercise your pet, especially dogs, before guests come over to help decrease any hyperactivity and stress. Consider leashing your dog before opening the door for visitors to ensure greater control over your pet and to pre- Holiday Offer H A I R Music S A L O N ACKERMAN’S 238 Madison Ave. Wyckoff NJ 07481 �� Call 201-848-6969 �� to make an appt. �� www.maneonmadison.com Guitar Center Gift Packs �� Paul, owner �� First Time Guests - $20.00 off hair services on Wednesdays �� Wishing you all a beautiful holiday season, and peace and love in the new year! Special Holiday Hours: Dec. 24 9-12 Dec. 27 9-1 Dec. 30 9-5 Dec. 31 9-12 Closed Dec. 25 & 26, Jan. 1 & 2 America’s choice in ﬂoor fashions since 1958 STORE HOURS Mon & Fri 9-6 Tues, Wed & Thurs 9-8 Sat 9-5 1030 Goffle Road, Hawthorne, NJ 973-427-7900 www.buyabbey.com �� Sydney's first haircut will be at �� Family Hair Care �� Abbey Carpet & Floor of Hawthorne �� vent escapes. Dogs tend to pant more when they become stressed. Be sure to keep water readily available to prevent dehydra- tion. Prepare a quiet place for your pet to use as a retreat when holiday activities and guests become overwhelming. Never leave your pet alone with unfamiliar children, regardless of how well behaved your pet is, to avoid poten- tial incidents. Make sure your pet wears his tags at all times in case he escapes from the house or yard. Do not let guests feed your pet food from their plates, which can be hazardous to your pet’s health. Instead, leave treats out for your guests to give to your favorite furry friends as a reward for good behavior. � �� December 24, 2008 THE VILLADOM TIMES I, II, III & IV • Page 17 Last Minute GIFT GUIDE Shopping at the last minute? Here’s holiday help (ARA) While it still seems that the Thanksgiving left- overs were just finished, the holiday season is here and that has many a yuletide procrastinator shaking in his snow boots. In fact, according to the National Retail Federation, last year 35 million people had not even begun their holiday shopping 10 days before Christmas. “The holidays are an important time to recognize our relationships with friends and family and we do so by exchanging gifts and greetings, but the most essential tra- dition is just to spend time together,” says Rochelle Lulow, holiday etiquette expert at American Greetings. “Even if you’ve waited until the last minute to tackle your to-do list, there are many things you can do to help get every- thing done, and to give you more time to spend with loved ones.” Lulow offers the following helpful tips to tackle that to- do list and get to the celebrating: Make a list, check it twice: While the sound of the holiday clock ticking adds a tremendous amount of pressure, take a few minutes to sit down and draw up a list with corresponding budget. It will save you time in the long run -- as you can consolidate your shopping trips -- to ensure that no one is forgotten. Hold a quick brainstorming session: Enlist the help of friends and family to find out what everyone on your list needs or wants. In their early bird aisle wandering, they may have already spotted the perfect item for you to pick up. Escape the traffic: Try shopping during extended hours, or, if you have the vacation time to spare, consider taking a weekday off in order to play catch-up. By all means, delegate: Just because you’ve waited until the last minute does not absolve any immediate family members from having holiday duties. Try assigning some gift wrapping or the addressing of holiday greeting card envelopes to another family member. �� house christmas �� T �� YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD NEWSPAPER �� Page 18 THE VILLADOM TIMES IV • December 24, 2008 Christmas lights and the light of Christmas Considering the gloom and doom all around us, it is comforting to see the Christmas lights all over and realize that most people have decided to make the best of things. My wife returned from a brief shopping trip on foot – trading one kind of energy for another, as it were, and reported about what you would expect from some of the friendly local merchants we have patronized for the past 30 years. In one store, she saw something heartening: three men she identiﬁed as young fathers were eagerly learning how to be cashiers. She assumed they had been down-sized and were taking up the sort of honest work they would not have considered when the economy was booming so they could go on supporting their families. She saw this as strong and honorable on their part. I agree. On lawns all over Northwest Bergen County, in front of the churches, and even in front of some municipal build- ings we see the Nativity represented by a mother, a father, and a child. Some years ago, some people wanted to put a stop to that. A number of towns knuckled under and removed their Nativity scenes under the pressure of the American Civil Liberties Union – an organization, be it noted, that once dumped Ridgewood Holocaust rescuer Varian Fry from a much-needed seat on the ACLU Board of Directors because Fry was anti-communist. Fry is remembered for having risked his neck for being anti-Nazi. Wyckoff also took a risk. The members of the Wyckoff Township Committee sat down, weighed their chances, weighed their consciences, and let the ACLU take them to court. The judge ruled that as long as the township was willing to display a menorah and some secular Christmas symbols, the Nativity scene could stay. Wyckoff and America won twice. People who are too wrapped up in sports or politics may not realize it, but the menorah is an important part of the Christmas story twice. In 146 BC, a tyrant descended from one of Alexander the Great’s generals attempted to stamp out Judaism by brutal and blasphemous methods. Jews who refused to pol- lute themselves and deny their own beliefs were tortured and killed as the tyrant attempted to turn the ofﬁcial reli- gion into a cult with himself as the center of worship. The blasphemy and the insanity involved were unac- ceptable to religious Jews. They fought back against great odds, and when they defeated the tyrant they found that his troops had polluted the Temple at Jerusalem. The menorah is said to have miraculously burned while the temple was ritually cleansed and through the ceremonies of dedication. This event was not just a great victory for the Jews. It was a great victory for the entire human race. A blasphemous cult founded by a maniac had been defeated by people who believed in one God whose laws applied equally to every- one, beggar and king alike. Had the revolt that led to Chanukah failed, the New Testament would not be as we know it today, because the Holy Family and the Apostles and Disciples were all obser- vant Jews who followed the laws that were restored. The menorah and the Nativity scene are not contradictory, but complementary. David Bolger and his son JT were recently kind enough to send me a computer image of the restored painting of Jesus and the elders, which was once displayed at the Pease Library. I had my ﬁrst look at the painting in perhaps 20 years, and my memories of it were conﬁrmed. What I saw when I looked was what one should always see: mutual respect. We should preserve that respect. Another importance of the menorah has to do with what has now become a primary secular symbol: the Christmas tree. This was not always so. Research traced the original of the display of a lighted tree inside a church to the German Rhineland, an area that had been Roman in ancient times, and where Jews and other settlers had lived in the forti- ﬁed cities and the market towns of what was a sort of per- manent frontier. The ﬁrst example of a lighted pyramid, shaped like a tree, looks almost like a