Thursday, March 28, 2013
A New Jersey School Board Association forum held at Paramus High School offered parents the opportunity to hear from local law enforcement and school officials on what is being done across the area to make schools safer.
When it comes to handling a school emergency situation, preparedness is key, according to local law enforcement and school officials who tackled the pressing issue of school safety in front of an audience of about 200 parents Wednesday at Paramus High School. The New Jersey School Board Association hosted the forum, which featured Saddle Brook Police Chief Robert Kugler, Bergen County Prosecutor John Molinelli and other local police and school officials from across the county. The event gave parents an opportunity to hear from officials about what measures local districts are taking to increase school safety, an issue that has come to the forefront since the mass shooting in Newtown, Conn. Molinelli told the audience that every law …
Monday, March 25, 2013
"Modernize Bergen County" is seeking 2,500 signatures to get a voter referendum aimed at repealing blue laws on the ballot in November.
A group of Bergen residents seeking to repeal the county's "blue laws" intend to get 2,500 signatures for a petition by the end of June so they can get their initiative on the ballot in November. The laws prohibit the sale of certain items — clothes, furniture, etc. — on Sundays. Westwood resident Rosemary Shashoua, the founder and chair of "Modernize Bergen County," previously told Patch she believed that permitting seven days of retail business each week would create more jobs and increase local tax revenue to counter economic troubles and ever-increasing property taxes. Members of the group also pointed to the difficulty of enforcing the laws because of online commerce on sites like eBay. The group has now just about completed their …
Friday, February 22, 2013
Late Teaneck teacher's donation set aside for future educators
For years Angela Salatti dedicated her life to educating the youth as an elementary school teacher in Teaneck, and now even after her death in 2008, Salatti's mission continues. On behalf of her estate the Bergen County Education Association (BCEA) donated $21,000 in scholarship funding to Bergen Community College on Thursday afternoon. The scholarship money will be set aside for BCC students who intend to pursue a career in education. "This is a gift from an educator, someone who shares our heart and wanted to see students succeed," BCC President B. Kaye Walter said. "This is an extremely special gift. Each and every day we have students who want to be teachers, who have been in other careers, but all their life wanted to touch kids …
Monday, January 28, 2013
In a Letter to the Editor, Mitchell T. Horn responds to Paramus Mayor Richard LaBarbiera's recent comment that Modernize Bergen County's Blue Law repeal argument is "ridiculous."
- OPINION
-
Monday, January 28
Editor's note: This letter from Mitchell T. Horn on behalf of Modernize Bergen County is addressed to Paramus Mayor Richard LaBarbiera and the citizens of the borough: On behalf of the Campaign to Modernize Bergen County, lead by Mrs. Rosemary Shashoua, I would like to respond to the recent public comments calling our argument “ridiculous”. I would like to start by saying that this is an attempt to diffuse the situation and evolve the discussion from an emotional battle to a logical debate. We have the utmost respect for the residents of Paramus and their passionate desire to preserve the peace and quiet in their borough. We also think that the mayor of Paramus is doing an outstanding job and we would do the same thing if we were in his …
Thursday, January 24, 2013
Mayor Richard LaBarbiera stands strong in support of the Blue Laws in Bergen County and Paramus and defends the residents who have been criticized for "whining" in defense of their peace and quiet.
Paramus Mayor Richard LaBarbiera is calling Westwood resident Rosemary Shashoua's argument to repeal county Blue Laws "ridiculous." During Tuesday's council meeting, the mayor defended the Blue Laws and the Paramus residents who have been criticized for wanting to keep peace and quiet in this town on Sundays. "Don't worry about Paramus and we won't worry about what you do in your town," said LaBarbiera. "I won't stop whining as some outsiders have challenged us," said the mayor referring to the hefty debates that have been going on in the comment sections of recent articles and on Facebook pages. Shashoua's group "Modernize Bergen County" has the goal of repealing Bergen County's blue laws via a voter referendum on the premise that …
Saturday, January 5, 2013
Two Paramus officers and a township teen were injured in the early Saturday incident, police say.
