NOVEMBER 6, 2015, 10:44 PM LAST UPDATED: FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2015, 10:45 PM
BY SCOTT FALLON
STAFF WRITER |
THE RECORD
HAWORTH — CSX engineers will meet this month with town officials to discuss the condition of two pedestrian tunnels under the company’s rail line that have become a concern now that millions of gallons of crude oil pass through the town on trains, Mayor John Smart said Friday.
Smart had been trying for months to get inspection reports on the condition of the Crocker Place and Park Street Playground tunnels, but a federal loophole in railroad regulations prevented him from getting any meaningful information. Smart said he recently secured a meeting with CSX executives and hopes to meet with them regularly.
Officials from Teaneck to Harrington Park have often complained that CSX, which operates the largest rail system in the eastern U.S., has been slow to address local concerns since railroads are regulated almost exclusively by the federal government.
Bogota officials famously issued a summons in 1999 to a CSX train for disturbing the peace by idling noisily even though railroads are exempt from municipal ordinances under federal interstate commerce law.
They say Florida-based CSX should be more responsive especially now that 15 to 30 trains, each carrying as much as 3.6 million gallons of volatile Bakken crude oil, pass through 11 towns each week on the company’s River Line. The oil has been involved in several fiery derailments across North America in recent years.
In Bergen County, the trains pass thousands of homes and businesses on their way to a Philadelphia refinery. They cross dozens of small bridges, some of which appear pristine and others that are heavily rusted with cracked foundations.
Among them are the two pedestrian tunnels in Haworth, one of which has cracked and crumbling concrete just under the railbed, and the other near the playground.
Smart was unable to get inspection reports because railroads are not required to submit them to their primary regulator, the Federal Railroad Administration, unless the FRA asks for them.
A spokesman for CSX said this summer that the tunnels were inspected in January and deemed safe, but would not make inspection reports public.
“Those tracks are inspected visually several times weekly, and are subjected several times annually to internal, ultrasound inspections and examination with a geometry car that measures physical characteristics to affirm compliance with engineering specifications,” Rob Doolittle, a CSX spokesman, said this week.
On Friday, Rep. Scott Garrett toured the Haworth site as well as a section of the rail line that goes over the Oradell Reservoir. Last month, Garrett called on the FRA to obtain inspection reports on all spans through the region and share them with local officials. He said Friday he is still waiting for them.
“I want to see what [CSX] thinks of the chipping concrete here,” the Wantage Republican said. “Is it something that lasts six months, six years? I’m no expert. That’s why we need those reports.”
North Jersey water officers not able to chill out bans – Surroundings – NorthJersey
By Observer Staff on September 19, 2015
The rain that fell on North Jersey final Thursday and a spritz over the weekend helped the area’s reservoirs – however solely barely.
The three-reservoir system operated by United Water alongside the Hackensack River has recovered to about 49 % of capability – up from 45 % final week, the utility firm stated.
The opposite main reservoir within the area, the Wanaque, hovered at 55 % capability Tuesday.
However with not a drop of rain within the forecast properly into subsequent week, the voluntary and obligatory restrictions that water utilities have carried out in current weeks stay in impact.
“Whereas we’ve got been graced with some aid, it is crucial for patrons to proceed to make use of water correctly, as our reservoirs nonetheless want further water,” stated Steve Goudsmith, a United Water spokesman.
Over the previous 60 days, Bergen County has had 2.5 inches of rain, a few quarter of the historic common for the interval. Passaic County has had three.2 inches, a deficit of 5.6 inches.
Even that rain has been hit-or-miss. From Thursday by means of the weekend, Haworth had 2.41 inches of rain whereas Lyndhurst, just some miles away, had about half that a lot.
“It was undoubtedly spotty,” stated Bob Ziff with the North Jersey Climate Observers. “My garden nonetheless seems three-quarters lifeless. It is like straw.”
New Jersey’s northern counties – together with the southern Hudson Valley, coastal Connecticut and Lengthy Island – are in a average drought, in line with federal climate officers. The remainder of New Jersey is taken into account abnormally dry.
