November 6, 2008 Hawthorne Press Villegas, Greer in Prospect Park Two political neophytes, Silvia Villegas and Andre Greer, were elected to the Prospect Park Council. Running on the Democrat ticket, the pair is replacing Councilman Richard Esquiche, who did not seek-re-election and Councilman Amer Haobsh, who lost his seat in the June Primary. Villegas received 1236 votes; Greer, 1205 over Republicans Thomas Magura, 500 and Lois Hubbard, 454 as well as Independents, David Vanderwall, 150 and Radhames Capellan, 183. The Democrats have all seven seats on the Borough Council. In the Presidential race, Barack Obama garnered 1672 votes out of the municipality to 466 for John McCain. Senator Frank Lautenberg received 1468 to 396 for Dick Zimmer. Congressman Bill Pascrell had 1599 votes beating Roland Stratten with 331. For freeholder, the Democrats, Greyson Hannigan and Bruce James polled 1349 and 1363 respectively. GOP contenders Jerry Holt and Michael Marotta had 436 and 444. A total of 2113 out of 3360 registered voters cast ballots for a 63% turnout. October 25, 2008 The Record Father who killed infant gets 10 years by John Petrick In what a prosecutor called a sad example of young people becoming parents too soon, a Prospect Park man was sentenced to 10 years in state prison today for accidentally killing his infant son in a fit of anger. Joan Bueno of Prospect Park with his attorney, John T. Somohano, during a previous court hearing. Joan Bueno Sr., 25, admitted this summer that he recklessly – though not intentionally – caused his 6-month-old child Joan Jr.’s death when he threw the child down onto a futon in December 2006. The child died of injuries suffered when he struck his head on the arm of the futon in the Prospect Park apartment where Bueno was living with the child’s mother at the time. Bueno pleaded guilty to aggravated manslaughter in July. As part of the sentence meted out today by state Superior Court Judge Ronald Marmo in Paterson, he will have to serve 85 percent of his term before he's eligible for parole. This was the first criminal conviction for Bueno, a Domenican Republic native who got his General Equivalency Diploma in Paterson at age 22 and had been working as a driver for a distribution company prior to his arrest. “It was a horrible tragedy and I honestly don’t believe this will ever happen again in Mr. Bueno’s lifetime,” said defense attorney John Somohano of Paterson. Bueno’s father was the only relative to attend today’s sentencing. The child’s mother was not in court, though Mark Ranges, Passaic County senior assistant prosecutor, noted she has attended other pre-trial hearings. “Understandably it’s very difficult for her,” he said, adding, “She doesn’t believe he meant the child harm.” The incident occurred after the couple had a fight. “What were you angry with her about?” Judge Marmo asked the defendant. “I don’t remember,” Bueno said through an interpreter. “We had been arguing.” He said nothing further, and declined to comment when the judge gave him an opportunity to speak just prior to sentencing. “There was an argument, the child happened to be crying on the futon at the time, and he took his anger out on the child,” Ranges said. “It is a result of young individuals having babies. They’re not prepared, physically or emotionally." July 17, 2008 Hawthorne Press Prospect Park taxes up over $1000 Since the 2008 municipal budget hasn't yet been adopted, the Borough of Prospect Park has issued estimated tax bills for the third quarter of 2008. Taxes are rising over $1000 on the average property ($146,000 assessment) and since the bills began arriving in the mail, property owners have been flooding Borough Hall with calls. Based on a letter by Mayor Mohamed Khairullah that went out to property owners, the municipal portion of the tax increase is $494.59. According to the communication, $325.64 results from the loss of state aid; $168.95 for municipal operations. The portion of the increase for county taxes is $151.54; for Manchester Regional, $440.76 and for the local school, a reduction of $6.73. The borough was waiting to hear if extraordinary aid would be provided by the state. Those figures were released last Friday and Prospect Park is receiving $325,000. The municipality had applied for $350,000. Prospect Park lost a total of $410,575 in state aid. When the New Jersey State budget was adopted $74,118 in municipal aid was restored; now $325,000 will be provided through extraordinary aid. In a press release issued by Khairullah, the mayor thanked legislators in the 35th District - Senator John Girgenti, Assemblywomen Nellie Pou and Elease Evans for lobbying on behalf of Prospect Park. "This comes as great financial relief to the homeowners of Prospect Park," he