Community Corner
Week in Review: BOE Election Results, Budget Vote Still Undecided and More
A weekly roundup of some of the top local stories this week on Fort Lee Patch
When unofficial results were in Wednesday night, the $55.1 million 2011-2012 Fort Lee school budget had won voter approval by the narrowest of margins: 1,105 in favor and 1,102 against. But it could be another 10 days before the county makes the results official, and an estimated 20 to 25 provisional ballots could be the deciding factor.
"It's very close," said Fort Lee Superintendent of Schools Raymond Bandlow. "And I'm certainly hopeful that the results will stand once the provisional ballots are counted and the count is official. At this point, the yes votes are ahead. We'd rather have it that way than the other way." (read full article)
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In the race for three seats on the Fort Lee Board of Education, one incumbent failed to win re-election. Incumbent Peter Suh finished first with 1,147 votes, followed by newcomer Helen Yoon with 1,083 and incumbent Joseph Surace with 1,019. Michelle Stux-Ramirez, with 937 votes, was the only incumbent who was not re-elected. Stux-Ramirez was followed by Tracy Mattei, with 933 votes, and Paul Umrichin, with 688 votes.
“I know it was a tough race, but I’m really glad about the results,” Yoon said. “And I just hope that I can make a real difference for the kids in the community of Fort Lee.”
Find out what's happening in Fort Leewith free, real-time updates from Patch.
Suh also called the election a "tough" one, adding that "we had some really good candidates and a lot of good comments coming out of it." (read full article)
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The Fort Lee Police Department concluded its internal investigation this week into a March 26 incident in which five minors were left locked in a police transport van outside police headquarters in freezing temperatures for more than 14 hours after a house party bust, said Fort Lee Mayor Mark Sokolich Friday. But the results of the investigation, punishments for the officers involved, additional potential action the police department may take and other information will not be released until a hearing and appeals process has been completed. (read full article)
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The New York Field Division of the DEA and the Passaic County Prosecutor’s Office announced Friday the arrests of 10 members of an alleged narcotics trafficking ring at a heroin-packaging mill in Fort Lee.
The 10 face multiple drug charges and are suspected of being part of a narcotics trafficking organization that distributes large quantities of heroin in the New York metropolitan area and New Jersey, authorities say. (read full article)
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The Christie Administration announced Thursday the award of nearly $16 million in grants to municipalities and counties to keep the state clean through community litter cleanup efforts, including $50,340.64 to the Borough of Fort Lee.
Fort Lee’s “Clean Communities” grant award was among the largest in Bergen County, with only Teaneck ($53,609) and Hackensack ($59,073) receiving more from the state. (read full article)
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The Fort Lee School District announced Tuesday its five 2011 Governor’s Teacher Recognition Program award recipients: Sixth Grade teacher Bryan Murray of School No. 1, Fifth Grade teacher Michele Weisberg of School No. 2, Sixth Grade teacher Brad Deitsch of School No. 3, Fourth Grade teacher Sandy Kim of School No. 4 and World Language-Spanish teacher Jahaira Francisco of Lewis F. Cole Middle School. (read full article)
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In Fort Lee Patch’s Game of the Week, freshman pitcher Amanda Maldonado pitched a two-hit shutout and the offense exploded once again as the Fort Lee softball team trounced Westwood 14-0 Monday. (read full article)
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In other sports news, the Fort Lee boys tennis team putting their undefeated record on the line against Dwight Morrow Wednesday. Sports editor Mike Radomski later reported that they won that match as well. (read full article)
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And 14-year-old Nasuka Mizuma was named Fort Lee Patch’s Whiz Kid of the Week. The eighth grader takes four honor roll classes, plays three sports and hopes to be playing two musical instruments by the end of the year. (read full article)
The week in review appears every Sunday on Fort Lee Patch.
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