Around the County: Police Suspended for Leaving Teens in Van, Residents Protest Custodial Cuts and More

Welcome to "Around The County," a weekly column that highlights stories in Bergen County Patch communities. This week, Fort Lee police officers were suspended for leaving teens locked in a police van, residents in Fair Lawn protested cuts to the custodial staff, Teaneck custodians avoided layoffs, former American Idol contestant and Glen Rock student Alex Ryan performed in Ridgewood and more. Check out our list of some of the top stories on Patch sites this week:

• Three Fort Lee police officers have been suspended after an incident Saturday in which , Mayor Mark Sokolich said.
  
  
• The Fair Lawn Board of Education adopted a proposed $83,673,140 school budget Monday night that includes a $73,158,200 tax levy—an increase of 1.75 percent from 2010—and outside of Fair Lawn High School.
  
  
• Custodians working in the Teaneck school system will after new cost savings and revenue sources were identified in an updated school budget approved unanimously by the Board of Education Tuesday night. The updated 2011-12 school budget also comes after the Board reached a temporary agreement for concessions from the custodians' union, district Business Administrator Robert Finger said.
  
  
• Paramus Schools Superintendent James Montesano is . The Nyack School Board appointed Montesano Tuesday evening in the Nyack Middle School gymnasium to a crowd over over 200 parents, students and faculty.
  
  
• Neighbors and good friends Donna Gasser and Maria Alvarez of Hasbrouck Heights were in search of a way to help others while also having fun in the process. They have both been involved with some existing groups in town but then one day it occurred to them that they can start their own non-profit organization with their own vision. .
  
  
• Former American Idol contestant and Glen Rock High School senior last week at Ben & Jerry's in Ridgewood.
  
  
• Pen pal communication entered a new realm in two New Milford second grade classes when .
  
  
• On April 27, Fort Lee voters will go to the polls to elect three Board of Education members out of a field of six candidates. At the BOE meeting Monday, —Peter Suh, Michelle Stux-Ramirez and Joseph Surace—by attending and speaking at a campaign kickoff and fundraising event organized by Suh earlier this month.
  
  
• The , was held in Franklin Lakes. The idea for a pets fashion show came from then 16-year-old Sierra Grzybowski who loved dressing up her own Yorkie as a young child and who along with her mother Patricia had a passion for rescue animals.
  
  
• The Ridgewood Board of Education , which the district said was because of a miscommunication with light contractor Musko.
  
  
• following a a 6-1 vote by the Wyckoff Board of Education Monday night to approve his contract.