October - November 2002 Edition 

Letters To Editor    Against Sound Barriers I'd like to respond to the letter you published regarding the sound Barriers along Route 208.   I am strongly opposed to the state and local government spending Taxpayer money to build these barriers. The sound barriers will cost all taxpayers of New Jersey a load of money, and serve to improve the value of the homes of the few people who live along the highway. Most of these people purchased their homes with full knowledge that a highway runs behind their homes. It is unfortunate that these people have sound issues with the traffic, but the highway was there before they bought their homes.   It's the same issue we hear over and over where people want the Taxpayers to pay for improvements to their private property. Should taxpayers pay to repair and improve beachfront homes whenever a nor'easter or hurricane lashes the beaches? Should taxpayers pay to repair and improve homes in a river plain whenever there's a flood? Should taxpayers pay to repair and improve the houses of people who build homes in the forest whenever there's a forest fire? These "hazards" were there at the time they bought their properties and they knew all about the hazards. They should have purchased homes elsewhere. I am a taxpayer and I drive Route 208 almost every day. I enjoy the "green" look of the highway. I don't want disgusting looking sound barriers erected on Route 208. We all know the awful look of the barriers on Route 80, for example.  Gary   Questions Without Answers (A poem submitted on September 11th 2002 by Cynthia, a 4th Grade Radburn School student) Why did this happen? How could this be? Who do they think they are?   Messing with us? We don’t fool around. When something happens we take charge.   By giving help to others, Caring for the world, We work together, all of us, people of the world.   Together we won’t fall. Instead we’ll stand tall, Heads held high, feet on the ground.       A Tip From Todd Memo to the lady driving the silver Ford Taurus eastbound on Howard Ave. this morning between 8:30 and 8:40 AM today. Just a few things to bring to your attention: a) It's raining - SLOW DOWN b) The big yellow thing that was stopped on Howard Ave. is called a school bus. It was stopped well before you came whipping around the Howard Ave. curve at Abbott. The bus was stopped to make a left turn onto Brearly Crescent - as indicated by the blinking thing on the front and rear of the bus. This blinky thing is called a turn signal. c) The bus was stopped to make the left turn, waiting for the black Dodge Intrepid to pass going westbound. The bus driver was nice enough not to turn in front of the Intrepid causing an accident. d) Get a CLUE - what possessed you to attempt to pass the school bus on the left side when it was clearly turning left? Also, the black Intrepid had it's lights on so you should of seen it coming at you. You are lucky that the wet road was not much slicker as the Intrepid could have wacked you head-on becuase you were too stupid to wait!!! As it was the Intrepid stopped a few feet from your front end as you were attempting to pass the bus in the westbound lane of traffic. e) Some Suggestions: Read the driver's manual, it stinks, but it might give you some idea on how to drive. Take some driving lessons - you need them. Use your brain to drive, not as a seat cushion. Traffic Todd I Know Who I'm Voting For Thanks to FairLawnNews.com, I feel that I'm getting truthful information about politicians for the first time in my life.   I read the answers to your questions from the two Freeholder candidates from Fair Lawn.  I couldn't decide which one I liked better.  But then I found out that I could vote for them both.  That makes things much easier.  L. Rosenberg   Neighborhood Watch (copy of letter sent to Dear Mayor Ganz) On behalf of the Warren Point Neighborhood Block Watch, I would like to take this opportunity to thank you, members of the council, the Fair Lawn Police Department, the Acting Borough Manager and all the other people who visited our area last evening during the Annual Night Out celebrations.   Our turn out was a little light this time around, due to so many of our members being on vacation, but those in attendance enjoyed themselves, and for some it is the only time they get to meet Borough Officials on a face-to-face basis.   We unfortunately have had an increase in crime in our area over the last few months, in fact the very house we stood in front of last evening had a burglary a few weeks ago, so we fully understand what impact our Block Watch can have for our neighborhood.    We look forward to working with the Fair Lawn Police Department in the months ahead, to solidify our Block Watch so we can assist in reducing crime etc. in Fair Lawn.   Once again on behalf of us all many thanks.   Best, Keith Brown, Block Watch Coordinator 23-05 Ellington Rd     Health Insurance For Teachers To The Resident Who Wrote "I learned that the Board of Education not only pays 100% of teachers' and I assume other employees' medical insurance but 100% of their spouses'. Is this fair when the insurance costs keep going up and almost no employer pays 100% of even their employees' insurance costs?"    I recently moved from Fair Lawn to Middletown, NJ. My two kids loved the Fair Lawn Teachers. Since it was our only experience with a school system, I made the wrong assumption that we would feel the same about our new school system. I could not have been more mistaken. You should thank your lucky stars for the teachers and administrators you have in Fair Lawn. I look back at their professional approach and the care that they showed with my daughter and son and wish all school systems would follow their example.   All costs keep going up. Don't add a burden to the Fair Lawn teachers by reducing their health care coverage.  Sue What Do You Think?: Send an e- mail to editor@fairlawnnews.com or post a message on the Fair Lawn News Discussion Forum.