Summer 2004 Edition

Letters to The Editor   Warning to Fair Lawn Residents: Is your grass over 6 inches tall?? I was extremely dismayed to arrive home after a hard days work and find a threatening letter from Mr. Michael Leonard, Fair Lawn's Property Maintenance Officer, accusing me of having "grass of a greater height than 6 inches in any part or portion of my lot or land". The letter continued with the statement that failure to comply could result in a $500 fine per offence!!!   What type of petty, callous, vindictive town do we live in? Was my grass actually greater than 6 inches? Yes in certain spots it was; but this is the spring time,and grass does grow, especially after you fertilize it. And what are we even talking about? It's grass!! It's not garbage or trash. My lawn had been mowed 11 days previously!!.   This type of harassment creates very bitter feelings. This is not the way a town should conduct itself. People need to be encouraged to cut their own lawns, exercising and interacting with their neighbors. They should not fear that the dreaded GRASS POLICE will fine them $500 if they're away for the weekend and their grass climbs to the staggering height of 6 inches.   I would like to encourage the town to change this ordinance so that it reflects a genuine concern for preserving Fair Lawn's beauty instead of thoughtlessly angering its residents. Michael Miller   Enforce Litter Laws  Hopefully you will get my comments and print them in the upcoming news. I am boiling at the sight of debris, filth and deterioration along Broadway. Furthermore, on Banta Place, where the commercial buildings are, many lunch wrappers, soda cans, beer bottles, etc. blow down to my street, onto my lawn. The other day while I was walking, I saw a big bag of McDonalds food wrappers and food thrown in the road. Our town needs the rules enforced as far as litter. Otherwise, the value will slowly decline. Zak   Paterson My name is Ed Franks and I publish The Patersonian in Paterson. The primary question you posed to June Avignone is "Besides, the Great Falls what do you think Fair Lawn residents would find interesting to see and do in Paterson?"  As a former Fair Lawn resident (the first 20 years of my life) and someone who was born in Paterson and an amateur student of Paterson history I found Ms. Avignone's answer terribly incomplete.    There is plenty to do in Paterson "besides the Great Falls." Right across the street is the Cultural Center where you can see Native American artifacts. Paterson has a three tiered raceway system (built by Peter Colt) in the early 19th century that is still there today - and the park at the "upper tier" offers panoramic views of this great city. Down Spruce Street is the Paterson Museum (where there are the only two of John Holland's six submarines and the finest Colt revolver collection west of the Mississippi). A short drive away there is Lambert Castle and the "Rooks Tower." Here Catholina Lambert built one of the finest homes in America to house his extraordinary art collection. St. John's Cathedral on Main Street and the statue of Dean McNulty by Paterson sculptor Gaetano Federici is worth the trip. The main library on Broadway was designed by the same architect that designed the Lincoln Memorial in Washington.  There are many grand homes built by Paterson industrialists on the Eastside (soon to be a historic district & the house tour in October is great).   Paterson has its problems but lacking things to do and see isn't one of them. As a kid growing up in Fair Lawn we were taught to fear Paterson and that is the one thing the city has to overcome if people are going to visit the city from Fair Lawn. Paterson is just like any other major city with crime and drugs but unless you're going to participate visiting Paterson isn't any different than visiting any other city. The libraries, museums and the downtown district are perfectly safe. Ed Franks   From the Editor: Thank you for commenting.  Fair Lawn News believes it is very important for Fair Lawn residents to learn more about the city next door.  If you or anyone else would like to share more information with us about Paterson, just send an email to editor@fairlawnnews.com   Overnight Parking Hi, This is the first time I have been to this website and am finding it very interesting reading. I most enjoy the commentaries regarding overnight parking. I firmly believe that it should not apply to home owners. I like the idea that someone had to put a sticker on the car proving you are the resident of the house in front of which you are parked. Then the police can immediately identify a vehicle that does not belong there. I am sure they are not calling in every car to see what address it is registered to so in reality they could be placing a ticket on a car which does belong to a burglar and never know it. While they are being kept busy writing the ticket a house may being broken into 4 doors away.   We have a driveway that is three car lengths long but only the width of one car. We have 3 cars so are constantly moving cars around. The realtor did not tell us this law existed.  I can honestly say we would have never purchased the house. There have been times I had parked my car in front of the house and actually forgot it was there and received a ticket. This does not happen often.  Maybe once or twice a year but I do resent getting a ticket for parking in front of my own house. I also resent that when I am leaving the house in the early am that I have to move 2 cars in order to get to my car.   When we had our driveway redone I called in to the town for overnight parking, and asked if it was all night for 2 nights in a row. I explained why and I was told no.  I guess I can honestly say I do not understand the purpose of the wee hours of the night rule. Someone mentioned leaf removal. Well I have never seen leaves removed at 3am.   And I absolutely think it is a waste of our taxpayers money for us to be paying our police department to be placing tickets on cars in the middle of the night.  There are so many other valuable services they could be providing. Just had to add my comments. This has always been a pet peeve of mine. Nicki Conaway   From the Editor:  There are many opinions expressed on this subject.  To read them, see the Fair Lawn News archives and search on overnight parking.    Remembering Andy  I just wanted to thanks those that wrote concerning the passing of my son ANDY KROTJE.  A note was written in the April/May 2002 edition.  He was a great auxiliary policeman and liked the town a lot. His passing at 21 was a shock for us his parents. He missed my retirement and his zest for life was unstoppable he was always on the streets of town on his bike fishing Dunkerhook. Even when he drove Fair Lawn was his home base and he loved the town. His sprit is always in the town and his mom, dad and brother miss him ever so much!  Thanks His Dad,  Pattie and Andy Krotje   Remembering Jay  It is almost 29 years since our son Jay passed away. I want to take this opportunity to thank each and every wonderful Fair Lawnite once again for all the support they gave when our son needed your prayers and good wishes. You were truly a town with a heart, you reached out to our family although for the most part few of you even knew us or of us. We will never forget the wonderful 'Town with a Heart.' Although we no longer reside in Fair Lawn, we are still there if only in our hearts. You all deserve a BIG THANK YOU and please know that your wonderful deeds, prayers and good wishes will never be forgotten by our family. Fair Lawnites at heart!  Lois & Norman Friedman