PARAMUS -- Two Teaneck teens were arrested after they were among an unruly crowd that converged on Paramus police officers during a Route 4 traffic stop early Saturday, sending one of the teenagers and two officers to the hospital, authorities said. Paramus Police said the two officers were conducting a motor vehicle stop on Route 4 East at about 2:20 a.m. when they were approached by a group of about 10 males who hurled obscenities at them. The group continued despite being told by the officers, Anthony Liggio and Daniel Cullen, to move along, police said. Police attempted to arrest one of the males, but the others began to surround the two officers in a "threatening manner,” according to police. The crowd began to flee as back-up …
Friday, November 9, 2012
Paramus Mayor Richard LaBarbiera states that although he and borough residents disagree with the ruling the borough will abide it and hopes this will be the final weekend for Blue Law suspension.
A Bergen County Superior Court Judge ruled in favor of suspending Blue Laws —meaning Paramus stores will be open Sunday —despite the mayor's efforts to protect the law, claiming it favors the quality of life of borough residents. Mayor Richard LaBarbiera stated Friday that "although the residents of Paramus and I strongly disagree with this ruling we will of course abide it." "The County Executive says that this will be the last Sunday without the Blue Laws and I intend to hold her to that," said LaBarbiera in a statement. "The Blue Laws are absolutely essential to keeping Paramus livable and I will never stop fighting to make sure they are always here to protect our quality of life. I thank the many Paramus residents who expressed their …
Wednesday, November 7, 2012
Paramus seeks to enforce Blue Laws after Christie ordered them suspended.
It's been a week since Gov. Chris Christie issued the order to suspend Bergen County's Blue Laws so that residents most impacted by Hurricane Sandy could purchase necessary repair items. And while Paramus has the strictest Blue Laws on the books, County Executive Kathleen Donovan may take the borough to court this week to keep local officials from limiting what stores can be open. Bergen County Executive Kathleen Donovan had asked the state last Saturday to suspend the county’s Blue Laws as the County struggled with numerous power outages. Christie gave the order on Sunday, Nov. 4 to allow for retail stores to open. The Executive Order is meant to allow the sale of clothing and wearing apparel, building and lumber supply materials, …
Monday, August 20, 2012
Two county officers indicted Monday on official misconduct charges for alleged cover-up following six-town police chase.
Two Bergen County police officers were indicted Monday on charges they worked to hide evidence and lied to investigators following a six-town car chase where one officer allegedly opened fire on a burglary suspect in Bogota. The seven count indictment alleges Bergen County Police Officer Saheed Baksh, 37, removed shell casings from a crime scene after he fired two shots at Francesco Piserchia, who authorities said led officers on a chase from Paramus to West Shore Avenue in Bogota. Although Baksh fired, Bergen County Prosecutor John L. Molinelli said the casings "which were originally observed at the shooting scene on West Shore Avenue" later went missing. Another county officer who responded, 52-year-old Jeffrey Roberts, failed to "…
Wednesday, August 8, 2012
After conducting a one year search for a new president, the Bergen Community College Board of Trustees appointed B. Kaye Walter from Indiana's Ivy Tech Community College.
When Bergen Community College (BCC) students return to school Sep 5, there will be a new president at the helm. During their board meeting Tuesday, Bergen Community College Board of Trustees chose Dr. B. Kaye Walter to lead the state's largest community college. Walter, who will become the seventh president of BCC, will assume office on Monday. “I am extremely honored to have the opportunity to work with the Bergen Community College faculty, staff, students, trustees and the community, as they continue to provide innovative programming and educational options at the highest standards for each student they serve,” said Walter in a press release. “I am most impressed with the quality of the faculty and staff and their commitment to …
Tee Smyth
1:09 pm on Tuesday, March 26, 2013
The United States Supreme Court has repeatedly upheld the Blue Laws as not violating the Establishment Clause. What are your less principled reasons? LOL. #Leave the laws alone. more ›