Police Launch Pedestrian Safety Program

Fort Lee Police are going out into the community to stress pedestrian safety, with the support of the Mayor and Council.

Chief of Police Keith Bendul recently spoke to the Main Street Club at the Fort Lee Senior Center about pedestrian safety. Bendul, noting the continued problem with accidents involving pedestrians over the course of the past year, talked to the seniors about the need for awareness and crossing the street safely. Bendul has discussed initiatives to help raise awareness on pedestrian safety, such as distributing reusable bags and other items outfitted with reflective tape that will help make pedestrians visible to drivers at night. Mayor Mark Sokolich mentioned some of these initiatives during last week's Mayor and Council work session. He said that he would even help to hand out these items in an effort to raise awareness among pedestrians…

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BJ

3:13 pm on Wednesday, February 13, 2013

Quint: Chief Bendul said they did a traffic survey on Abbott and there were no speeders. I assume this was back in the days of the horse and buggy because it sure as hell wasn't this century. All one has to do is park, walk or drive down Abbott between 4:30-6:30pm to witness cars racing down that road. FLYING! Do the same thing on Anderson and Center. Yesterday 2/12 at approximately 5:30pm there …   more ›

Fort Lee In Sandy's Aftermath

Sandy threw quite a punch at Fort Lee, knocking down trees and wires; many portions of town without power.

In the aftermath of Sandy, Fort Lee found its streets littered with downed trees, wires and telephone poles. From the Junction at the base of Abbot Boulevard north to Coytesville, large large portions of the town are without power. PSE&G's outage map estimates that more than 10,000 households are without power in Fort Lee as of Tuesday. Mayor Mark Sokolich issued a State of Emergency for Fort Lee Tuesday declaring an immediate pedestrian curfew between 6pm to 6am and suspending all Halloween activities for Wednesday. Police are authorized to close any roadway at their discretion if they deem it unsafe and residents are being asked to conserve water. Also, all garbage collection is suspended until further notice.   Patch will provide more …

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United Homeowners Hear From Mayor, Honor Longtime Leader

Mayor Mark Sokolich “on Fort Lee News,” an annual event sponsored by the United Homeowners of the Borough of Fort Lee, was Wednesday at the public library. The group also swore in new board members and honored Dr. Nina Levinson.

At the end of Fort Lee Mayor Mark Sokolich’s annual address to the United Homeowners of the Borough of Fort Lee Wednesday at the Fort Lee Public Library, president Diane Sicheri, along with secretary Alex Floratos made a request for vice president Nina Levinson to come to the front of the room. Dr. Levinson was quite surprised, as Sicheri and Floratos thanked her for her years of dedicated service to the association. Following the acknowledgement, Sokolich presented Levinson with a plaque from the United Homeowners of the Borough of Fort Lee. Levinson described her reaction to the honor as “embarrassed.” “I just did what the town needed,” Levinson said. “I am thrilled with the new board and am staying on as vice president in order to …

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Synagogue Incorporates 9/11 Steel Into Holocaust Museum

Local officials joined the Port Authority to officially present steel from the World Trade Center to the New Synagogue Holocaust Museum in Fort Lee as part of an educational initiative.

Rabbi Meir Berger of the New Synagogue in Fort Lee believes the parallels between the tragedies on 9/11 and the Holocaust during World War II are not so different. After applying to the Port Authority (PA) of New York and New Jersey to receive steel from one of the Twin Towers that fell at the World Trade Center (WTC) after the terrorist attack on September 11, 2001, the PA obliged Berger based on several common goals: to educate the youth and ensure they never forget 9/11. A ceremony was held Thursday, attended by Fort Lee Mayor Mark Sokolich, Port Authority Deputy Executive Director Bill Baroni, Fort Lee Councilwoman Ila Kasofsky and Fort Lee Councilman Harvey Sohmer, a member and former president of the synagogue.  "As a member, we're …

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Board Members, Residents Express Concerns Over Redevelopment 5 Signage

Mayor and Tucker Development prefer unique over generic approach for retail signage.