said. Asked how much of a reduction in takes the extraordinary aid would provide, Khairullah told The Press Tuesday evening that he didn't have the exact number but recalled that it would be over $200. He referred the question to the Borough Treasurer Steve Sanzari, who couldn't be reached prior to deadline. Sanzari reported that the restoration of $74,118 would reduce taxes by $59. The mayor said Sanzari was working to finalize the budget in hopes that it could be ready to be adopted at the July 21st Borough Council meeting. July 10, 2008 Hawthorne Press Summer camp at Hofstra Park to create $8000 short fall Summer camp is in full swing at Hofstra Park but Councilman Hassan Fahmy, who chairs the recreation committee, predicted that the program would be operating at a deficit. "We have 27 campers registered " said Fahmy, "but only 17 attended the first week. There is a director, an assistant director and six counselors. Based on a ratio of one counselor to 10 children, we only need three counselors." Fahmy predicted that the eight-week program would be running on an $8000 loss. "I don't have $8000 in my budget. We need more money or we need to cut the number of counselors," said the councilman, "If we cut the number of counselors in half, we'll break even." "It's summer employment, " said Councilwoman Esther Perez, "It should have been made clear that they would only be hired as needed." Borough Attorney Denis Murphy said that when the resolution was passed to authorize the summer camp program, It was to come back to the Borough Council for final approval." "It worries me that we're dealing with kids," said Councilman Richard Esquiche, "What if 27 kids show up." "It's still a ratio of one to 10," answered Fahmy, "We'd still only need three." Esquiche replied, "I don't want to have to tell people we hired that we have to let them go." Fahmy said the budget for the program was $1500 and it was supposed to be selfsustaining. "The previous year, the counselors volunteered half of their time," he said. "Let's use logic, " said Councilman Amer Haobsh. "It wasn't planned properly. Now you're saying the borough should compensate for it ... We should not pay additional money for improper planning. It well be a big burden on the taxpayer." Haobsh suggested cutting the counselors' schedules down to half-time. According to Fahmy, the director had already reduced their hours. "It would have been a $14,000 loss. Now it's an $8000 loss," he said. Mayor Mohammed Khairullah suggested asking local companies for donations to subsidize the program. He said Fahmy, Esquiche, who is the council president, and himself should sit down, look over the recreation budget "and come up with a compromise." The matter will be addressed by the Borough Council at its public meeting on July 21. June 12, 2008 Hawthorne Press How To Stop The Election Circus Everytime there's a contested election in Prospect Park, campaign workers gather at the street corners in and around the public school and the municipal building, two polling places, to get out the vote. Although NJ Election Law prohibits anyone from politicking within 100 feet of a polling place, these street corners are apparently just beyond the limit. The noise and congestion was so intense in the June 3rd Primary, that public officials want to do something about it. At Monday night's worksession, Rev. Anthony Morales addressed the Borough Council stating, "There was such disorder that day. It was a disappointment." A member of the school board, Morales said there should be a restriction on anyone under 16 being in the streets. The resident also said the chaos outside the deli across from borough hall impeded the owner's business. "I agree 100%," responded Councilman Hassan Fahmy, "Something needs to be done." Council President Richard Esquiche agreed that campaign workers should be at least 16. "It gets crazy," he said. Councilwoman Esther Perez stated that "they were very rowdy. I was taking my mother to vote and she was scared." "I had this same concern," said Mayor Mohammed Khairullah, "Regardless of which side you were on, this was out of control." Khairullah confessed that "I called the police and said I wanted the crowds off the street. It was dangerous ... I salute the enthusiasm. It's important for you to be involved in civics but I do think it needs to be regulated. With that number of signs, the noise, etc., it did create a difficult situation." Borough resident Dave Vanderwall chided Khairullah for his words, "I see the circus here twice a year on Election Day. Our own mayor hires these people to go out there." Andre Greer, a council candidate, said, "I also think something should be done about proper dress attire. Some young ladies were dressed inappropriately." The mayor