menorah. This may not be a coincidence. The menorah is complementary to the Christmas story, and so is another monotheistic religion, the belief of the Persians in one God and a strict dichotomy between good and evil. The Persians take a beating in European his- tory because they fought the Greeks, seen as the exclusive progenitors of Western culture by professors and other people who like things in neat little boxes and ignore the religious and legalistic inﬂuence of Judaism, the day-to- day importance of Germanic tribal custom, and Celtic and Chinese technology. All these groups contributed to Euro- pean civilization while the Persians, stalled at Thermo- pylae and defeated at Salamis, remained outside Europe, though they are an Indo-European people. They were also the only people in history other than the Germanic tribes who shared a border with the Roman Empire and were not destroyed or assimilated. Nativity scenes often feature “the three kings” – one blond, one black, one possibly Arab – offering gifts to the Holy Family. The gift-bearers mentioned in the New Testament, however, were not kings but magi – wise men, possibly astrologers – who followed the Star of Bethlehem because they were told the star would lead them to the King of the Jews. Astrology was widely practiced in the Kingdom Baby- lon, where the Jews had once been sequestered and where some possibly remained, and in the succeeding Per- sian Empire. The German astronomer Johannes Kepler, also an astrologer, discovered at the time of the Nativity – the autumn of 4 BC, probably in September rather than December – a constellation of three planets, rather than stars, would have converged and been visible from Persia and appearing over Judea. Jupiter was the planet of the king, Venus the planet of birth, and Saturn the planet of the Jews in Persian astrology. The message of this constella- tion, brighter than any individual star, was that the King of the Jews would be born. The idea that the Christmas story is comprised of many elements is not a new one. People in ancient times would have understood clearly that the members of the Holy Family were observant Jews – this is absolutely explicit in the New Testament – and that people outside Judaism also knew of the prophecies concerning a change in the world order, mentioned in Roman writers of the next century long before Christianity had become an accepted and later an ofﬁcial religion. This was not a made-up story like the Right Jolly Old Elf who comes down the chimney to bring good little girls and boys whatever they want. Keep in mind that the chim- ney may be stopped up this year. A lot of people, particu- larly the younger people who moved here for the schools, may ﬁnd themselves stuck in houses they cannot afford and cannot sell, except at a loss. Our sympathies should go out to these people – par- ticularly to those who did not vent against older people or childless people who questioned why they should have to keep paying school taxes for a standard of education they never expected for themselves and do not need now. The idea that many people stay here for decades after their kids have grown up, or if they did not have kids to begin with, simply because the towns and most of the people are so great, is a tough sell to people whose focus is getting ahead and getting out. A lot of people used to turn every holiday into an explo- sion of spending to show how well they had done. I think we will see less of that than in any year in the recent past, not only because people cannot afford it, but because a look at the neighbors may convince them that it is not in the world’s best taste. I add that I hope people will spend what- ever they can with local merchants who make the towns of Northwest Bergen County as convenient as they are – and at holiday time, as beautiful as they are. What I hope we will see more of this year is a reﬂection that the values of Christmas and Chanukah teach people what they need to remember when the anesthetic of a bull- ish stock market and big salaries for do-nothing jobs wears off. There are some things you do not do to others, and there are some things that you do not accept: attacks on religious and family values from people with their own agendas being a prime example. But if you learn to respect and tolerate, and even appreciate, other people who present no threat instead of smirking and waiting to settle up at the ﬁrst opportunity, the economic slump, while not enjoyable, will probably prove survivable. One thing is certain – it will deﬁnitely prove educational. Letters to the Editor Appreciates support Dear Editor: I would like to thank the student, parents, teachers and staff of the Mahwah school district for their overwhelming support of the Veteran’s Day fundraiser to support “Homes for Our Troops.” “Homes for Our Troops” is an organization dedicated to building barrier-free housing for our severely injured servicemen and women at no cost to them. Together with the assistance of the Allendale, Alpine, Cresskill, Hill- sdale, Palisades Park, Pascack Hills, Pascack Valley and South Hackensack school districts who joined the effort, we were able to raise over $27,000 for this cause. A special thanks goes to all of the school and district administrators and their staff for promoting the drive and facilitating the collection of the donations. For more infor- mation or to make a donation please visit www.homesfo- rourtroops.org. Kristin Koch Mahwah Setting the record straight Dear Editor: In the Dec. 3 Villadom TIMES, John Koster tells us that the traitor Harry Dexter White, working for Stalin, was responsible for the U.S. provocation of Japan, which led to the attack on Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941. However, this is only partly true. According to World War II naval ofﬁcer Robert B. Stinnett’s book, “Day of Deceit: The Truth about FDR and Pearl Harbor” (Simon & Schuster, NY, NY 2000 and 2001), the United States was provoking Japan before Hitler’s invasion of the Soviet Union in late June 1941. This included the sending of cruisers to patrol off Japan’s coast. Furthermore, the Pearl Harbor attack was no surprise to the highest circles in Washington, as well as to Harry Dexter White! U.S. Naval Intelligence had broken the Japanese naval codes years before, and were recording and reporting the exact location, composition, and destination of the carrier task force headed for Hawaii. But they did not tell Admiral Kimmel and General Short! In fact – which is even more outrageous- they told Kimmel not to take any defensive measures, such as sending out long-range scout planes, which might alarm the civilian population on Oahu! FDR’s reason: Only an unexpected and “unprovoked” attack on American soil would win a reluctant public’s overwhelming support for the country’s entry in the war. All this Sinnett spells out in his book, based on 14 years of research in U.S. Naval Intelligence’s secret ﬁles, thanks to the Freedom of Information Act. Jonathan King Wyckoff Happy Chanukah from Villadom Times December 24, 2008 THE VILLADOM TIMES Ramsey IV • Page 19 Candlelight Tea draws 100 Nearly 100 women attended this year’s Old Fashioned Candlelight Tea at the First Presbyte- rian Church in Ramsey. This event was held in conjunction with the church’s 100th anniver- sary. The group enjoyed music ensembles, Christmas stories and poems, and a sing-along. Top left (seated): Polly Fitzsimmons and Elizabeth Wilding. Standing: Santa and Mee Lon Yee. Top row center: Flutist Meg Acer-Chin performs. Top right: Paul Talarico, Tim Edler, Dale Myers, Jack Greenshields, and Jack Fitzsimmons performed carols. Bottom row left (seated): Nora, Audrey and Vanessa Talarico, Erin Roche, and Jonna Myers. Standing: Celia Sagullo, Santa, Kathy Strangfeld, Victoria Jensen, and Nancy Peternith. Bottom row right: The Agape Handbell Ensemble, including Terri Peri, Meg Acer-Chin, Merrill Simpson, Karen Robator, Kate Strangfeld, and Ruth O’Hara. Stay on top of commercial building maintenance Here’s a SMART IDEA for Vehicle Owners! No need to leave town for CONVENIENT, expert service - our ASE Certiﬁ ed Technicians know your vehicle! We Offer a BETTER $ VALUE than the dealer with a Longer Lasting Warranty: 12 months or 12,000 miles. 