Council requests due process for fired workers
By Howard Prosnitz
(posted on June 17, 2008)
The council approved a resolution asking the County Board of Elections to give due process to two Teaneck women who were fired from their jobs as election poll watchers. Albertha Shumpert and Pansy Grossman were fired by Board of Election Commissioner Eileen DeBari following a May 13 incident at the Bryant School polling place. The council’s action came near the end of a long and contentious council meeting on June 11 attended by more than 100 residents, including many from the northeast, who spoke in support of the two women, and a large number of Orthodox Jews.
According to Board of Education president Dr. Henry Pruitt, a resident of the northeast, an anonymous flyer had circulated in the West Englewood section, where many Orthodox Jews live, urging residents to attend the council meeting to support Mayor Elie Y. Katz because a (verbal) attack was being planned against him. Katz is an Orthodox Jew.
"Something is going on that is organized to divide the black and Jewish communities, and the council needs to show leadership to stop it," Pruitt told the council.
But most of the residents of the northeast spoke not to attack Katz, but to support Shumpert and Grossman. [Full Story]
Officials break ground at site
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Staff Photo by Roy Caratozzolo III
Township broke ground April 29 to build a handicap accessible playground in Votee Park.
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Township, state and county officials were on hand, along with a crowd of more than 50 residents, on April 30 for the groundbreaking for Teaneck’s first all inclusive playground.
The playground, which will be located at the north end of Votee Park, will contain facilities for both able-bodied and disabled children.
"We are very excited to have this come to fruition," said Diane Berger, president of Special Parents Of Teaneck (SPOT). "Everyday provides challenges for children with special needs."
There are few playgrounds available that are designed for children with special needs. Pine Street resident Jorgi Moya takes her autistic son to Central Park in Manhattan, which has an enclosed playground. Children with autism tend to run randomly and are prone to falls, she said.
The Teaneck playground is largely the result of efforts by Grenville Road resident Cindy Balsam, who campaigned for the playground for two years, speaking at public meetings and sending numerous e-mails to township officials about the need for such a playground. Balsam’s youngest child, Nettie, is handicapped.
"When Nettie was born our lives took a new journey," said Balsam. "We could not identify any equipment to accommodate Nettie. All children want to play together and be accepted."
Balsam read her remarks from a prepared speech at the groundbreaking before being overwhelmed by emotion and unable to continue.
The 180 by 90 foot playground is partly funded by a county grant of approximately $180,000. The remainder of the estimated $415,000 cost will come from funds from the Teaneck Municipal outdoor Space Trust.
Mayor Elie Y. Katz said that the playground will be a valuable addition to the township’s park system.
"In addition to giving children with special needs an opportunity to have fun in our parks, it will also serve as a valuable educational and social environment for all of our children," Katz said.
The playground will be equipped with tot swings, swings for older children and adaptive swings for handicapped children; equipped with seat belts, large plastic seats and plastic backs. The slides will have ground level access and platforms at every 12 inches. Sensory apparatus will be installed throughout to guide visually impaired children. The entire playground will be enclosed and a resilient rubber surface will cover the ground.
Construction is scheduled to begin May 13, and the playground is expected to be ready for the summer.
668 Tilden Ave.
After 13 years, potential park remains dormant
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Staff Photo By Roy Caratozzolo III
A 100 by 40 foot township owned lot at 668 Tilden Ave. was denied an application by Habitat for Humanity to build a one family house on October 17, 1995. Neighbors of the plot today have own ideas on what to do with the land.
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By Howard Prosnitz
(posted on April 30, 2008)
On October 17, 1995, the council denied an application by Habitat for Humanity to build a one family house on a 100 by 40 foot township owned lot at 668 Tilden Ave.
The council had initially approved the application at a meeting earlier that month but reversed its decision after neighbors of the lot, which is located between 660 and 670 Tilden, objected to the proposed construction, citing disruption of the neighborhood and the small size of the plot.
Under the township building code, the property is too narrow to build on and would require a variance.
At the October 17 meeting, Mayor Peter Bower, who joined with a majority of his colleagues in voting against the project, said he was seeking to develop vest pocket parks in the township and wanted to include the Tilden Avenue site.
But 13 years later the property is still owned by the township and is still vacant. Although Vincent Werling, whose house abuts the property to the east, voluntarily maintains the lot, there are areas thick with weeds. Poison Ivy grows along the front and sides. A fireplace, almost completely submerged under green ivy, and a broken wall stand as evidence of a former construction. A few tulips planted Werling are the only dashes of color.
"There are lots of weeds and droppings from vines that create new growth," said Vanessa, a neighbor on the west side of the lot who did not want her last name used. She said that she trims the vines that overreach onto her property.
[Full Story]
| Teaneck |
| | Fourth of July
07/02/2008
Teaneck’s Fourth of July celebration will contain many activities such as face painting, music, dancing, parades, pony rides and more to enjoy a day outside celebrating the holiday.
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 | teentechblog.com
07/02/2008
Eli Blumenthal, Chaim Gartenberg, Tzvi Solomon and Charlie Wollman, all residents of West Englewood and students at Torah Academy on Palisade Avenue, have established a blog.
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 | Dedication
07/02/2008
Residents gathered at Brett Park on the evening of June 21, the summer solstice, to honor the late Marvin Mausner, a dedicated environmentalist who died in March 2007.
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 | Program on Forgiving
06/24/2008
There are more than 100 prescription drugs marketed for treating psychiatric disorders. Then there is the Teaneck Creek Conservancy.
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 | Unity Day
06/24/2008
Intermittent rain could not stop Teaneck’s first Unity Day, which went on as scheduled and promised, rain or shine, on Sunday from noon to 8 p.m.
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| | Poll watchers
06/17/2008
The council approved a resolution asking the County Board of Elections to give due process to two Teaneck women who were fired from their jobs as election poll watchers.
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| | Board of Elections
06/10/2008
Two Teaneck poll workers who were fired from their jobs are suing the County Board of Elections.
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 | In Memory
06/10/2008
In 1962, when Fred Greene became the first African-American police officer in Teaneck, a superior officer bluntly informed him that the town wasn’t ready for a black cop, recalled Greene’s friend, former Councilman Leo Wielkocz.
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| | Holy Name Hospital
02/05/2008
Neighbors of Holy Name Hospital are protesting a proposal to add a deck to the hospital’s rear parking lot. Hospital representatives presented plans to the board of adjustment on Jan 16. The hearing on the application is scheduled to continue at the Ma
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