said council members should forward their recommendations to Borough Attorney Denis Murphy. "We'll get together, pass something in July and have it ready for the November election," said Khairullah. June 3, 2008 The Record Prospect Park Primary Results In the contested Democratic primary for two council nominations, newcomer Silvia Villegas and running mate Andre Greer toppled incumbent Amer Haobsh and his running mate, former recreation director Hugo Montoya. Villegas was recently appointed vice president of the Board of Health and serves as the president of the borough Democratic Club. She is a native of Colombia and a divorced mother of two. She has worked in security at Marcal Paper Mills in Elmwood Park for the past seven years. Greer, the Board of Health’s clerk and welfare director, a minister and father of one, is a counselor and adjunct psychology director at Passaic County Community College. He also owns a for-profit company in Paterson that mentors youths with behavioral problems both at school and at home. Villegas and Greer, who were supported by the mayor and the Democratic County Committee, stressed the importance of bringing the council and community together and offering more recreation programs for borough children. They will face Republicans Lois Hubbard and Thomas F.X. Magura in the fall elections. The GOP duo faced no opposition in their party’s primary. May 22. 2208 Hawthorne Press $100,000 cut approved for Manchester budget A $100,000 cut has been approved for the Manchester Regional School budget, which was defeated by voters on April 15. The reduction will eliminate that amount appropriated in capital programs. Manchester's School Business Administrator Jeanette Makus said the school board was planning to replace univents in the classrooms but has deferred that project for another year. The tax levy for the regional budget now totals $9,149,666. The reduction results in $39,161 less in taxes for Haledon, $31,204 less for North Haledon and $29,635 less for Prospect Park. With the reduction, the tax impact on the average property will be as follows: $46.85 increase in Haledon, where the average property assessment is $160,200; $114.36 increase in North Haledon (average property assessment $144,325) and $226.14 in Prospect Park (average property assessment $148,223). All three of the sending communities have voted to approve the reduction. The North Haledon Council held a special meeting at 7:45 am last Friday to ratify the resolution. April 17, 2008 Hawthorne Press Magura, Makino win in Prospect Park race Incumbent BOE member Thomas Magura was re-elected on Tuesday but board member Nabim Rehim lost his seat to Alejandro Makino. A first time candidate, Makino led a field of three contenders with 186 votes, followed by Magura with 163 and Rahim with 156. A fourth candidate, Tulai Abaza, had dropped out of the race. The school budget, which requires a tax levy of $2,389,174 was approved 164-98. Al Demarest, who was appointed to the Prospect Park seat on the Manchester Regional Board of Education, was elected to that seat in Tuesday's election. He beat challenger, Frederick Mutooni, 259-39. The Manchester budget, which has a $9,249,528 tax levy, was defeated 773-383. It lost in Prospect Park 207-64. March 26, 2008 The Gazette New Starters Step Up For Manchester by Edward Kensik Despite a lot of turnover, the Manchester Regional High School boys basketball team had a good season. Manchester head basketball coatch Rich Sponzilli said he was amazed on how well his team played after losing many players from the previous season. Between graduations and transfers, the Falcons entered this past season with pretty much an entire new starting cast The lone holdover was junior forward Delshawn Howard. Despite only having Howard back, Manchester took it to the competition and won a share of the BPSL King division championship with Elmwood Park. Manchester finished the season with a loss at Englewood in the second round of the Group 2 North. "I'm very happy with what we did this season coming from what we had at the start of the season," said Sponzilli. Leading the team to a 16-9 record and 12-4 in the BPSL was Howard with 12.5 points, nine rebounds and three assists per game along with senior point guard Joe Cetrullo with 16 points and six assists per game. Cetrullo also sunk 60 three-pointers for the season. Both Cetrullo and Howard were named to the first team All-BPSL and took home All-Passaic County honorable mentions. In terms of Cetrullo he saved the best for last. "He was never a varsity starter until this season;' said Sponzilli. "He is a very tenacious defensive player and he is an excellent threepoint shooter" For Howard, Sponzilli has big plans for him for the 2008-09 season. "Delshawn