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Cash ts Disc e o ati u ng n Oil On H Deliveries • Oil Heat Systems Serviced & Installed • Automatic Fuel Oil Deliveries • Tank Insurance Available 24 Hour Emergency 201-891-1000 Service �� Page 20 THE VILLADOM TIMES IV • December 24, 2008 Obituaries William G. Atkinson Jr. William G. Atkinson Jr. of Saddle River died Dec.14. He was 90. He was an engineer who was rated within the top half of one percent in engineering aptitude, as tested by Johnson O’Connor Human Engineer- ing Institute. His career included work with Curtis-Wright Corporation, Union Carbide, and Pratt & Whitney. He was a member of Ramapo Hills Chapel in Mahwah. He was a former member of Wyckoff Assem- bly of God. He is survived by his children Gail Arnold Atkinson of Saddle River, Abby Richmond Atkinson of Hillsdale, Amy Atkinson Scollin of Woodcliff Lake, and Susan Atkinson McKee of Ho-Ho- Kus, and four grandchildren. He was pre- deceased by his wife Cynthia Standish Richmond Atkinson. Arrangements were made by Minchin Funeral Home in Pater- son. Memorial donations may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association at www.alznj. org; Christian Health Care Center at www. christianhealthcare.org; or World Vision at www.worldvision.org. David George Crocco David George Crocco of Ridgewood died Dec. 14. He was 71. He was a U.S. Army veteran. He was a lawyer and timber framer. He was a parishioner of Our Lady of Mount Carmel RC Church, the Knights of Columbus, and Men’s Cornerstone, all in Ridgewood. He is survived by his wife Martha, nee Monuis, his children Alex Crocco, Paul Crocco, and Andrea Varella, four grandchildren, and his sister Kath- leen Crocco. He was predeceased by his sister Stephanie Crocco. Arrangements were made by Feeney Funeral Home in Ridgewood. Dolores Depken Dolores Depken of Wyckoff died Dec. 15. She was 82. Prior to raising her family she had been a nurse at Bellevue Hospital in New York. She was a founding member of the Ramapo Boosters Association and participant in the Harvard Nurses Study. She is survived by her children Fred of Wyckoff, John of Pompton Plains, Diane Depken of Cedar Falls, Iowa, Carol Pec- oraro of Wyckoff; ﬁve grandchildren; and her siblings Maryanne Sekerak of Easton, Pennsylvania, Rita Stavitzski of Wilke- LIGHT A CANDLE OF LOVE. Since Christmas is a time for remembering, we are lighting a candle in our funeral home for all the families we have served this past year. As you enjoy this Christmas season, we hope this gesture will serve to remind you of Holidays past and the importance of family. May the quiet peace of Christmas ﬁll your heart and home. Barre, Pennsylvania, and John Wengryn of Nanticoke, Pennsylvania. She was prede- ceased by her husband Fred. Arrangements were made by Vander Plaat Funeral Home in Wyckoff. Memorial donations may be made to the Community Engine Company 2, PO Box 405, Wyckoff, NJ 07481. Doris M. Turi Doris M. Turi, nee Grimes, of Midland Park, formerly of Haledon, died Dec. 12. She was 78. She was employed as a chef for High Mountain Country Club in Franklin Lakes for over 10 years. Previously, she was employed as a chef for the Hamilton Club in Paterson. She is survived by her children John M. Turi of Clifton, Carl Turi of Hawthorne and Christine De Young of Midland Park, ﬁve grandchildren and one great grandchild. She was predeceased by her husband John Turi. Arrangements were made by Browning Forshay Funeral Home in Hawthorne. Memorial donations may be made to the Valley Hospital in Ridgewood. Robert John Zuidema Robert John Zuidema of Hawthorne died Dec. 15. He was 74. He was a U.S. Army veteran. Before retiring in 1994, he was vice president of Atlantic Stewardship Bank. He was a member of the Cedar Hill Christian Reformed Church in Wyckoff. He is survived by his wife Jacqueline, nee Downey, his children Beth Hagedoorn of Wayne, Bonnie Perrotta of Haledon, Brenda Strasser of Hawthorne and Barbie Resch of Wyckoff, 13 grandchildren, one great grandson, and his siblings, Doris, Donald, and John. He was predeceased by his daughter Brett. Arrangements were made by Vander Plaat Funeral Home in Wyckoff. Memorial donations may be made to Tomorrows Children’s Fund, Hacken- sack University Medical Center, 30 Pros- pect Avenue, Hackensack, NJ 07601. Religious Notes Celebrations at Cedar Hill Church Cedar Hill Church in Wyckoff will be celebrating Christmas on Christmas Day, Dec. 25, at 10:30 a.m., with Rev. Brown offering “God in Our Neighbor- hood.” The Dec. 28 morning service at 10:30 a.m. will feature “The Time Has Come.” There will be no evening service on Sunday, Dec. 28. The Old Year’s Evening Service with communion will be held at 7 p.m. Rev. Brown will offer “The Lord Bless You and Keep You.” Cedar Hill Church is located at 422 Cedar Hill Avenue in Wyckoff. Phone (201) 652-4277. Advent Lutheran plans events Advent Lutheran Church invites all for the services on Christmas Eve: Family Devotional Service of Song, Scripture and Story at 5 p.m. or the Candlelight Service with Communion at 10 p.m. On Christmas Day, Communion Worship will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Advent Lutheran Church has assisted listening devices and is barrier-free. A staffed nursery is available during Sunday morning service. Phone (201) 891-1031 for details. Advent Lutheran Church is located at 777 Wyckoff Avenue at the intersection of Wyckoff and Godwin avenues. Church of theNativity CHRISTMAS SCHEDULE 2008 Christmas Eucharistic Liturgies Christmas Eve Wednesday, December 24, 2008 4:00 PM–Children’s Family Liturgy (families with small children only) 5:30 PM–Mass for Differently-abled people 7:00 PM–Eucharistic Liturgy 9:30 PM–Choir & Congregation–Christmas Carols 10:00 PM–Eucharistic Liturgy Christmas Day Thursday, December 25, 2008 Eucharistic Liturgies–10:30 AM & 12:00 Noon New Year’s Eve Wednesday, December 31, 2008 4:00 PM New Year’s Day Mary Mother of God William Brock Jr. C.F.S.P., Mgr. NJ Lic. No. 3287 William Brock Jr. C.F.S.P., Mgr. NJ Lic. No. 3287 Vander Plaat Funeral Home, 201-891-3400 • Olthuis Funeral Home, 201-652-8844 Thursday, January 1, 2009 10:30 AM – Holy Day of Obligation 315 Prospect Street, Midland Park • 201-444-6362 December 24, 2008 THE VILLADOM TIMES Religious Notes Holy Cross celebrates Christmas Celebrate Christmas at Holy Cross Lutheran Church in Mahwah with the Christmas Eve Family service at 5:30 p.m. and at 11 p.m. the traditional Christmas service. Holy Communion will be offered at both services. On Thursday, Dec. 25 there will be the Christmas Morning Hymn Sing at 10:15 a.m. Holy Cross Lutheran Church is located at 125 Glasgow Terrace in Mahwah. Call (201) 529-2117. Christmas worship services planned The Midland Park Christian Reformed Church will offer a 10 a.m. worship service on Christmas Day, Dec. 25. For New Year’s Day, Jan. 1, there will be a communion ser- vice at 6 p.m. Nurseries are provided at all services and the church is wheelchair accessible. The Midland Park Chris- tian Reformed Church is located at 183 Godwin Avenue in Midland Park. Good Shepherd celebrates Christmas Eve, Dec. 24, services at the Church of the Good Shepherd