Council, Board of Ed Reorganizations in River Edge Top Weekly News

For the first time in several years, the River Edge Council will now have a three-three split as Councilmen-elect Vito Acquafredda (D) and Anthony Cappola (R) officially took their places on the dais during Monday's 2013 Reorganization meeting.

Acquafredda and Cappola each  during the November election and oust incumenbent Republican Council President Paul Cordts(2,299 votes).

In the first-ever November Board of Education election, a small turnout and uncontested races led to the re-election of all River Edge trustees. Wendy Walker, Colin Busteed and Gyuchang Sim were all sworn in for the respective three year terms during Wednesday night's Board of Ed reorganization meeting at Roosevelt School.

The new year was initially expected to bring a resolution to the fate of the Blauvelt Mansion's mortgage sale, but fate it seems is as fickle as ever. The two mortgages were scheduled to be sold on Jan. 4 but have now been pushed back two monthsin the fourth postponement.

For the fifth year in a row, River Edge was force to say farewell to yet another incumbent that lost a reelection bid. Former Council President Paul Cordts stepped down from the council after a single term.

Elected in 2009, the Republican local businessman and alum of Roosevelt Schooland River Dell Regional was twice named Council President, first in 2011 and then again in 2012.

During the River Edge reorganization meeting on Jan. 1, the borough welcomed two new faces as Thomas Sarlo was appointed borough attorney and Jeffrey Carney as the new public defender. All other legal appointments remained the same for the new year.

Limited by the 2% levy cap, lack of revenues and redevelopment interest, River Edge will face many challenges in the coming year all while the governing body seeks to continue its cohesive relationship going. The council is nowsplit down the middle along party lines with Democratic Mayor Sandy Moscaritolo able to cast a tie-breaking vote.

This past December, members of the River Edge PBA Local 201 collected a variety of toys during the annual Toy Drive to benefit families in Monmouth County's Union Beach which was hit hard by Hurricane Sandy's destructive forces.

For well over three decades the Community Foundation of New Jersey (CFNJ) has focused its mission on creating lasting differences in people's lives and communities. The alliance of families, businesses and foundations works to connect donors and organizations as well as issues and communities to provide ongoing leadership on issues critical to the health of New Jersey.

Recently Herb Ouida, the chairman of the Todd Ouida Children's Foundation and NJ Monthly Garden State Seed of Hope honoree, recognized the benefits provided by the Community Foundation of New Jersey.

Things are looking up for the River Dell High School hockey team. The Golden Hawks had a 4-5 record just after Christmas, picking up victories over Hackensack, Jefferson, Passaic Valley and West Orange.

Dr. Stephen Fisher, a local orthodontist with offices in Park Ridge and Oradell, roused smiles in the city of Xian, China with a team of 15 American dental practitioners who traveled to the region to examine children and learn from their peers.

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