Sun, September 13, 2015
Time: 8:45 AM – 12:00 PM
Location: streets of Westwood, Emerson, Oradell, Haworth, Ha, Westwood, Emerson, Oradell, Haworth, Harrington Park
Cost: $50 per person
United Water’s 5th Annual Run the Reservoir Half Marathon will be held on Sunday, September 13, 2015 to benefit YWCA Bergen County. The Run the Reservoir race, which covers 13.1 miles and allows athletes to run through the streets of Westwood, Emerson, Oradell, Haworth, Harrington Park and River Vale, is Bergen County’s first half marathon and is unique because it enables runners to enjoy a 2.3-mile trail around the reservoir.
Registration will begin at 7:00 am with check-in and shirt/bib pick up. The half marathon will commence at 8:45 am with awards ceremony held at 12:00 pm for top three Men’s and Women’s Finisher’s in 14 Age Groups; 1st, 2nd, 3rd & 4th place over-all Male and Female. For full awards list, please visit www.RunTheReservoir.com. Race results will be provided by www.RaceForum.com.
Attracting novice and seasoned runners alike, the Run the Reservoir half marathon has quickly become a favorite among the running community due to its well-designed course through Bergen County’s residential roadways and trail along the Oradell Reservoir. Since its commencement, the turnout for the Run the Reservoir half marathon has increased each year.
Proceeds of the 2015 Run the Reservoir Half Marathon will go directly to support YWCA Bergen County who has been served the community since 1920 with programs that improve lives, inspire change and create opportunities. YWCA provides safe, welcoming places for women, girls and families to learn, share and grow; support women and girls on their paths to educational, career and financial success; and advocate for women’s rights and civil rights.
Race entry fee is $50 before August 1, 2015 or $60 after August 1, 2015 with a $3 discount for USA Track & Field members. For more information or to register online, please visit www.RunTheReservoir.com or email info@racefaster.net.
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NEWTON, NJ – Rep. Scott Garrett (NJ-05) announced the winners of the 2015 Congressional Art Competition. This year’s top honor went to Norwood resident and Academy of the Holy Angels student Na Young Lee for her piece, “Crammed.” This year’s competition featured 95 student entries and was hosted at Sussex County Community College in Newton. Meagan Khoury and Sherry Fitzgerald, both of Sussex County Community College, judged the competition. The winners were announced at a ceremony on Saturday, May 16th.
“Congratulations to the winners and participants of the 2015 Congressional Art Competition,” said Garrett. “I am amazed at the quality of work produced by these students. Each student should be very proud of their efforts, and I want to thank their parents and teachers for encouraging and cultivating such exceptional talent.”
The Congressional Art Competition is an annual event held in congressional districts across the country. The first place winner from each congressional district will have his or her artwork displayed for one year in the U.S. Capitol alongside winning artwork from other high school students across the country. The second, third, and fourth place winners will have their submissions displayed in Congressman Garrett’s Glen Rock, Newton, and Washington, D.C. offices. Click here for more information about the nation-wide contest.
Below is a complete list of this year’s winners and participants. Names without a corresponding link were unable to attend the May 16th ceremony.
