Police Officers Disciplined, Fort Lee Students Graduate in Top Local News

Fort Lee officials said this week that at least eight police officers have been disciplined for their actions on the night of March 26, when five minors were left locked in a police transport van outside police headquarters in freezing temperatures, without food, water or bathroom facilities for more than 14 hours after a house party bust.

Borough officials released few details, citing attorney general guidelines, and an attorney for one of the teens says a lawsuit could still be filed. (full story)

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Originally scheduled to take place at the Dr. Alan W. Sugarman Sports Complex, the Fort Lee High School graduation ceremony was forced inside Friday by rain and threatening skies and held at the instead.

About 240 members of the Fort Lee High School Class of 2011 received their diplomas. (full story)

And the large auditorium at the ommunity centerwas also nearly full Thursday, as proud family and friends came to see 264 Lewis F. Cole Middle School students graduate. (full story)

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Police charged a Fort Lee man Friday with “False Public Alarms” stemming from a June 6 incident in which the man allegedly posted notes on a telephone pole and the front door of his own residence suggesting someone inside was either injured, suicidal or in need of help.

James Giaconnie, 45, of 490 Jane St. in Fort Lee, turned himself in to Fort Lee police Friday after a warrant was issued for his arrest. (full story)

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Fifth and sixth grade students from Fort Lee Schools No. 1 and No. 3 hosted a town hall meeting Monday evening in the school No. 1 gymnasium, presenting their detailed proposal for Redevelopment Area 5 to Fort Lee Mayor Mark Sokolich and other officials, members of the public, parents, teachers and school administrators.

Their teacher, Elsa Osso, who runs the gifted and talented programs at both schools, said the project played out over the course of two years. (full story)

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The Fort Lee Police Department installed e-ticket readers, software and printers in the first two of six police cars it plans to use in a demonstration project borough and police officials hope will make issuing tickets for traffic violations safer for police officers, faster for both officers and motorists and more efficient for the courts to process and violators to pay. (full story)

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Fort Lee Board of Education president Arthur Levine and vice president Linda McCue sent the Fort Lee Chief of Police an email via Patch Monday, thanking the local police for their response to two incidents last week involving Fort Lee school children and a man who allegedly offered them money and a ride in his car.

“Dear Chief Ripoli,” the email began. “Thank you for always quickly responding to our needs. Our Police Department is an integral part of our efforts to keep our schools safe. Whether it is watching over school 4's daily traffic nightmare, overseeing our crossing guards or seeing that an emergency at the High School is attended to, we know we can always count on you and your outstanding department.

To be frank, there would be no way to ensure the safety of our children and our employees without the dedicated assistance you and your department provide. We—along with our other board members—thank you for keeping our schools safe.

Very truly yours,
Arthur Levine
Linda McCue” (full story)

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Fort Lee’s superintendent of schools accepted an invitation from the Washington, D.C.-based National Science Resources Center (NSRC) to serve as lead faculty for a weeklong science education institute in New Jersey this summer.

Dr. Raymond Bandlow, who has served as superintendent in Fort Lee since 2007, will take a leading role, serving as senior faculty and advisor for the strategic planning institute, which takes place in Monroe, NJ in late July. The Fort Lee Board of Education recently approved Bandlow’s participation in the institute. (full story)

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The Greater Fort Lee Chamber of Commerce’s “Person of the Year” is Albert F. Buzzetti, the chamber announced Wednesday. The GFCLOC made the announcement at its Spring 2011 General Membership Luncheon at Le Jardin Restaurant in Edgewater.

Also at Wednesday’s luncheon, the chamber installed its 2011-2012 Board of Directors and presented its “Beautification Awards." (full story)

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A group of Rotary Club members from Italy, accompanied by Rotarians from Fort Lee and Fair Lawn, biked both ways across the George Washington Bridge Tuesday. Part of the Rotary district 7490 Group Study Exchange program, the group started in Fort Lee, biked across the bridge and down to 23rdSt. in New York City, through Madison Park, around the Armory on 25th St. and Lexington Ave. in Murray Hill, then back across to the west side of the city, jumping on the A Train to the Port Authority on the New York side of the bridge and then biking back across to Fort Lee. (full story)

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Sprites and fairies abounded in Fort Lee's Monument Park Tuesday evening, as the Fort Lee Office of Cultural & Heritage Affairs and the Hudson Shakespeare Company opened the 2011 Fort Lee Shakespeare in the Park series with a spirited version of A Midsummer Night's Dream. (full story)

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In youth sports, it was a close game at the Fort Lee National Little League Field Tuesday evening, and it was fun for all.

Interleague play took place as the winner of the major league championship for the National League, Fort Lee AC, took on the winner of the American League championship, Fairway Market.

Morris Ginsburg’s Fort Lee AC won by a score of 3-2 in the bottom of the seventh inning on a steal of home. It was a fun game for all as the interleague Mayor’s Trophy game allows both sides of town to come together and for the kids to reunite with their friends. (full story)

And on Wednesday evening, Fort Lee American’s minor league team Unico came from behind to beat Post Cards R Us of the National League at the American League field to capture the minor league Mayor’s Trophy. (full story)

The week in review appears every Sunday on Fort Lee Patch.