Signage dominated expert testimony by Tucker Development Corp. (TDC) on Monday night when the Fort Lee Planning Board switched gears to discuss the western parcel of Redevelopment Area 5 called Hudson Lights. The mixed-used development will incorporate a 175-room hotel, residential units and 165,000 sq. feet of new retail space, which will be “appropriate in dignity, scope and accommodating the esthetics of the town,” said TDC attorney Francis Giantomasi. “We think it is historically important for Fort Lee.” It’s not often that a project occupies multiple city blocks and Hudson Lights is meant to be a pedestrian gathering place for the Fort Lee community, according to architect Bernardo Fort-Brescia, who said it would be a pedestrian …

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9/11 A Decade Later: Fort Lee Remembers

9/11 Stories: Mayor Mark Sokolich

A show of gratitude; a commitment to service

Fort Lee Mayor Mark Sokolich insists that, unlike other people, he did nothing extraordinary on 9/11. But 10 years later, we know that every little act of kindness on that day was extraordinary.  On 9/11, Sokolich was sitting in his law office in Fort Lee when his partner, Mark Macri, called him from North Bergen, where he was prosecuting a case, to tell him that a plane had just hit one of the towers of the World Trade Center. That phone call was followed by one from Sokolich’s wife, who told him to turn on the TV because a second plane had just hit the second tower.  "I had friends working in those towers; I was in shock," Sokolich said. "When I saw those buildings fall, all I could think of was getting my kids out of school and safely …

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5 Things You Need to Know

School's Out, Graduation and More This Week

Five things this week: a look at what you should know about and/or might not want to miss this week

Number one: On Monday night at Fort Lee School No. 1, students from the school, along with their counterparts from Fort Lee School No. 3, will host a student town hall meeting, during which they will present their proposal for Redevelopment Area 5 to Fort Lee Mayor Sokolich and the public, according to School No. 3 principal Robert Kravitz. The program begins at 7 p.m. at School No. 1. Number two:  It’s graduation week for Fort Lee public school students! Below is a list of times and locations of graduation ceremonies across the district: Thursday, June 23 Friday, June 24 *In the event of rain, the high school graduation ceremony will be held at the Fort Lee Community Center. The last day of school is Thursday, when students will be …

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Video: Mayor Talks ‘Fort Lee News’ at Senior Center

Fort Lee Mayor Mark Sokolich tells seniors work on Redevelopment 5 could start in the spring

Fort Lee Mayor Mark Sokolich spoke before a small but attentive crowd at the Fort Lee Senior Center Wednesday, discussing topics such as Redevelopment Area 5, the economy and traffic in the borough. Touted by the Homeowners group as “Our Mayor, Mark Sokolich, on Fort Lee News,” Sokolich gave a springtime start date for work on Redevelopment 5. The Borough Council recently voted to extend by 90 days April’s settlement and escrow agreement that cleared the way for the two approximately eight-acre parcels of land to be developed. A lengthy Q&A followed the mayor’s talk. Donna Brennan shot and edited this video of the Q&A session with Sokolich.

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About Town

About Town: Be Proud of Fort Lee

Town comes out in full force for Memorial Day service

“Be proud. Be proud of Fort Lee,” said Fort Lee V.F.W. Commander Jim Viola as he ended his speech given to crowds of people that filled a “closed-to-traffic” Center Ave. Monday. The Fort Lee V.F.W. hosted a Memorial Day service that honored not only the men and women who have served their country in the military, and those who continue to serve today, but the Fort Lee Fire Department that saved the V.F.W. from burning down during a fire in 2007.  Viola commended the town’s volunteer firefighters who came rushing to the fire that began in a string of stores structurally connected to the V.F.W. and managed to save the V.F.W. from being destruction. “We had just finished putting in a brand new kitchen here at the V.F.W.," Viola told the crowd…

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Game of the Week: Fort Lee Girls Basketball League Championship Game

Luppino Homes rallies to defeat Sokolich & Macri 17-15 for the 8th grade division title.

In what League President Mike Klein called one of the biggest comebacks in league history, Luppino Homes overcame a nine point deficit to beat Sokolich & Macri 17-15 in the Fort Lee Girls Basketball League’s championship game on Friday night. In front of a packed gym with dignitaries such as Fort Lee Mayor Mark Sokolich in attendance, the night began with the consolation game between Step Mar Construction and Starr, Darcy & Starr. Following that contest, the league held their trophy ceremonies for the participating girls with leading scorer awards, and coaching presentations.   Then the moment arrived for the championship contest. The gym stayed filled with many of the fans from the awards festivities remaining to see Mayor Sokolich toss …

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