2015 Congressional Art Competition Winners
1st Place
Student: Na Young Lee
Title: “Crammed”
School: Academy of the Holy Angels
Residence: Norwood
2nd Place
Student: Cindy Lee
Title: “Bakekujira the Ghost Whale”
School: Northern Valley Regional High School – Old Tappan
Residence: Norwood
3rd Place
Student: Haley Fletcher
Title: “Covetous”
School: Lakeland Regional High School
Residence: Ringwood
4th Place
Student: Yubin Lee
Title: “Bounded”
School: Bergen County Academies
Residence: Haworth
5th Place
Student: Alessandra Ferrari-Wong
Title: “Investigation”
School: Bergen County Academies
Residence: Westwood
6th Place
Student: Laura David
Title: “Looking Ahead”
School: Wallkill Valley Regional High School
Residence: Hamburg
7th Place
Student: Kara Kovach
Title: “Hot and Beardy”
School: Wallkill Valley Regional High School
Residence: Franklin
8th Place
Student: Anna Kristofick
Title: “True Colors”
School: Indian Hills High School
Residence: Wyckoff
Honorable Mentions
Student: Hannah Kim
Title: “Yin and Yang”
School: Northern Highlands Regional High School
Residence: Upper Saddle River
Student: Melanie Rosenblatt
Title: “Zoe”
School: Northern Highlands Regional High School
Residence: Upper Saddle River
Student: Julia Grace Shea
Title: “Indecisive”
School: Northern Highlands Regional High School
Residence: Ho-Ho-Kus
Student: Nico Tolinkski
Title: “Mutilation”
School: Northern Highlands Regional High School
Residence: Allendale
Student: Anna Allen
Title: “Emotion in Full Color”
School: Wallkill Valley Regional High School
Residence: Stockholm
Student: Nicole Spangenburg
Title: “Dead End”
School: Wallkill Valley Regional High School
Residence: Hamburg
All Participants
Student: Na Young Lee*
Title: “Crammed”
School: Academy of the Holy Angels
Residence: Norwood
Student: Lydia Chen
Title: “The Road”
School: Bergen County Academies
Residence: New Milford
Student: Haine Cho
Title: “Parent”
School: Bergen County Academies
Residence: Northvale
APRIL 4, 2015, 11:38 PM LAST UPDATED: SUNDAY, APRIL 5, 2015, 12:02 AM
BY TARA SULLIVAN
RECORD COLUMNIST |
THE RECORD
Morgan Hoffmann has always been a man with a plan. From the one he hatched as a little boy to become a pro golfer, to the flight plan he registered for sometime today so he’ll be able to fly his private plane from Florida to Georgia, he is a man who decides what to do and does it.
So it is with meticulous planning that Hoffmann has put himself on the cusp of his first Masters tournament, completing yet another step in the golf journey that started on the manicured lawns of his Wyckoff home. A transcendent end to the 2014 season saw him rocket up the year-ending FedExCup standings, and that was followed by a 2015 start that included a recent fourth-place finish in the Arnold Palmer Invitational. And now the 25-year-old Hoffmann stands among the world’s elite.
But if golf offers many barometers of individual success, from simply making the PGA Tour all the way to contending for major titles, there is an even more exclusive bubble inside that world: qualifying for The Masters. Augusta represents something more, something bigger, something so coveted it is on every aspiring golfer’s dream-come-true list.
“It truly is the experience of a lifetime, playing, walking, watching. If you are a golfer, it’s heaven,” said Jim McGovern, the teaching pro at Haworth’s White Beeches Golf & Country Club and the last area golfer to compete at Augusta, finishing tied for fifth in 1994.
DECEMBER 23, 2014, 8:56 PM LAST UPDATED: TUESDAY, DECEMBER 23, 2014, 8:57 PM
BY JOHN C. ENSSLIN
STAFF WRITER |
THE RECORD
Print
Bergen County Executive-elect and Democratic Freeholder James Tedesco named his first two key appointees Tuesday, including a veteran Republican county employee to serve as his administrator.
Tedesco, of Paramus, will be sworn in as county executive on Jan. 1 and tapped Dominic Novelli of Waldwick for county administrator to join him. He chose Michele DiIorgi of Haworth to serve as his chief of staff. DiIorgi is the clerk to the Freeholder Board. She previously served as chief of staff to former Rep. Steve Rothman. D-Englewood.
Tedesco informed some of the freeholders and their staff of his selection shortly after their work session Tuesday.
Although DiIorgi had been mentioned as a possible chief of staff in the speculation that preceded Tedesco’s announcement, his selection of Novelli came as a relative surprise.
Novelli has served several roles in county government over the last 24 years: He was chief of staff and acting county administrator under County Executive Pat Schuber, a Republican. He then served 10 years as director of purchasing under Democratic and Republican administrations. He also has worked for the Bergen County Improvement Authority.
