The Record, Bergen County, NJ

Megan's Mom has Parental Message ; Kanka: 'Knowledge' of Offender Crucial

HACKENSACK - Maureen Kanka told parents Thursday that they should be grateful to be informed that a sexual offender has moved into the city, and that they should educate themselves and their children about keeping safe. "As frightening as it may be for you, you have knowledge," said Kanka, whose 7-year-old daughter, Megan, was killed by a pedophile 10 years ago. "That's important, and you have to give that knowledge to your children."

Christmas Tree Fire Damages Hackensack House

HACKENSACK - A 2 1/2-story house sustained severe fire damage Thursday after blinking lights strung on a Christmas tree caught fire, igniting the tree and parts of the wood-frame house, officials said. Thick, black smoke was billowing from the windows of the Elm Avenue home when firefighters arrived about 9:20 a.m., said acting Fire Chief Joe Thornton. No one was home, he said.

Bergen County Briefs

Bergen executive hires chief of staff Bergen County Executive Dennis McNerney has hired a former county Democratic organization director as his top aide.

Chilton Hospital Nurse Charged with Drug Theft

PEQUANNOCK - A nurse at Chilton Memorial Hospital has been charged with stealing drugs from the emergency room. Susan Biswas, 37, of Hackettstown was charged Wednesday with theft of movable property and possession of controlled dangerous substances, police said. She was released, and her case will be heard in state Superior Court in Morristown.

Principal's Ethnic Slur: Will He Be Punished?

Hey, you know the joke about a seven-course dinner in Dublin being a potato and a six-pack? How about - stop me if you heard it - the one about the Jewish guy and all his money? Or - this one'll kill you - the one about the Polish couple who got married in their bowling shirts? Even some Irish people, Jews, and Poles find these jokes funny when they hear them in adult settings.

Break with Party Pays Off ; After Vote Switch, Official Gets New Job

A noticeable change occurred in Lou Tedesco last year after the Bergen County freeholder lost his bid for another Republican nomination to the board. A loyal member of the GOP voting bloc before his loss, Tedesco began voting almost exclusively with the Democrats following the April 2004 defeat at the county party's convention.

The Gift of Courage ; Palisades Park Girl Battles Two Brain Tumors

PALISADES PARK - Brushes with mortality and bad luck run in the Araujo family like an unfortunate genetic trait. The father, Manuel, escaped death at least three times while working as an electrician in El Salvador.

'Happy Drunk' Dies of Injuries ; Cops Call Woman's Death 'Suspicious'

HACKENSACK - Living on the streets the past few years, Cindy Russell usually had a late afternoon dinner at the Bergen County Community Action Program for the Homeless building on Orchard Street. They were serving chicken, meatloaf and macaroni on Wednesday. It was her last meal.

Angels in Need of Overcoats

Officials Pledge to Stem Spread of Meadowlands Waste Stations ; 'Illegal' Sites in Use On N. Bergen Railroad Right of Way

NORTH BERGEN - Fearing a mounting public health threat, state, county and local officials on Thursday promised a coordinated effort to stem the proliferation of unregulated solid waste transfer stations along a railroad right of way in the Meadowlands. Four "illegal" waste transfer stations, serviced by the New York, Susquehanna & Western Railway Corp., are currently operating in North Bergen, and two more are planned, officials said.

Freeholders Now All Democrat but Far From Unified ; Deputy Director Is Ousted in What Is Called Political Payback

The Passaic County Board of Freeholders is now all Democrat for the first time since 1962 after new members were sworn in Wednesday night. More than 200 people crowded into the 168th reorganization meeting at the county administration building in Paterson.

A Place Where Teens Can Turn ; Grant Funds School Counseling Center

HALEDON - Manchester Regional High School will receive a $250,000 annual grant to run a year-round counseling center, one of 19 schools to be awarded funds this year in a state program promoting adolescent mental health. The state Department of Human Services grant will fund a drop-in center at the school that will offer students individual and group counseling and other social services.

Mountain Retreat Unveiled ; Traffic, Water Supply Are Concerns for Condo Development

VERNON - It does not look like a village. But just wait.

Obituaries

PHILIP S. ALFIS, 77, of Hanover, Mass., formerly of Bergenfield, died Tuesday. Before retiring, he was a self-employed carpenter. Arrangements: Sullivan Funeral Home, Hanover. VICTORIA WALLACE ANANIA, 84, of Fair Lawn died Sunday. Before retiring in 2003, she owned Vickie's Alterations, Fair Lawn, where she worked for 52 years. Arrangements: Vander Plaat Colonial Home, Fair Lawn.

Officials Fear Budget Cap Law Could Hurt Schools

MONTVALE - State and local school officials and others debated a new state law Thursday that will cap a school district's spending. The controversial law, S-1701, was adopted in June and limits school budget increases to 2.5 percent a year or the cost of living, whichever is higher. It also limits items that districts can list in secondary ballot questions to raise additional funds, significantly reduces surpluses and restricts transfers between line items.

Freeholders Hire Aide Despite Concern

Democrats on the Bergen County Freeholder Board officially replaced their communications director, despite concerns that the board had allowed the county executive's office to dictate the move. Jennifer Homa, who worked for the party during the freeholder and sheriff campaigns last fall, replaces Rocco A. Mazza, who had served since January 2003.

Obituaries

ALEXANDER SZCZUCKI, 82, of Lodi died Thursday. He was born in Poland and came to the United States in 1922. Before retiring 25 years ago, he was a clerk for the U.S. Postal Service in Passaic. He was an Army veteran of World War II. He was a parishioner of Holy Rosary R.C. Church, Passaic. Arrangements: Shook Funeral Home, Clifton. SUSAN CENNAMO TERRONE, 61, of Ringwood died Wednesday. Before retiring in 1999, she was a secretary at Erskine Lake Elementary School, Ringwood, where she worked f...

County Clerk Adds Internet Services

The Passaic County Clerk's Office expanded Internet services this week. Applications for passports, notary public, voter registration and absentee ballots are now available on the county's Web site.

Mayor Sets Goals for Wayne in '05 ; Control Taxes, Protect Open Space, Save Money

WAYNE - Curbing taxes, preserving open space and exploring a new energy source for the municipal complex are among the priorities Mayor Scott Rumana has outlined for 2005. Rumana also cited highlights of the past year Wednesday night at the annual municipal reorganization. He said the township saved taxpayers $534,000 by refinancing debt, $345,000 over three years by rebidding banking services, and generated $100,000 in lease revenue for a new cellphone tower set to go on municipal property. ...

Bomb Threat Spurs School Evacuation

PATERSON - A prankster phoned in a bomb threat to John F. Kennedy High School on Thursday morning, forcing the evacuation of more than 2,600 students while police searched the premises. A secretary in the principal's office received an anonymous call at 8:31 a.m. saying a bomb was set to go off two hours later. Principal Richard Roberto quickly met with school security director Jim Smith and decided to evacuate the building.