is the most athletic player that I have coached," said the coach. "He is just coming into his own and I expect him to be one of the best players in the county next season." Other top players for the Falcons this season were junior center Isiah Zuber and senior guard Matt Smith. Smith compiled 10 points and six rebounds per game and Zuber had 8.5 rebounds per game and 45 blocked shots this season. "I think he will be dominating on the boards next season;' said Sponzilli of Zuber. "He needs to add more strength to his game in the off season." February 28, 2008 Hawthorne Press Former councilman ejected from Prospect Park meeting A former councilman was ejected by Mayor Mohamed Khairullah during some verbal sparring at the February 19th Prospect Park Council meeting. At issue was a statement by the mayor that residents were limited to three minutes of public comment and that the mayor and council members did not have to respond to their comments. The controversy centered on the creation of a new Land Use Bond which would abolish the Board of Adjustment. During the public hearing on that ordinance Board of Adjustment member Joe Bridge refuted a statement by the mayor that the move was necessitated by a shortage of volunteers. "The Board of Adjustment is down to four members because the mayor did not bother to appoint anyone. If there's an application, we need five members for a quorum so we couldn't hear any cases," said Bridge. "Maybe you should have re-appointed some people," said the resident, "It would have protected the town," referring to pending applications. "You're dissolving the board anyway." Then Bridge challenged the mayor's statement that public officials did not have to respond ro residents' questions. "You put out political flyers that you're the mayor for all the people," charged Bridge. "Don't bring up politics," answered the mayor, "You're out of order." "You bring politics into it," charged Bridge, about Khairullah painting himself as "a good Democratic mayor." "You're out of order. This is your second warning," responded Khairullah. "What are you going to do ... remove me," quipped Bridge. "Remove him," the mayor ordered. At this point, Police Chief Frank Franco jumped up and went to escort Bridge from the room. "You have to respect the rules," Kahirullah continued as other people in the audience were shouting, "Let him stay." "If a resident asks a question, it deserves an answer," Bridge continued. Khairullah contended that his statement was an explanation of the rules, "I'm not saying I'll not answer. February 28, 2008 Hawthorne Press Mayor Breaks Tie To Create Land Use Board Mayor Mohamed Khairullah cast the deciding vote, breaking a 3-3 tie, to adopt ordinance 2008-01, which establishes a new Land Use Board. The measure abolishes the Board of Adjustment and allows the Planning Board to take over all planning and zoning functions. With the Canyons at Prospect Park proposed for the quarry, borough resident John Witham asked, "Will these people be qualified. Will they have knowledge or will we just have puppets." Witham said Land Use Board members need to be "independent thinkers, not political allies. This project is a once in a lifetime development." Councilman Amer Haobsh agreed "We need qualified people. We won't have that." The mayor responded that when vacancies occur on the Planning Board, It is his intention to appoint some of the former Board of Adjustment members. School Board Member Tom Magura asked Khairullah why a new board was needed "What is the good reason for doing this," he asked. "It's for efficiency and lack of volunteers " said the mayor. "I heard your reasoning," said resident Don White. "I feel the one reason not to make a change is that it works with two boards." "Both systems work," answered Khairullah. He noted that even in large cities, members of the Planning or Zoning Boards are "members of the public who hear these applications. That's the mechanism of the law." Voting for the ordinance were Councilmembers Richard Esquiche,Cristina Peralta and Adnan Zakaria. Councilmembers Hassan Fahmy, Esther Perez and Haobsh voted against it. January 10, 2008 Hawthorne Press Prospect Park Reorganization Meeting It was standing room only at the Prospect Park reorganization meeting on January 4 as Councilmembers Adnan Zakaria and Cristina Peralta started their new terms. After Mayor Mohamed Khairullah administered their oaths, he had to use his executive power to designate a council president. Councilman Richard Esquiche was nominated and got the votes of himself, Zakaria and Peralta. The only other member in attendance, Councilman Amer Haobsh, abstained prompting Borough Attorney Denis Murphy to render an opinion. "The election of a council president needs four