Additionally, Novelli has served as a Waldwick school board member.
Rep. Garrett (right) congratulates Haworth resident Chris Giancarlo for being sworn-in as the Commissioner of the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC).
Garrett Congratulates Haworth Resident Giancarlo for Taking Top-Spot at the CFTC Jun 25, 2014
Washington, D.C. – Rep. Scott Garrett (NJ-05) congratulated Haworth resident Chris Giancarlo for being sworn-in as the Commissioner of the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) at a ceremony in Washington, D.C. yesterday morning.
“Chris has a long history of promoting sound regulatory policy, free markets and economic liberty,” said Garrett at the ceremony. “I know he will bring a steady hand, common sense, and strong leadership to the Commission. His deep understanding of our derivatives markets make him an ideal choice for serving at the Commission as it continues to implement difficult and complex rules that will have a significant impact on farmers, ranchers, and producers. Very few people know these markets as well as Chris, and his expertise will come in handy as the Commission faces markets that continue to shift and evolve.”
Giancarlo was sworn in as a CFTC Commissioner on June 16, 2014 for a term expiring on April 13, 2019. Giancarlo was nominated by President Obama on August 1, 2013. On March 6, 2014, Giancarlo testified regarding his nomination before the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry, which approved the nomination on April 8, 2014. The U.S. Senate confirmed his nomination by unanimous consent on June 3, 2014.
God Bless Those Who Have Fallen In Defense of Our Freedom
Dear Friend,
This week I voted in the House to give the Congressional Gold Medal to a number of military heroes. The bills I supported, among others, include H.R. 1726 to honor the 65th Infantry Regiment, known as the Borinqueneers; H.R. 1209 to honor the Doolittle Tokyo Raiders; and H.R. 685 to honor the American Fighter Aces. As you may know, the American Fighter Aces are an elite group of combat pilots that destroyed at least five hostile aircraft in air to air combat. Interestingly, New Jersey’s Fifth District serves as the home to three of these distinguished pilots, Major Thomas Buchanan McGuire of Ridgewood, Colonel Edward Stanley Popek of Hackensack and Captain Richard Dike Faxon of Haworth.
Though we can often get caught up in the parades and barbeques, this Memorial Day I urge you to truly reflect on what we hold so dear and who we have to thank for those blessings. We are a nation of free people because of those who never wavered in their commitment to liberty and democracy. As President Reagan said in his first inaugural address, “we must realize that no arsenal, or no weapon in the arsenals of the world, is so formidable as the will and moral courage of free men and women.” To all the soldiers, sailors, airmen, marines and coast guardsmen who paid the ultimate price for our freedom, thank you.
On this Memorial Day, may God bless the families who grieve for their loved ones, and may God bless all those who have fallen in defense of the United States of America.
Survey Results: ObamaCare is Unfair to Middle Class New Jerseyans
Rep. Garrett receives an error message while trying to sign up for ObamaCare
Dear Friend,
Since the ObamaCare exchanges opened on October 1, 2013, my offices in New Jersey and Washington, D.C. have been inundated with calls, letters, and emails from people who have seen their coverage change, premiums increase, and insurance policies cancelled. To get a better understanding of the specific problems you and your families are now facing, I sent a survey to Fifth District residents asking how ObamaCare is affecting your personal health insurance.
Unfortunately, the survey results were worse than I expected. Fifty-six percent of you have seen a change in your insurance coverage, and 54 percent of you have seen an increase in your premiums. Worse yet, one in ten people have already been entirely dropped from their plans. Regrettably, this number is only going to rise in the coming weeks and months because recent reports estimate that approximately 800,000 New Jerseyans will lose their current plans by this time next year. These results confirm what I feared all along: ObamaCare is unfairly burdening middle class Americans.
While these numbers paint a picture about the grim outlook of health insurance under ObamaCare, the individual stories are even more heartbreaking. Steven, a doctor from Tenafly, called ObamaCare, “a disaster for me as patient, a physician and a small business owner.” Gloria from Haworth has seen her monthly premium jump $175. And, William from Park Ridge, who lost his plan because of ObamaCare, is frantically trying to get signed up on HealthCare.gov, but has had no success despite repeated attempts.