in Midland Park will be held at 4:30 and 11 p.m. On Christmas Day, Dec. 25, the service will be at 9 a.m. The Church of the Good Shepherd is located at 497 Godwin Avenue in Midland Park. The church is barrier- free. Call (201) 444-6168. Nativity sets Christmas services The Church of the Nativity has scheduled its Christ- mas services. On Christmas Eve, Dec. 24 there will be a Children’s Family Liturgy at 4 p.m. The mass for differ- ently-abled will be at 5:30 p.m., the Eucharistic liturgy at 7 p.m., the choir and congregation will perform Christmas carols at the 9:30 p.m. service, and at 10 p.m. there will be a Eucharistic liturgy. On Christmas Day, Dec. 25, Eucharistic liturgies will be at 10:30 a.m. and noon. On New Year’s Day, Jan 1, there will be a 10:30 a.m. service. The Church of the Nativity is located at 315 Prospect Street in Midland Park. IV • Page 21 Church offers Candlelight Carol Service There will be a Candlelight Carol Service on Christmas Eve, Dec. 24, at 6 p.m. at Franklin Lakes Baptist Church. The public is invited to attend. Franklin Lakes Baptist Church is located at 649 Franklin Avenue in Franklin Lakes. For more information, call (201) 891-3252. Powerhouse announces services Powerhouse Christian Church will offer three services on Christmas Eve, Dec 24: the Family Christmas Service will be held at 5:30 p.m., the Classic Christmas Service at 8 p.m., and Sacred Christmas Service at 11:30 p.m. Call (201) 540-1993 for details. Come home to celebrate Christmas at HOLY CROSS Wednesday, December 24 5:30 pm ~ Christmas Eve Family Service 11:00 pm ~ Traditional Christmas Service HOLY COMMUNION AT BOTH SERVICES Thursday, December 25 10:15 am ~ Christmas Morning Hymn Sing 125 Glasgow Terrace, Mahwah • 201-529-2117 Pastor Dennis Rockett PLEASE... REMEMBER US WHEN YOU REMEMBER THEM Peace on Earth and Good Will to All Men THE CHURCH OF THE GOOD SHEPHERD The Episcopal Parish for Midland Park and Wyckoff 497 Godwin Ave — Midland Park — 201-444-6168 The Rev. Rev. Charles Arlin, Arlin The Charles N. N. Rector Sunday Eucharists: 8, 9:30 (Contemporary Family Worship) & 10:15 a.m. Sundays 8 Nursery, a.m. Eucharist and • (July — August 9:30 9:00 a.m. only) and 10 Adult Forum Education at at a.m. cofgsmp@verizon.net Nursery and Education at 10:00 a.m. • www.dioceseofnewark.org/goodshepherd-midlandpark We are handicapped accessible www.dioceseofnewark.org/goodshepherd-midlandpark 125 Glasgow Terr, Midland Park and Wyckoff The Episcopal Parish for Mahwah. 201-529-2117 Sunday and Wednesday Evening Worship Schedule 497 Godwin Bible — - 9:15AM - Park — 201-444-6168 Midland Worship 10:15AM Sunday Ave Wednesday - N. Arlin, Rector The Rev. Rev. Charles Worship N. 7:30PM The Charles Arlin EMMANUEL CANCER FOUNDATION PO Box 212 - Dept. H, Midland Park, NJ 07432 or drop by our office 174 Paterson Ave., Midland Park 201-612-8118 �� RELIGIOUS DIRECTORY HOLY CHURCH LUTHERAN CHURCH - LCMS THE CROSS OF THE GOOD SHEPHERD Providing emotional and spiritual support, professional counseling and financial and material assistance to New Jersey Children with cancer and their families. Deductible You r Donations are Tax �� HOLY CROSS NURSERY SCHOOL Sundays: 8, 9:30 (Contemporary) 11a.m. Eucharists Sundays Half and & 10 Extended Day and (July — August at - Openings only) 8 a.m. Forum Nursery, Adult Eucharist • Programs at 9:30 9:00 a.m. a.m. Education New Mommy www.dioceseofnewark.org/goodshepherd-midlandpark Program - Call cofgsmp@verizon.net Nursery & and Me Education at 10:00 a.m. for Details • Website: We www.holycrossmahwah.org www.dioceseofnewark.org/goodshepherd-midlandpark are handicapped accessible THE CHURCH OF Reformed Church Abundant Life THE GOOD SHEPHERD The Lafayette Ave., Midland 201-444-8038 475 Episcopal Parish for Wyckoff • Park and Wyckoff 497 Sunday Ave — Midland Park — 10:30 AM Godwin Worship Service: 201-444-6168 Sunday The School Charles N. Arlin All Ages Rev. 9:15am - Dec. 24 8 and - Christmas Eve • (July Family Service a.m. - 5 only) PM Sundays 10 a.m. Eucharist — August at 9:00 Candlelight Education at 10:00 11 a.m. PM Nursery and Service - Pastor – Rev. Dr. Gene Poll www.dioceseofnewark.org/goodshepherd-midlandpark �� 12:10 pm �� Looking for...Traditional Music and Bible Preaching? You’ll Find it at Franklin Lakes Baptist Church 649 Franklin Avenue • 201-891-3253 • Dr. Glen D. Webb SUNDAY 9:45am Bible Study • • 11am Morning Worship • • 6pm Evening Worship 9:45am Bible Study 11am Morning Worship 6pm Evening Worship WEDNESDAY WEDNESDAY 7pm: Awana Clubs (age 7:15pm: Awana Clubs (ages 3 3 to to grade 6) 6) • • 7:15pm: Jr/Sr Youth Ministry grade 7:30pm: Junior Youth Ministry 7:30pm Adult Bible Study and Prayer • 7:30pm: Adult Bible Study and Prayer THE CHURCH OF Abundant SHEPHERD Ramsey THE GOOD Life The Episcopal Parish for Midland Park and Wyckoff 497 Godwin Worship Center 201-444-6168 Ave — Midland Park — William Lynch, Arlin The Rev. Charles N. Pastor Holding services at Sundays 8 and 10 a.m. Eucharist • (July — August at 9:00 a.m. only) Introduce Your Holy Grounds • 96 and W. Education at 10:00 Ave. • Allendale Allendale a.m. Nursery Sunday: 10am • 845-425-4073 www.dioceseofnewark.org/goodshepherd-midlandpark House Of Worship In Our THE CHURCH THE GOOD Church RELIGIOUS DIRECTORY Powerhouse OF for Christian SHEPHERD The Episcopal Parish Midland Park and Wyckoff CALL 201-652-0744 YOUR NEIGHBORHOOM NEWSPAPER 500 Godwin Main Street, Suite 2, Wyckoff, NJ 07481 West 497 500 West Main — Street, Suite 2, Wyckoff, NJ 07481 phone: 201-825-3533 Ave e-mail Midland Park — 201-444-6168 phone: 201-540-1993 • • e-mail: info@powerhousechristianchurch.org info@powerhousechristianchurch.org The Charles N. Arlin Sunday Worship Rev. Service - 9:00am & 10:45am 10:30 a.m. Sundays Sunday 10 a.m. Eucharist Service — ~ August at 9:00 a.m. only) 8 and Worship • (July Nursery & Children’s & Church Education service (Infants - 5th grade) Nursery and during Church at during service Nursery Children’s 10:00 a.m. Pastor Boucher • • Assoc. Pastor Greg Valdala • • Lay Pastor Rick VerHage Boucher Assoc. Pastor Greg Vadala Lay Pastor Sr. Sr. Pastor Jeff Jeff www.dioceseofnewark.org/goodshepherd-midlandpark Rick VerHage Page 22 THE VILLADOM TIMES I, II, III & IV • December 24, 2008 Holiday season brings out family problems by Dennis Seuling Everyone has a holiday movie favorite, and there is cer- tainly no dearth of holiday-themed movies. Some are broad comedies, others are based on classic stories, and some are showcases for stars. Few, however, feature ensemble acting of the caliber exhibited in “Nothing Like the Holidays,” directed by Alfredo De Villa. It’s Christmas time, and the grown Rodriguez children -- Mauricio (John Leguizamo), Roxanna (Vanessa Ferlito), and Jesse (Freddy Rodriguez) -- have come back to their parents’ home in the Humboldt Park section of Chicago to celebrate with their parents, Edy and Anna (Alfred Molina, Elizabeth Pena). Jesse has just completed a tour of duty in Iraq, where he was wounded, and Mauricio is accompanied by his wife, Sarah (Debra Messing), a high-powered New York executive. Almost from the moment the Puerto Rican-American family reunites, however, conflict rears its head as Anna announces she is going to divorce Edy. In assorted side stories, we learn why Jesse is quiet and introspective in a family that prides itself on outshouting each other, why Anna is suspicious of Sarah, how Roxanna is faring in her acting career in California, and how all have ties to the old neighborhood that are hard to shake. “Nothing Like the Holidays” has the misfortune of being released against higher-profile pictures with bigger stars and larger budgets. But it should not be overlooked, since it is that rare movie that focuses