affirmative votes," said Murphy, who reads the statute out loud. "If they can't decide, then the mayor has the authority to appoint the council president." "In that case, I'd like to go with the majority of the council," said Khairullah appointing Esquiche. Khairullah, recapping the events of 2007, touched on another controversial topic - the potential redevelopment of Tilcon Quarry. "We're in the process of a feasibility study," said the mayor about the preliminary plans of Carriage Hill Associates, the developer who is proposing 795 housing units. "It looks very positive that Tilcon may leave by 2009." He estimated the new development could generate between $3-$8 million in annual revenue. Zakaria thanked the mayor for serving as campaign manager, praising the school board, "all the Democratic Party and the county committee. All do a good job with us and working hard." Peralta pledged to do her best, thanking the mayor and Borough Clerk Yancey Wazirmas "for helping us through election time." The new year saw Ray Dansen take over as fire chief, succeeding Doug Struyk, who has held the position for two years. Scott Laubshire is the assistant chief. Judge Joseph Perconti was appointed to another three year term. The municipal court administrator is Heide Mulcahey and deputy court administrator, Naomi Kasib Del Valle. The resignation of the entire Board of Health, another controversial issue in 2007, was resolved with the following appointments: Janet Guariglia, who had been on the board and four new members: Wilma Vander Molen, Maria Rivera, Silvia Villegas and Frederick Mutooni. Andre Greer, who was at the center of the Board of Health controversy, was reappointed to the welfare director position. Last year, the mayor had also named him secretary to the Board of Health. This appointment will be determined by the board members, as required by state statute. Murphy was reappointed as borough attorney; Boswell McClave as borough engineer, Ferraioli, Wielkotz, Cerullo & Cuva as auditors; David Ferrante, municipal prosecutor; Richard Baldi, public defender. Peralta the novice member, was appointed as the council representative on the Planning Board. Construction Official Dave Heerema was reappointed to the board. January 3, 2008 Hawthorne Press Rumore Retires As Court Administrator A surprise farewell party was held Friday for Shirley Rumore, who has been Prospect Park's court administrator for 30 Years. Hired in 1977, she began as a crossing guard and was later named deputy court administrator. "It's going to be strange not to see Mrs. Rumore's calm, smiling face," said Mayor Mohamed Khairullah about the court administrator whose office window faces the outside door at borough hall. Court Officer Eddie Vander Ploeg said, "Shirley's presence has a calming effect on people. No matter how crazy court night gets, she smiles and keeps things moving." Rumore has served under four judges starting with the late James Evers. "Judge Evers and Judge Robert Baer always managed to fit in a history lesson sometime during a court session," she said. Every judge has a different personality. With former Judge Ralph Faasse it was his insistence to hold miners personally responsible for their misdeeds. He would team up a juvenile with a mentor or a non-profit group and have the kid work off the restitution for some criminal mischief or the fines for some offense. "The first time it was done," she said "he gave a young boy the choice of going to the Juvenile Detention Center or working with scout leaders for a year. He chose community service. That boy is now a doctor. The current judge, Joseph Perconti is fair, knows the law and is willing to work with defendants but at a Wednesday court session, if he says, "I may have been born on a Tuesday but it wasn't yesterday," Rumore warned, "Watch out." Deputy Court Administrator Heide Mulcahey will be stepping up to fill Rumore's shoes. "I have known Mrs. Rumore since I was a little kid," she said. "I grew up with her son. It's going to be strange not having Shirley here. We have been a team for a long time." Councilwoman Esther Perez called Rumore "a genuine lady. She always goes out of her way to help anyone and always has a kind word ready. She's our goodwill ambassador." "I can't ever remember a cross word from her to anyone, " added Councilman Radhames Capellan. "She worked for the court but when she knew help was needed she pitched in and worked for borough residents. Rumore is planning a trip to Florida and while she knows the next phase of her life will be another adventure "I'm going to miss being here seeing my friends everyday," she said. "I will always be part of this town. I've worked with a lot of good people over the years. I've been blessed with a lots of friends." |
or