This week, while trying to sign up on the website, I too felt the frustration of ObamaCare. On numerous occasions, just as I thought I had completed the process, I was met by an error message. Admittedly, at some point, the website will theoretically be fixed, but other, bigger problems will remain.
We can all agree that we need meaningful healthcare reform that decreases patient costs and increases patient accessibility. Unfortunately, the ObamaCare law is simply doing the opposite. The American people deserve patient-centered reforms that put health care choices in the hands of the people, not government bureaucrats. Specifically, I believe you and your families should be allowed to purchase insurance across state lines and through groups and trade associations. I believe that your health insurance should be tied to you, as an individual, not your employment. I believe that you should have more choices with regard to Health Savings Accounts. And, I believe small businesses should be allowed to band together to purchase insurance.
As always, I rely on your feedback to help me make important decisions in our nation’s capital. Thank you to everyone who participated in this ObamaCare survey; I look forward to hearing from you again soon.
More North Jersey towns follow Ridgewood ‘s lead and invest in lightning detection systems
Sunday April 21, 2013, 11:46 PM
BY DEENA YELLIN
STAFF WRITER
The Record
Lightning strikes are “a very real danger that people need to be aware of,” says Westwood Mayor John Birkner.
Birkner has been researching lightning detection systems for his town, which is looking to join the growing number of New Jersey communities that already have such systems in place, sounding alarms when dangerous storms are near.
Last year 28 people nationwide were killed by lightning, including three in New Jersey, the second highest number for any state, data show. One lightning victim was a Haworth man struck and killed as he watched his grandson play soccer in Demarest. The other two died on the beach in separate incidents at the Jersey Shore.
In 2006, the previous year New Jersey had three lightning deaths, two were teenagers killed on a soccer field in Montvale.
Detection systems monitor lightning strikes and warn the public when potentially dangerous storms fall within a certain radius of the area. The system typically sets off alarms that have been installed at fields and playgrounds, warning the public to leave those open areas. The system also gives an all-clear signal when the danger has passed.
Cresskill recently installed a lightning detection system, Tenafly is seeking bids for a system for its municipal and school fields, and Westwood is considering a joint purchase of a system with Emerson and Washington Township.
A consortium of eight schools and seven towns in the Northern Valley is solidifying plans for a cooperative purchase of a $200,000 lightning detection system.
Communities including Wayne, Rutherford, Ridgefield, Dumont, Ridgewood and Ho-Ho-Kus already have systems in place.
Garrett Announces 2012 Service Academy Nominees Apr 5, 2012
MAHWAH, NJ – Rep. Scott Garrett (NJ-05) is proud to announce the nomination of 39 5th District high school students to United States service academies, including the Military Academy at West Point, the Naval Academy at Annapolis, the Merchant Marine Academy at Kings Point and the Air Force Academy at Colorado Springs. This year’s nominees were honored by the Congressman at a ceremony at Ramapo College in Mahwah on Saturday, April 1st.
“I want to congratulate this year’s nominees and commend them for their hard work, perseverance and dedication during this year’s nominating process,” said Garrett after honoring the nominees. “If admitted, our prestigious service academies will develop these young men and women into some of our country’s greatest leaders. No matter what the future holds, I am proud of their selfless dedication to serving our great country. I wish the applicants all the best as they continue with the application process.”
Applications to the Military Academy, the Naval Academy, the Air Force Academy and the Merchant Marine Academy require a nomination by a Congressman or a Senator, however, the Congressional nomination does not guarantee acceptance. To assist with the nomination process, Congressman Garrett established an esteemed committee of military and civic leaders that interviewed potential nominees, reviewed their applications and made recommendations. Click here for more information about Congressman Garrett’s nomination process.