on average people in inter- esting ways, illustrating that drama exists in all families. Director De Villa has succeeded wonderfully in making his cast a well-oiled ensemble, with a particularly memorable dinner scene. As the Rodriguez family sits down to dinner, everyone is speaking at the same time. When Sarah -- the only “out- sider” -- asks Mauricio why everyone is fighting, he smiles and explains that they are not fighting. It’s conversation. In the real world, multiple conversations at the dining table happen all the time. But on film, it’s difficult to coordinate all the cross-conversations and make them look spontane- ous. The scene is completely believable, and rather than going for gags, lets the humor emerge naturally, whether through good-natured r ibbing, the joy of having the family together, or old-fashioned holiday cheer. Freddy Rodriguez, who played an undertaker in the HBO series “Six Feet Under,” is particularly good as Jesse, a man haunted by tragedy in Iraq, resentful of his own missed opportunities at home, and uneasy at his father’s hope that he will take over the running of his local grocery store. Many of his scenes are played with reactions rather than pages of dialogue. Jesse holds a lot inside and it takes a lot for him to release pent-up emotions. Rodriguez makes the audience care about Jesse, wonder about why home feels so foreign to him, and long to know more about his history. He is an excellent actor, and it is great to see him in a large, pivotal role. Messing, fairly quiet in the earlier scenes, when the Rodriguez family first reunites, plays Sarah as an observer. She is not a blood relative and seems uncomfortable at a party she feels she has crashed. The tension between Sarah and Anna further isolates her, with husband Mauricio her only consolation. Later in the film, however, Sarah becomes a trusted keeper of a Big Secret and a true family member as she gets involved with her in-laws and relaxes. Molina, as the family patriarch, is also first-rate and natural. His Edy loves sitting at the head of the table, his children surrounding him, enjoying the holiday. Pena’s Anna, too, registers true as an independent, strong-willed woman, unafraid to speak her mind, who -- after 36 years of marriage -- decided she wants a divorce. Melonie Diaz plays Marissa, the one-time girlfriend of Jesse, who left her abruptly to enlist in the army. Marissa has moved on, never understanding Jesse’s abandonment of her. Yet despite the passage of years she still cares for him. When she confronts Jesse, he reveals information he does not even share with his family. The beauty of the film is that, though humorous, it never deteriorates into a sitcom. The family members are flawed, but never caricatures. All are solidly crafted characters, and it is easy to identify with many of the feelings they express. The Best Got Better! Anthony Francos Ristorante & Pizzeria State Line Debra Messing, John Leguizamo, Elizabeth Pena, and Freddy Rodriguez in ‘Nothing Like the Holidays.’ from Across vie the Mo r Theate Diner - Restaurant 375 State Highway 17 North, Mahwah 201-529-3353 Open 24 Hours, 7 Days Join Us For Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner Now Serving Cocktails, Espresso & Cappuccino 1 2 $ 00 $ 00 Off Off On $10.00 and over. With this coupon only. One Coupon per table. 5:00 to 9:00 pm only. VT On $20.00 and over. With this coupon only. One Coupon per table. 5:00 to 9:00 pm only. VT Pizza • Pasta Chicken • Veal Seafood Salads• Appetizers Hot & Cold Sandwiches FREE DELIVERY TO ALL LOCAL AREAS 128 E. Main St. • Ramsey • 201-236-8000 (Ample on-site parking) • Open 7 Days • Major Credit Cards Accepted Full Menu at afpizza.com There is a great scene that takes place late at night in the Rodriguez’s attic. Mauricio, Roxanna, and Jesse all gather to get away from various troubles and rekindle the com- fortable give and take of siblings, almost as if they have never been separated. Here, away from Mom and Pop, they can let pretense down and confide in one another, knowing what they say will be kept among them. Rated PG-13, “Nothing Like the Holidays” is a true family film in that it shows how, when faced with crisis, family members will put aside their resentments, squabbles, and personal issues and pull together to work things out. KIRKERS INN OPEN CHRISTMAS EVE Closed Christmas Day OPEN NEW YEAR’S EVE OPEN NEW YEAR’S DAY at 3 pm Special Holiday Menu & Regular Menu Available Reservations Suggested 237 Diamond Bridge Ave, Hawthorne 973-427-7700 www.kirkers.com • All Major Credit Cards Open Mon. - Sat 11:30 - 11:30• Closed Sunday December 24, 2008 THE VILLADOM TIMES I, II, III & IV • Page 23 Looking back at the Cold War from the home front by Dennis Seuling If you are of a certain age, you will recall duck-and- cover drills when your teachers told you to slide under your desk, face away from the windows, and cover your head. These exercises were practice, just in case the Soviet Union decided to drop an atomic bomb or two while you were learning your multiplication tables. This was the 1950s, a time of nationwide A-bomb paranoia. “The Atomic Cafe” (Docurama, 1982) is a wonderfully nostalgic, often hilarious documentary about those days when the government produced instructional films about EST. 1970 PIZZA • PASTA • HEROES We wish everyone a Merry Christmas & a Happy New Year how to survive a nuclear attack, with announcers in stento- rian tones assuring Americans that anyone could withstand a nuclear attack if simple rules were followed. Director Kevin Rafferty assembled vintage clips, music from mili- tary training films, campy advertisements, presidential speeches, and pop songs that revolve around the apprehen- sion surrounding the relatively new atomic bomb. What makes the movie a hoot today is the propaganda and lopsided optimism of the Fabulous Fifties. The editing creates much of the film’s irony, such as footage of a totally leveled Hiroshima braided into suburban duck-and-cover routines with actors who look like June and Ward Cleaver’s next-door neighbors. However, the film also illustrates how pervasive America’s obsession with the bomb was and how advertisers latched onto the word “atomic” the way they later embraced “new and improved.” “The Atomic Cafe” has more than its share of jaw-drop- ping moments. Average folks compare a nuclear holocaust to a tornado that rages for a few seconds and then quickly calms down. A California man proudly states that after most of his neighbors die in an attack by the Soviets, extra food will be available for prepared families like his. A happy, middle-class American family heads for their bomb shelter, equipped with a periscope. Two school girls display 12 Mason jars filled with bomb shelter provisions they (continued on Crossword page) LEGENDS STEAKHOUSE Serving Fresh Seafood, Steaks, Ribs, Chicken, Duck & Pasta Kids Eat FREE 10 Years & Under. Mon-Wed. Dinner Choice of Chicken Fingers, Mozzarella Sticks or Hot Dog (all served with fries) or Pasta with Marinara or Vodka Sauce Catering for all occassions! Corporate Accounts Welcome We Deliver! 