Monday, May 13, 2013
Only a child can take a woman and turn her into a mother.
Our children are the tuning forks of our lives--that perfect pitch of reason housed in a world of superlatives where what is good is awesome fantastic amazing and great; what is bad is pitch black dark and awful. They shake us from our monotonous trance and force us to bridge for them that divide between all that they see as great and awful; bridge for them that divide between who we were before they came into our lives and who we are meant to become as a result of their indelible touch. My ten-year old son Jack came into this world a year behind his sister who was diagnosed with autism days after his arrival. From infancy, his world was invaded by a house filled with rotating therapists--speech, physical, occupational, behavioral--seven …
Sunday, April 7, 2013
County executive's former campaign manager offers free public relations help to Bergen Community College.
- GOVERNMENT
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Sunday, April 7
The decision by Alan Marcus and The Marcus Group to withdraw their $90,000 contract with Bergen Community College was the appropriate course of action given the County Executive’s past practice of weeding out unnecessary and wasteful spending. However the decision by Mr. Marcus to offer “free” consultation services regarding upcoming labor negotiations is equally disturbing. When does a public agency or in this case a county school board take collective bargaining tips from a public relations executive? Doesn’t Bergen Community College have on retainer legal counsel to handle such matters? The withdrawal of this contract does not cause harm to the institution as suggested, but it saves taxpayers $90,000 on something that wasn’t needed or …
Friday, April 5, 2013
SOD will host a public meeting on April 10 for all New Milford and River Dell residents
On Wednesday, April 10, SOD will be holding an open meeting and invites all interested New Milford and Oradell residents to attend. The meeting is scheduled for 7:00 pm at the Senior Center on River Road. At that time we will be recapping the Board of Adjustment Hearings on granting variances to develop the United Water property. The Executive Board will discuss strategies for the final portion of the hearings. The public can now present its case to the Board and then the hearing will be open for comments from the public. Those residents who have been following the developments but have been unable to attend the Board meetings are welcome to come and participate on the 10th. With the end in sight it is imperative that we present a …
Tuesday, March 26, 2013
Paramus' Connie Wagner, state assemblywoman, says the work of the municipal alliance is proven to help local communities tackle issues, such as prescription drug addiction.
- OPINION
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Tuesday, March 26
Every day we seem to hear of another senseless death of a 20-something in our local communities. Many of the communities in my District, the 38th District, have a, “Municipal Alliance,” that is working to combat issues like this as well as many others. The members of the alliance are people who are on the ground providing each other with the pulse of their communities in order to provide positive fun activities with a message. The Municipal Alliance fosters a positive message of self-esteem and fun while informing each other of the dangers drugs pose for our communities, while also suggesting policies through discussion. The Municipal Alliance that I am a part of in Paramus has come up with various solutions to the problems that exist…
Monday, March 18, 2013
Councilman Dominic Colucci responds in favor of Superintendent Michael Polizzi's letter to the Zoning Board of Adjustment
Superintendent Polizzi has editorialized his and the Board of Education’s opinion regarding the United Water property that is adjacent to the New Milford High School. I believe that action needs to be taken on the development of that property. Although, for now, the council members are not “players” in the decision making of what goes there, we are reaching to the center where compromise is key. We are in agreement with his concept of eliminating the housing component and we approve some commercial development on the United Water Property. For two years I, along with Councilman Robalino have thought this to be the best possible plan for New Milford thus being the best plan for our schools. A multi-purpose field is of the upmost necessity …
Friday, February 22, 2013
Taken together these bills are part of a comprehensive approach for firearm safety.
- GOVERNMENT
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Friday, February 22
By Robert V. Tessaro The New Jersey Assembly voted Thursday to approve a wide-ranging package of 22 bills aimed at curbing gun violence. Taken together these bills are part of a comprehensive approach for firearm safety, including mandatory background checks on all private firearm sales, removing firearms from the dangerously mentally ill, banning high capacity magazines that hold more than 10 bullets, establishing weapon-free zones near schools, requiring ammunition to be purchased in person and not anonymously online, and requiring firearm safety training for gun owners. None of these bills will prevent law-abiding citizens from owning a firearm, and the Senate should follow suit and set a date for hearings and a vote as soon as possible…
Tuesday, February 19, 2013
Former Council President and current member of SOD reminds New Milford that the fight against development is for the kids.
- OPINION
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Tuesday, February 19
FOR THE KIDS! The rallying cry "FOR THE KIDS" has motivated New Milford residents to seemingly do the impossible and make it routine. Thirty years ago, when we moved into town, I was so impressed with the sense of community that I felt here in New Milford, it was palpable. You felt it everywhere--a feeling of place, a feeling of being part of something much bigger than just yourself. When my children started to participate in Little League,soft ball, Junior Football, cheerleading, it was bigger than life. Men and woman volunteers, from all backgrounds, all ages, some home grown, others from different times and places, all coming together for the kids. Just take a moment and think about what it takes to organize all the activities, …
Saturday, February 16, 2013
A fire may have destroyed an iconic amusement park and the hopes of this editor every being crowned 'Little Miss America'--but the dream lives on.
Seems April skies are in her eyes, A living doll that talks smiling as she walks. May she stay somehow sweet as she is now. Little Miss America take a bow. -Gladys Shelley I have such fond memories of Palisades Amusement Park—Casper’s Ghostland, the Caterpillar ride, the Fun House, the Archie Hot Rod ride, the French fries with vinegar, the games-of-chance, Cousin Brucie...but there are two moments that stand out most. The first is Bozo the Clown, my hero, bending down as I sat in my stroller, his soft white-gloved hand tickling my chin. I think I nearly lost consciousness when he told me with his trademark zany laugh that he loved my red hair. Come on--name one man today who surrounds himself with children, has a red nose and big feet …
Monday, February 11, 2013
Blue Laws 'handicap' local businesses, writes Teaneck councilman and former mayor
- OPINION
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Monday, February 11
The following op-ed was submitted by Elie Y. Katz, a council member and former Teaneck mayor. Ah yes, the Blue Laws. When I was Mayor of Teaneck, at the request of many Teaneck residents, I briefly touched the third rail of this "taboo" subject by looking into a referendum question for Teaneck voters. It was not the harsh phone call from the Paramus Borough Attorney, nor the legal threats from mall operators outside Bergen County nor the concern from many husbands about their wives getting an extra day of shopping that made the Council withdraw the question. Rather, it was the fact that we were not legally permitted to offer a referendum question on a law which the state controls. It seems a little strange that in a country which …
Thursday, February 7, 2013
Ashley responds to Grant's lawsuit naming him as one of the defendants in her claim seeking to invalidate the appointment of Leibman as Borough Attorney.
- GOVERNMENT
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Thursday, February 7
Editor's note: In response to Councilwoman Hedy Grant's lawsuit naming him as a defendant in her claim petitioning the court to invalidate the appointment of Borough Attorney, Marc Leibman, of the law firm Kaufman, Semeraro, Bern, Deutsch & Leibman, Councilman Austin Ashley has issued the following statement: We are in desperate need of leadership that isn't motivated by political bossism. That is why, this January I voted with the New Milford Republicans to appoint a Borough Attorney that is qualified to represent the borough on all fronts. That has not gone over well with the current Democratic political organization and frankly, I don't care. Each council person is sworn into office on the Holy Bible and swears to uphold the …
Darlene
5:09 pm on Monday, May 13, 2013
This article should be marked "NSFW" as I can't seem to get through it without bawling my eyes out! Beautifully written - both your words and your sons words. more ›