Below is a complete list of the nominees by academy:
United States Military Academy at West Point Brian Bandstra – Midland Park, Midland Park High School Christopher Bascomb – Oradell, River Dell Regional High School Kaitlin Gaffney – Oakland, Indian Hills High School Kristen Gray – Park Ridge, Park Ridge High School Michael Killian – Hillsdale, Pascack Valley High School Insoo Kim – Demarest, Northern Valley Regional High School James M. Lee – Ridgewood, Ridgewood High School Grant Mallalieu – Midland Park, Academy for Business and Finance Tara Mastriano – Saddle River, Northern Highlands Regional High School Hope Yi – Allendale, Academy for Business and Finance
United States Naval Academy at Annapolis Zachary Hirsch – Wyckoff, Ramapo High School Jody Lamb – New Milford, Hawthorne Christian Academy James D. Lee – Franklin Lakes, Indian Hills High School Elizabeth McCarty – Ringwood, Immaculate Heart Academy Francis Paleno – Ridgewood, Ridgewood High School Samuel Redwood – Hamburg, Pope John XIII High School Jack Smith – Phillipsburg, Phillipsburg High School Rebecca Skovira – Park Ridge, Park Ridge High School Dong Jin “David” Suh – Ridgewood, Ridgewood High School William Zoeller – Allendale, Northern Highlands Regional High School
United States Air Force Academy at Colorado Springs Eric Almberg – River Edge, River Dell Regional High School Andrew Bell – Wyckoff, Ramapo High School Andrew Boman – Montvale, Don Bosco Prep Kevin Chmiolek – Wyckoff, Don Bosco Prep Thomas Darragh – Hamburg, Wallkill Valley Regional High School Gregory Geuecke – Columbia, North Warren Regional High School Ryan Kowal – Waldwick, Waldwick High School Sean Lindenau – Dumont, Dumont High School Grant Van Orden – Wyckoff, Don Bosco Prep Mark Vaccarro – Allendale, Northern Highlands Regional High School
United States Merchant Marine Academy at Kings Point Jake Aronson – Upper Saddle River, Pascack Hills High School Andrew Boman – Montvale, Don Bosco Prep Christopher Dykes – Wyckoff, Don Bosco Prep Joseph Galica – Sussex, Pope John XIII High School Glenn Gavan – Newton, Pope John XIII High School Hanna Jansson – Haworth, Academy of the Holy Angels Nichlas Picache – Upper Saddle River, Northern Highlands Regional High School Gordon Pisani – Phillipsburg, Belvidere High School Christopher Sarao – Sandyston, Pope John XIII High School Tyler Symons – Harrington Park, Northern Valley Regional High School
>“This article on Declining enrollments strain finances, in many north Jersey swim clubs, shows how pools have lost memberships this year at accelerated rates due to the slumping economy. Even as the pro RPP tout they joined neighboring pools, those pools show declining membership percent losses also: Paramus 10% loss, Westwood 25% loss, Washington Twnshp 10% loss. Towns are holding off on expensive repairs. One would think, how can Ridgewood possibly think of a $10Million Bond?” Swim clubs in deep Sunday, September 6, 2009 Last updated: Sunday September 6, 2009, 9:39 AM BY DEENA YELLIN The Record STAFF WRITER
In a slumping economy, many North Jersey swim clubs have just about managed to stay afloat.
With summer unofficially ending this weekend, swim clubs in Ridgewood, Paramus, Fairfield, Hasbrouck Heights, Bogota, Westwood, Ringwood and Washington Township report they have lost substantial numbers of members this year.
Many of the clubs are holding off on expensive repairs. Others are allowing residents of other towns to join as associate members or to use the pool for daily fees, an unthinkable concept in richer times.
One economist was not surprised.
“The consumer is retrenching sharply because of lost home equity, financial investment losses, excessive debt and job losses or fear of job losses,” said James Hughes, dean of the Edward Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy at Rutgers University. “Discretionary spending has been curtailed as households try to rebuild their balance sheets. Swim clubs are a discretionary spending item.”