97 GODWIN AVE. • MIDLAND PARK, NJ (Midland Park Shopping Center) Phone: 201-444-4944 • Fax: 201-444-8855 Open 7 days from 11am Order online at: www.brotherspizzeria.com Sunset Special $12.00 4:30-6PM, Mon-Thurs – includes soup or salad, choice of entrée w/ accompaniment, coffee or tea Book Your Holiday Party Now! Facilities for up to 70 BUSINESS LUNCH $12.00 12:00 - 2:30 PM includes soup, choice of entrée, coffee, tea or soda OPEN 7 DAYS for LUNCH, DINNER & COCKTAILS CATERING for all occasions, up to 70 118 GODWIN AVE, MIDLAND PARK 201-445-2881 Page 24 THE VILLADOM TIMES I, II, III & IV • December 24, 2008 Latest DVD releases (continued from Restaurant page) made in their home economics class. The sense one gets is that nuclear war was sold to the American people as a bear- able inconvenience, not unlike a two-hour power outage. The icing on the cake in this two-disc collector’s edition is eight complete government propaganda films, including “Self Preservation in an Atomic Attack” (1950), “Duck and Cover” (1951), and “Our Cities Must Fight” (1951). These black-and-white movies are both funny and creepy in that they were shown all over America and peddled distorted ideas about the potency not only of the bomb, but also of the devastating effects of radiation poisoning. “Death Race” (Universal) stars Jason Statham, Joan Allen, Ian McShane, and Tyrese Gibson. In a place called Terminal Island, in the not-too-distant future, the world’s hunger for extreme sports and competitions has grown into reality TV bloodlust. The most extreme racing competition has emerged and its contestants are murderous prisoners. Speedway champ Jensen Ames (Statham), an ex-con framed for the murder of his wife, is forced to put on the mask of the mythical driver Frankenstein, a Death Race crowd favorite who seems impossible to kill. Ames is given an easy choice by Terminal Island’s ruthless Warden Hen- nessey (Allen): suit up and drive or never see his little girl again. To claim the prize, Ames must survive contests against the most vicious criminals, including Machine Gun Joe (Gibson). Trained by his coach (McShane), to drive a Mustang V8 Fastback equipped with two mounted mini- guns, flamethrowers, and napalm, Ames must destroy everything in his path to win. The action that takes center stage here, with amaz- ing stunts combined with computer generated images to produce one thrill after another. The film is a remake of “Death Race 2000” (1975), which starred David Carradine and did not have the benefit of today’s technology. The unrated edition (which also contains the theatrical version) has two features that race car lovers will enjoy: “Start Your Engines: Making a Death Race” and “Behind the Wheel: Dissecting the Stunts.” There is also commen- tary with director Paul W.S. Anderson. “Hamlet 2” (Universal) stars Steve Coogan as Dana Marschz, a failed actor turned high school drama teacher. Low on the talent scale, Dana still has ambitions and har- bors passions, but only at work. At Tucson’s West Mesa High School, Dana regards himself as an inspirational teacher, but his adaptations of popular films performed by his top students, Rand and Epiphany (Skylar Astin, Phoebe Strole), are not clicking. When his latest effort, recreating “Erin Brockovich,” is panned by the ninth grade drama critic and his department is targeted for elimination, Dana conceives a sequel to Shakespeare’s “Hamlet,” a Busby Berkeley-style musical theater extravaganza that will embrace neither political correctness nor dramatic cred- ibility. “Hamlet 2” is amusing, but it is not easy to warm up to Coogan, who plays Dana as a loser deluding himself that he can spark students with lame notions of innovation. As the film progresses, however, the viewer becomes involved in the outrageousness of plot turns and Dana’s dedication to his art, however strange it may be. The best thing about the film is Amy Poehler as ACLU attorney Cricket Feldstein. Extras include deleted scenes and a sing along. “Savage Grace” (Genus Entertainment, available Dec. 23) is the true story of Barbara Daly (Julianne Moore), a would-be actress, artist, and social climber who, in postwar New York, married wealthy Brooks Baekeland, heir to the Bakelite fortune. Her drinking, public scenes, and adulter- ous flings made the marriage a living nightmare. She was a smothering mother to her gay son, Tony, and the family lived a dysfunctional love triangle that ended in violence and bloodshed. This is Moore’s film all the way. She conveys a sense of inferiority percolating within, since Barbara married well above her social station. She needs constant reassur- ance that she is loved, and craves social acceptance like a drug. Moore makes a rather unpleasant character interest- ing. It may be the voyeur effect: The audience is peeking into a privileged world, seeing all its frayed corners and cracks in close-up. Stephen Dillane portrays Brooks and Eddie Redmayne is young Tony. Special features include a making-of featurette and a mini-documentary on the story that inspired the movie. ARIES - Mar 21/Apr ARIES - Mar 21/Apr 20 20 Feeling caught between rock Feeling caught between a a rock and and a a hard place, Aries? may your inde- hard place, Aries? It It may be be your inde- cisiveness causing trouble. cisiveness that that is is causing the the trouble. Make your mind particular Make up up your mind on on a a particular issue stick with issue and and stick with it. it. TAURUS - Apr 21/May TAURUS - Apr 21/May 21 21 likes being bearer No No one one likes being the the bearer of of bad bad news, week falls news, and and this this week the the task task falls into into your hands, Taurus. gentle your hands, Taurus. Be Be gentle and and use use your words carefully. recipient your words carefully. The The recipient easier way. will will take take it it easier that that way. GEMINI - May 22/Jun GEMINI - May 22/Jun 21 21 have problem needs ﬁxing, You You have a a problem that that needs ﬁxing, don’t know where turn. How but but don’t know where to to turn. How about special friend whom about that that special friend whom you you often look advice? This person often look to to for for advice? This person won’t mind helping won’t mind helping out. out. CANCER - 22/Jul CANCER - Jun Jun 22/Jul 22 22 You’re right being suspicious You’re right in in being suspicious of of your mate. hasn’t been your mate. He He or or she she hasn’t been tell- tell- truth may engaging ing ing the the truth and and may be be engaging in in activities behind your back. Now’s activities behind your back. Now’s the the time confrontational. time to to be be confrontational. LEO - 23/Aug LEO - Jul Jul 23/Aug 23 23 haven’t been feeling yourself, You You haven’t been feeling like like yourself, Leo. Better head doctor Leo. Better head to to the the doctor and and get get check-up. You’ll back your a a check-up. You’ll be be back to to your old old ways time. now, enjoy ways in in no no time. For For now, enjoy the the quiet time. rest rest and and quiet time. VIRGO - Aug 24/Sept VIRGO - Aug 24/Sept 22 22 your love lacking, Virgo? Is Is your love life life lacking, Virgo? It It could because looking could be be because you you are are looking in in wrong places your perfect all all the the wrong places for for your perfect match. you’re involved already, match. If If you’re involved already, spice things with variety. spice things up up with variety. LIBRA - Sept 23/Oct LIBRA - Sept 23/Oct 23 23 You’ve determined pretty You’ve determined that that a a pretty face face isn’t always match, Libra. isn’t always the the best best match, Libra. Best look stability good Best to to look for for stability and and a a good heart. This partner heart. This partner will will last last for for the the long-term behave. long-term if if you you behave. SCORPIO - 24/Nov SCORPIO - Oct Oct 24/Nov 22 22 have your mind, Scorpio, You You have a a lot lot on on your mind, Scorpio, you’re others but but you’re not not one one to to let let others in in on on your feelings unless they close your feelings unless they are are close friends. may want speak friends. You You may want to to speak up up earlier. earlier. SAGITTARIUS - Nov 23/Dec SAGITTARIUS - Nov 23/Dec 21 21 may time your relationship It It may be be time to to take take your relationship next level. singles could to