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 …
Tuesday, April 2, 2013
An editor's personal journey through autism.
Editor's Note: In support of Autism Awareness month, I am reprinting this story from last year. This story is not mine to own. It could belong to you. It could belong to your sister, your friend, your neighbor, the waitress at Jersey Boys, the bank president, the school principal, the police officer directing traffic. In New Jersey, the story belongs to all of us. The findings of a federal study show that one in 49 children, and one in 29 boys, are diagnosed with autism in New Jersey. Nationally, one in 88 children are diagnosed annually. Autism is a disease that gives itself freely and without prejudice. There is no way to protect your child from it; no diet or vaccine that will prevent it. It is, as experts will tell you, pervasive. …
Sunday, February 24, 2013
Catch up on all of Fort Lee's leading news stories.
After 67 years, the last of the old guard Main Street merchants will soon be closed for good. Fort Lee Police Officer Brett Howard delivers a baby boy on Main Street. Tae Kwon Do Grandmaster Simon Kim of Tiger Twins Tae Kwon Do Academy, wants to offer a workshop for children to ease their anxiety and raise their self confidence. In the wake of the Newtown massacre, schools coping with upgrading security without going over the 2 percent cap may get relief from pending legislation. Fort Lee's Robert V. Tessaro writes about the New Jersey Assembly's vote Thursday to approve a wide-ranging package of 22 bills aimed at curbing gun violence. Resolution passed to name the new three-screen cinema and film museum to be constructed in Redevelopment …
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…
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
Center Avenue resident writes there was little warning that cars would be towed during snow storm, resulting in financial hardship for many.
- OPINION
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Monday, February 11
Editor's note: This letter, sent to Mayor Mark Sokolich, was submitted to Patch as a Letter to the Editor. I am writing about the recent storm that occurred this last weekend from February 9 through February 10, 2013. We received a little more than a foot of snow, and the town did a very good job keeping the roads clean. Unfortunately, they did not do a good job informing residents about their plans, resulting in broken hearts and financial hardship for a number of people. For many residents, instead of digging out our cars, or taking them out of clean, dry garages, they were collecting them on long lines and paying hundreds of dollars in fines. In Englewood, NJ, the Mayor there ordered that all residents be called two times, and emailed…
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 …
Saturday, February 9, 2013
Growing up in Fort Lee, where did you and your friends use to take your Red Flexible Flyers?
Fort Lee is a town, unlike any other Bergen County town, bifurcated by a bridge. Not just any bridge--the George Washington Bridge. Growing up in Fort Lee, your geography was defined by whether you lived north of the bridge or south of the bridge. It also defined where you played, strayed and misbehaved. For a small town, there were enclaves of even smaller communities--Coytesville, The Hollow, Lower Main Street...and many more. And each had their own place to go sledding. Growing up in Coytesville, east of Lemoine, the place to sled was Interstate Park, behind Fort Lee High School, known by my generation as Sunny Park. Back then, (did I really just say back then?) Sunny Park had an ice skating rink that was guarded (trust me, guard is the…
Sunday, February 3, 2013
Bring the tailgate party for Sunday’s big game inside.
Hey Fort Lee--game day is here, and even for those of you who aren’t seasoned football fans, there’s something about Super Bowl Sunday that brings out the fan in everyone. No matter what anyone says, for many, the most important thing about Super Bowl Sunday is the food. And the commercials. If you're one of those people who want to enjoy the game from the comfort of their home, and invite friends over, here are three favorite dips always requested on Super Bowl Sunday. They're easy to make and a real crowd pleaser. Pop open some bags of chips and bottles of beer and get the party started. Buffalo Chicken Dip If you like Buffalo Chicken Wings, you will be hooked on the Buffalo Chicken Dip. In fact, it’s so easy to make that you might …
Thursday, January 31, 2013
Patch contributor Robert V. Tessaro was invited to speak at the One Million Moms for Gun Control Rally in Jersey City held Saturday.
This past weekend, Patch contributor Robert V. Tessaro was invited to speak at the One Million Moms for Gun Control rally in Jersey City. According to Tessaro, hundreds of mothers, fathers, and residents from across the Garden State braved the frigid cold weather to send a strong message to Trenton and Washington, D.C. that they demand action to end gun violence. Similar rallies were held across the country, with the largest on the National Mall in Washington attended by Assemblywoman Connie Wagner. Also speaking at the Jersey City event were U.S. Congressman Frank Pallone, Former Governor Jim Florio, State Senators Loretta Weinberg, Bob Gordon, Barbara Buono, Assembly Speaker Sheila Oliver, and Jersey City Mayor Jerramiah Healey. Tessaro …
delgado
10:06 pm on Saturday, April 27, 2013
the bergen Republicans need to answer why this happened. This is clearly criminal. Bergen Republicans have let down Bergen. more ›