At the Highlands Natural Pool in Ringwood, Treasurer Helene Wittmershaus attributed the decline from 102 to 76 member families to this year’s inclement weather as well as the harsh economic climate. “We are trying to come up with ways to entice people to join,” she said.
Closter dropped the price of its membership. Demarest is considering merging its pool with Closter, and Haworth has allowed the town to take over the club’s operation. Several clubs said they advertised this year for the first time to appeal to a crowd that’s not buying.
“Up until this year, we’ve had a waiting list every year for the past 20 years,” said John Casella, president of the Hasbrouck Heights Swim Club. “The pool needs to upgrade some of its equipment, but its revenue stream has been lowered,” he said.
The Hasbrouck Heights Swim Club charter does not permit members from out of town, but this year, the club issued guest passes for families with friends and relatives in town on a one-time basis, said Casella. Several other North Jersey swim clubs also said they loosened their normally tight membership restrictions this year to make ends meet.
Bogota’s pool, for example, which lost about 30 member families this year, opened its membership to the public for the first time, said pool manager Jeff Clark. “We’re all pitching in to have special events to do fund-raising activities. We’re reaching out to neighboring communities. We hope to appeal to more people.”
Not all pools are suffering. Hillsdale, Wayne and Fair Lawn said their numbers are similar to last year’s. Cresskill gained members. “We’re getting more members because it’s cheaper to join the swim club than to go away on vacation,” said Matt Bickford, assistant manager at the Cresskill club.
Others are not as lucky. At Graydon Pool in Ridgewood, where membership is down 31 percent from last year, spokeswoman Nancy Bigos said, “This is the lowest membership we’ve had in years. It’s hard to pay expenses.”
Demarest’s pool has seen a lot of turnover, as has the town: Many high-powered executives who lost their jobs sold their homes and moved out. “We’re doing better than most of the other pools, but if we don’t get a surge in the next few years, it will be hard to keep up the pool,” said assistant manager Mike Pasciuto. “The costs of chlorine and cleaning supplies have gone up. There’s been talk about merging the Demarest and Closter pools together, but neither town wants to give up their facility.”
Some say that the declining membership has been a steady trend over the past few years. In Washington Township, membership has gone down every year for the past few years by about 15 families, while five to 10 new families join, said board Co-president Scott Davies. But this year was markedly worse because of the economy. The club lost 25 families this year, and no new families came in.
“A lot of swim clubs are having difficulties,” he said. “We had a greater number of people resign this year than in the past with the economy,” he said. “If residents lost their jobs, they will curtail in whatever way they can.”
In an effort to cut costs, the board members pitched in by volunteering at the club on weekends, maintaining the grounds and painting the pool. The club renegotiated insurance and landscaper contracts to save money. And now, the club is more aggressively seeking members, said Davies. “We’re reaching out to other communities. We’re advertising. It’s definitely tougher this year than in the past.”
Westwood has watched membership decline and expenses go up over the past few years. The club, which lost 30 families this year, had a potential buyer, but the board members wanted to hold on to their beloved club.
“We’ve had financial problems,” said Marge Guitella, the board president. “We had to take out a loan to replace a pump, but we are reluctant to raise dues. We don’t want to lose our club. We will advertise, we’re inviting other towns to come, we’re offering discounts, and we’re thinking of lowering our dues. High dues are driving out members in this economy. We are working hard to get through this season.”
>The APP recently updated a database on multiple job holders in NJ who double dip into our pension system. I was shocked to learn that Ridgewood abets such individuals.
Michael Barker has 3 jobs (Ridgewood – $117,864, North Haledon – $17,228, and Pompton Lakes – $22,432) Stephen Sanzari has 4 jobs (Ridgewood – $93,989, Haworth – $5,000, Little Ferry – $3,874, Prospect Park – $35,691) James Zaconie has 3 jobs (Ridgewood – $24,580 , Mahwah – $71,687, Ramsey – $27,337)
There may not be a problem per se with having a full time job supplemented with a part time job but there is no way that these individuals can perform all of these jobs satisfactorily to the level for which they are being compensated. They definitely should not be allowed to double dip into the state pension plan.
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