to the the next level. For For singles this this could mean marriage. couples, expand- mean marriage. For For couples, expand- family a deﬁnite option. ing ing the the family is is a deﬁnite option. Answer Week’s Puzzle Answer to to Last Last Week’s Puzzle CAPRICORN - 22/Jan CAPRICORN - Dec Dec 22/Jan 20 20 Responsibilities home have Responsibilities at at home have you you feeling bogged down. Don’t feeling bogged down. Don’t fall fall in in to to pattern hum drum. Find the the pattern of of the the hum drum. Find a a head some excitement. way way to to head out out for for some excitement. You’ll refreshed afterward. You’ll feel feel refreshed afterward. AQUARIUS - 21/Feb AQUARIUS - Jan Jan 21/Feb 18 18 Penny pinching only good certain Penny pinching is is only good in in certain situations. Learn loosen situations. Learn to to loosen up up on on the the checkbook means better quality checkbook if if it it means a a better quality Don’t worry, you’re likely of of life. life. Don’t worry, you’re not not likely overboard. to to go go overboard. PISCES - 19/Mar PISCES - Feb Feb 19/Mar 20 20 impending nervous, An An impending trip trip has has you you nervous, Pisces. You’re prepared situa- Pisces. You’re prepared for for any any situa- tion, focus you’ll have tion, so so focus on on the the fun fun you’ll have instead. Take Scorpio along. instead. Take Scorpio along. �� 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 Hairdresser - Allendale area. Busy salon in shop- ping center. 201-747-1496 SITUATION WANTED Will provide care for your home and parents. Friendly, responsive and reliable woman is looking for a job in one family for long term. Preferably living in. 845-694-8777 Seek work to be compan- ion aide. Own Trans./Good Refs. Call 201-204-8238 PLEASE REMEMBER US WHEN YOU REMEMBER THEM. EMANUEL CANCER FOUNDATION For The Children and Their Families Providing emotional and spiritual support, professional counseling and ﬁnancial and material assistance to New Jersey children with cancer and their families. Your donations are tax deductible PO Box 212 - Dept. H Midland Park, NJ 07432 or drop by our ofﬁce 174 Paterson Avenue Midland Park, NJ 07432 201-612-8118 CARPET CLEANING DRAPERIES �� Serving Bergen 25 years, State-of-art Equipment Upholstery cleaning too! �� 201-934-1805 CERAMIC TILE �� DRIVER SERVICE ARE YOU LOSING THE BOUT WITH YOUR GROUT? Total Regrout Recaulking Grout Cleaning Small Tile Repairs Free Estimates HANDYMAN Bill’s Handyman Service Wall board repair. Paint- ing interior/exterior. Deck repair/maintenance. No job too small. 201-447-6962 GIO’S HANDYMAN Repair/Maintenance, Painting int./ext. No Job Too Small 201-264-2124 Your car-We’ll Drive Inc. 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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 you 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 eter- nal glory. Thank you for your mercy toward me and mine. The person must say this prayer 3 consecutive days. After 3 days, the request will be granted. This prayer must be published after the favor is granted. Immaculate Heart of Mary, Thank you for answering my prayers.MKD Prayer to St. Clare Ask St. Clare for 3 favors, 1 business, 2 impossible. Say 9 Hail Marys for 9 days with lighted candles. Pray whether you believe or not. Publish the 9th day. “May the Sacred Heart of Jesus be praised, adored & glori- ﬁed today & every day.” Request will be granted no matter how impossible it seems. Publication must be promised. Thank you for answering my prayers. pm RELIGIOUS RELIGIOUS RELIGIOUS Prayer to St. Jude Prayer to the Blessed Virgin Prayer to the Blessed Virgin 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. MS 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. av CLASSIFIED Up to 3 lines .............................. $12.00 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 you 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 eter- nal glory. Thank you for your mercy toward me and mine. The person must say this prayer 3 consecutive days. After 3 days, the request will be granted. This prayer must be published after the favor is granted. Immaculate Heart of Mary, Thank you for answering my prayers.JD Prayer to St. Clare Ask St. Clare for 3 favors, 1 business, 2 impossible. Say 9 Hail Marys for 9 days with lighted candles. Pray whether you believe or not. Publish the 9th day. “May the Sacred Heart of Jesus be praised, adored & glori- ﬁed today & every day.” Request will be granted no matter how impossible it seems. Publication must be promised. Thank you for answering my prayers. jw 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. Publi- cation must be promised. Thank you St. Jude. RU (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 you 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 eter- nal glory. Thank you for your mercy toward me and mine. The person must say this prayer 3 consecutive days. After 3 days, the request will be granted. This prayer must be published after the favor is granted. Immaculate Heart of Mary, Thank you for answering my prayers. ks Prayer to St. Jude Most holy apostle, St. Jude, faithful servant and friend of Jesus, the Church honors and invokes you universally, as the patron of hopeless cases, of things almost despaired of. Pray for me, I am so helpless and alone. Make us I implore you, to bring visible and speedy help where help is almost despaired of. Come to my assistance in this great need that I may receive the consolation and help of heaven in all my neces- sities, tribulations, and suf- ferings, particularly-(Here make your request) and that I may praise God with you and all the elect forever. I promise, O blessed St. Jude, to be ever mindful of this great favor to always honor you as my special and powerful patron, and to gratefully encourage devo- tion to you. Amen. Thank you St. Jude. mkr 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. Publi- cation must be promised. Thank you St. Jude. sr APARTMENT FOR RENT 5BD 4BA ONLY $399/MO! (5%dn, 20yrs @ 8.5%apr) 1-5 Bedrooms Avail. Fore- closures! For Listing 800- 796-6049 ext. 1221 ARTICLES MATTRESS/BED Brand name, never used, in plas- tic. Valid manufacturer war- ranty. Moving ASAP. Cost $495. Sell $169. Please call 412-494-7351 or 412-494- 3143 BEDROOM 8-PIECE $975 NEW BOXED, ALL WOOD SLEIGH/MISSION WITH 10-YEAR WARRANTY. MATTRESS SET. HAND- CRAFTED, DOVETAILED FURNITURE 412-494- 7351. Will Deliver. BUILDINGMATERIALS HAS YOUR BUILDING SHIFTED? 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Wall Straightening and Rebuilds Crawl Space Excavation footers and ﬂoors. Large Local Company. Insured & BBB Member. Winter Rates and Sicounts still available 1-800-343-2357 www.abetterchoiceinc.com December 24, 2008 THE VILLADOM TIMES Mahwah Minutes December closings announced The Mahwah Public Library will be closed Dec. 24 and 25 for the Christmas holiday, and Dec. 31 and Jan. 1 for the New Year’s holiday. The Mahwah Public Library is located at 100 Ridge Road. Call (201) 529-READ. Christmas schedule announced All are invited to celebrate Advent and Christmas at Ramapo Reformed Church in Mahwah. In addition to regu- lar services on Sundays at 10:30 a.m., there are special wor- ship services and planned. On Christmas Eve, candlelight services will be offered at 7 p.m. and 11 p.m. The choir will sing a Christmas Cantata at the 7 p.m. service, and the 11 p.m. service will feature traditional lessons and carols. Sunday school (for age three through grade six) and a nursery are provided during worship each Sunday. Call (201) 529-3075 for more information. The Ramapo Reformed Church is located at 100 Island Road in Mahwah. PBA aids Toys for Tots The Mahwah Policemen’s