School No. 1 Memorializes Educator, Union Leader

Maria Pulice, who died in September 2011, taught in the Fort Lee district for 41 years and led the Fort Lee Education Association for seven years.

More than 50 people, including colleagues, friends and family, attended the Maria Pulice Memorial Service Tuesday at Fort Lee School No. 1 in what turned out to be a moving tribute to longtime educator and union leader, according to Fort Lee resident David Sarnoff, who was in attendance and submitted these photos. “There were several speakers paying tribute, and the memorial culminated in the playing of ‘Ava Maria’ by members of the School 1 faculty on piano, violin and flute,” as Sarnoff described it. “They also dedicated a garden in memory of Maria Pulice.” Pulice, who taught in the district for 41 years, died on September 30, 2011 at the age of 64, slightly more than a year after she retired. Diane Henry, one of Pulice’s closest …

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District Seeks Donations to Memorialize Educator, Union Leader

Maria Pulice, who died in September 2011, taught in the Fort Lee district for 41 years and led the Fort Lee Education Association for seven.

A committee at Fort Lee School No. 1 is seeking donations to build a permanent memorial at the school in honor of a longtime teacher and former president of the Fort Lee Education Association (FLEA) who died last year. Maria Pulice, who taught in the district for 41 years, died on September 30, 2011 at the age of 64, slightly more than a year after she retired. “Recently, we lost a dear member of our Fort Lee family,” said Interim Superintendent of Schools Steven Engravalle Monday at the Fort Lee Board of Education meeting. “I certainly didn’t get as much time with Mrs. Pulice as I would like to have, but in the short time that I got to know her, we really did develop a terrific relationship, and I regret that I didn’t get to know her …

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Fort Lee Commemorates 9/11 Anniversary, Dedicates Monument

The ceremony at Constitution Park Sunday also honored Fort Lee's emergency service agencies

Hundreds of Fort Lee residents, officials from local government and emergency service agencies and other dignitaries gathered at Constitution Park Sunday for Fort Lee’s 9/11 Memorial Commemoration Ceremony, marking the 10th anniversary of the tragic events of Sept. 11, 2001. The ceremony also served as the official dedication of Fort Lee’s first 9/11 memorial built from World Trade Center steel—a girder from the North Tower that stood just to the left and above where the airliner made impact and a foundation plate that once helped support the South Tower—donated to the borough by the Port Authority and to honor Fort Lee’s emergency service agencies. The ceremony began at 9:59 a.m. Sunday with a moment of silence in remembrance of the …

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Athlete of the Week

Athlete of the Week: Basketball Player Brianna Mattessich

Senior guard nets 41 points this week in just a pair of games

As freshman turn into sophomores, and juniors become seniors, they start to earn more responsibilities with each passing year. This happens both in the classroom and in athletics. One basketball player has embraced the responsibilities of being a senior captain and is putting up the numbers to go with it. Fort Lee’s senior guard Brianna Mattessich scored 22 points and corralled 12 rebounds in a win Tuesday against Westwood and followed that with a 19-point performance at New Milford on Thursday night. “[Brianna] has been doing some things the last couple games that really make her a caliber player in the league and in the county,” Fort Lee Coach Stacie Zafiris said. “I wouldn’t trade her for anybody.” But when Mattessich was told about …

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Dumont Remains Unbeaten in Win Over Lady Bridgemen

Second half proves costly for Fort Lee girls' basketball team, who fell to Dumont Thursday night 57-42.

After entering halftime tied, all signs pointed to the Dumont Huskies and the Fort Lee Lady Bridgemen playing a close game until the final buzzer. But halfway through the third quarter, Dumont took control with an 11-0 run on their way to remaining undefeated. “We really wanted to beat our rival and come out with fire,” said Fort Lee senior guard Brianna Mattessich. “We were playing with them the whole time. Then in the second half, we came out and turnovers killed us.” Fort Lee head coach Stacie Zafiris prepared countless hours for Dumont and was not pleased with the final outcome. “Again, we beat ourselves,” said Zafiris. “I don’t think that they earned the win. I think we gave them the win.” The night began with turnovers on both sides …

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The Week in Sports: A Look Back and A Look Ahead

Girls Basketball wins a championship, and all teams hope for a successful new year.

Looking forward to 2011, the Fort Lee athletics program hopes the new year turns out to be a lot like how the last year ended. On the very last day of 2010, the Fort Lee Lady Bridgemen defeated the Park Ridge Owls to win the Lyndhurst Girl's Basketball Holiday Tournament.   Senior forward Bindi Parikh was named the Most Valuable Player of the Tournament after scoring 25 points and senior guard Brianna Mattessich was also named to the All-Tournament team along with her teammate. It was the second straight championship for the Lady Bridgemen, who are now 2-2 this season and looking forward to the week ahead. They have three more games to worry about this week, including a tough road game against Ridgefield Park on Tuesday, back home against …

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