Benevolent Association, Local 143 will be collecting toys for the Marine Corps Toys for Tots Campaign through Tuesday, Dec 23. The Toys for Tots Campaign is held in tribute of retired Det. Lt. Michael Marozin, who passed away in 2005. Marozin served in the Marine Corps during Vietnam before joining the Mahwah Police Department and Mahwah PBA Local 143 in 1972. The Toys for Tots program was created by the United States Marine Corps to collect and distribute toys to needy children. The goal is to deliver a new toy at Christmas along with a message of hope to needy youngsters. The Mahwah PBA has collection boxes in the follow- ing locations: the Mahwah Police Station, the A&P Super- market, CVS on Franklin Turnpike, Ramapo College, the Ramapo Ridge Middle School, and Mahwah High School. Preschool openings available Openings are available in a free public preschool pro- gram for Mahwah residents who meet Title I income eli- gibility requirements. Children must have turned three years old on or before Oct. 1, 2008 and must be fully toilet trained. Experienced, certified teachers plan nurturing early childhood experiences focusing on kindergarten readiness (pre-reading skills, math, and science concepts), social interaction, movement activities, and play skills. Seasonal field trips are scheduled and students participate in school- wide events and assemblies. The program is based at Lenape Meadows School with classes held five half-days a week, Monday through Friday (following the regular school calendar). The program has both morning from 9 to 11:30 a.m. and afternoon from 12:50 to 3:20 p.m. sessions, with placement determined by availability. Transportation is provided door-to-door. Registration forms are available at every Mahwah public school or on the Mahwah Schools website: http://www. mahwah.k12.nj.us. For further information, call Lenape Meadows School at (201) 762-2261. Bridge program for teens offered Area teenagers are invited to join a free Teen Bridge Group on Wednesday afternoons beginning Jan. 28 at the Mahwah Library. The series is free and sponsored by the North Jersey Bridge Association, an affiliate of the American Contract Bridge League. Eight weeks of lessons and games will be offered to students in grades five through 12. Lessons will be held from 3:15 to 4:45 p.m. Jan. 28 through March 18. Beginning Jan. 5, interested students can sign up with the Mahwah Young Adult Librarian, (201) 549-7323, exten- sion 5, or by e-mail at jukniewicz@bccls.org. Lessons will be taught by Susan Koster, an ACBL-accredited teacher. To learn more about the school bridge programs, contact Koster at (201) 529-8083. The library is located at 100 Ridge Road in Mahwah. Writers’ collective accepts new members The Mahwah Library Writers’ Collective meets on Tuesdays at 6:30 p.m. at the Mahwah Public Library. The group’s goal is to support adult writers at all levels. The col- lective will allow writers to share their stories and receive constructive feedback. Writers working in fiction and cre- ative non-fiction are welcome and need not to be published to join. Members are encouraged to attend regularly and come prepared with copies of their work to share. Mahwah res- idency is not required, and there is no fee. The group is accepting new members this fall. Call Cindy Herrmann at (201) 529-2938 for information. The Mahwah library is located at 100 Ridge Road in Mahwah. Young filmmakers sought The Mahwah Public Library invites high school and college students interested in film and video production to enter the Mahwah Student Film & Video Festival set for April 15 and 16, 2009 from 5:30 to 8 p.m. The festival will offer students the opportunity to share their films and creative abilities and viewpoints with the public. Works by students in high school and college, up to age 24, will be featured. Entrants are invited to submit original short films, 20 minutes or less in running time, by March 13, 2009. There is no fee to submit work, but students may only submit one project for consideration. The range and style of films may include, but are not limited to, animation, comedy or parody, commercials, documentary, short feature, experi- mental, music video, personal narratives, and public ser- vice announcements. The students whose films are selected for the festival will be invited to attend, introduce, and talk about their work. Students can pick up their submission guidelines and entry form from the young adult librarian. Phone (201) 529- READ for details. OEM prepares list of residents The Township of Mahwah’s Office of Emergency Man- agement is preparing a town wide list of residents with special needs. The list, to be kept strictly confidential, will only be used by emergency management personnel in the event of an emergency, such as a fire, flood, serious storm, or power failure in the township, in order to provide assis- tance to those with special needs. Special needs individuals include those who are con- fined to a wheel chair, who use oxygen on a regular and continuing basis, are in need of dialysis treatments, have mental or physical handicaps, have hearing or sight impair- ments, are elderly or live alone, or are senior citizens in need of help in an emergency. Those residents with the special needs described or their care givers, should call the Mahwah Office of Emer- gency Management at (201) 831-2075 or e-mail a request to IV • Page 27 rroe@mahwahtwp.org to obtain a special needs registra- tion form. The forms can also be obtained at the township recep- tionist desk in the lobby of the township’s municipal build- ing at 475 Corporate Drive, the Senior Citizen Center, which is also located at the township’s municipal building, and the library, located on Ridge Road. Reminder: Our next deadline will be Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2009 at noon. Borst (continued from page 6) Landscape & Design has been involved in organic lawn care for more than a decade and is a member of the Pes- ticide Environmental Stewardship Program, a voluntary group run by the EPA. In 2007, Borst introduced Borst Organic®, the company’s private label for organic prod- ucts that treat lawn, trees and shrubs ‘’with the science of nature…naturally.” “The problem is that the chemical used to enhance a lawn’s color, nitrogen, actually stresses the grass. It’s almost like putting your lawn on steroids. In an organic lawn care program, we focus on improving the soil. Healthy soil pro- duces healthy, vibrant grass plants,” said Cioffi. Using a holistic approach, known in the field as integrated pest management, Borst has made a name for itself as the pre- mier landscaping firm in northern New Jersey focused on “green” practices. Through site assessment, periodic moni- toring, and preventative applications, Borst is able to lower incidents of pest and pathogen problems and significantly reduce its use of pesticide products. Cioffi also reviewed the importance of using porous hardscape surfaces that allow rainwater to filter down through the soil – a natural means of purification – rather than becoming runoff that brings harmful chemicals into the water system. “Just like everything else in life, environmentally-safe landscaping is all about stress management,” said Cioffi. “Healthy soil is the key, and the organic approach relieves the stress on the soil and allows it to return to its natural state.” At the end of the presentation, Cioffi received a certifi- cate of appreciation from Rotary Club President/Paramus Borough Administrator Anthony Iacono. Borst Landscape & Design is located at 260 West Cres- cent Avenue, Suite 1, in Allendale. Phone (201) 785-9400 for details. Page 28 THE VILLADOM TIMES I, II, III & IV • December 24, 2008