| After Thoughts |
| | Taking electricity for granted
04/09/2008
It was about 6:30 in the evening when the electricity went off, just beginning to get dark enough to turn on a few lights.
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| | A reader’s ‘Moment to Remember’
03/27/2008
One of the fringe benefits of writing a column is the mail you receive. I try to answer every letter as long as the return address is readable and in the future I thought I’d occasionally share some of them with other readers.
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| | ‘Idol’ not an American original
03/19/2008
I don’t watch "American Idol," but I couldn’t help but notice in the news that there’s a minor controversy concerning one of the current contestants on that popular television program.
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| | Time for another Kennedy-like commitment
03/12/2008
Watching the shuttle Atlantis glide gracefully back to earth last week I couldn’t help but wonder how many Americans were aware that it had even been in space.
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| | Wanna buy some dollars?
03/05/2008
Let’s face it, the “almighty dollar” isn’t as mighty as it once was.
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| | An underdog becomes top dog
02/29/2008
I guess you could say an underdog finally won the dog show when a beagle named Uno garnered Best of Show last week at the Westminster Kennel Club’s competition in Madison Square Garden.
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| | When Giants roamed the Polo Grounds
02/20/2008
Steve Tisch, co-owner of the New York Giants, stood on the platform following the team’s victory in what will always rank among the most exciting Super Bowl games in history and shouted, “This win is for all Giant fans who for the past 30 years suppor
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| | Be my Valentine
02/12/2008
Do they still exchange Valentine’s Day cards in school?
I wouldn’t be surprised to find out that in this new age of enlightenment when every child apparently wins an award in every competition, the practice has either been discarded or drastically re
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| | Turning a blind eye to segregation
02/05/2008
Once again this year as Martin Luther King’s birthday was observed I couldn’t help but feel a bit guilty. Each year it’s a reminder that I could have done more.
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| | Snoopy had it right
01/29/2008
I doubt if you can tell the difference, but I’m writing this column on a new computer. It’s the third or fourth one I’ve had – I’ve lost count – and I’ve never understood how any of them work.
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| | Taking the comics seriously
01/16/2008
Among the numerous childish things I failed to put away when I became a man were the comic pages in the Sunday newspaper. I still glance at them to see how things are going with “Popeye,” “Blondie,“ “Charlie Brown,” and all my other old frien
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| | When winter was more visible
01/16/2008
Whenever there’s a bone chilling bite in the winter air I think of grandpa’s red flannel long johns and how they used to hang on the clothesline in our backyard in Bergenfield where I grew up; frozen like cardboard and dancing stiffly in the wind like
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| | Don't look it up; Google it
01/03/2008
I know I write a lot about “the good old days,” but the truth is, of course, that they weren’t necessarily always that good and, for that matter, many things today are both better and easier. Consider, the search for knowledge.
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| Arts & Leisure |
 | On Stage: Review of "The Cripple Inishmaan"
04/16/2008
"The Cripple of Inishmaan" at the Nutley Little Theatre offers audiences a dark comic tale enriched with Irish music, virtually flawless accents and a compelling storyline.
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| | Boz and the Bard wants to ‘play’
03/27/2008
The next play featured in Boz and the Bard Productions' "Play With a Play" series starts right off inside the main character's strange dream world. On Saturday, April 5 at 7 p.m., residents can participate in the reading of this new play at the Center For
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 | Old passion leads to new road ahead
03/05/2008
The old adage says that in everyone’s life comes a fork in the road when a person will have to decide what path to choose. David Marchesani happened to take the road less traveled, and that decision has made all the difference for him.
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 | Players Guild offers entertainment
02/29/2008
If “You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown,” is an indication of the quality of the remaining 88th season at the Players Guild of Leonia, then audiences are in for an entertaining, enjoyable time.
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| | Comedians sought for 'Laugh-Off'
01/29/2008
Gilda’s Club Northern New Jersey is seeking amateur and professional comedians to compete in its ninth annual anniversary celebration “Laugh Off.”
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| | Audience participation encouraged
01/29/2008
Audience members continue to help writers “Play with a Play,” the monthly play reading workshop sponsored by Boz and the Bard Productions, Inc. at the Center For Modern Dance Education, Hackensack.
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| County and Region |
 | Rothman talks to locals
04/04/2008
As any parent would, Kathleen Smith was deeply saddened when her son was recently denied entrance into the United States Naval Academy. And she was just as confused and concerned by the reasons her son was declined.
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| | More than 40 connected to gambling, drug ring
04/04/2008
They were hiding in plain sight. One person tended bar in East Rutherford. Another sold real estate in Carlstadt. One was a nanny in Rutherford. Others included a plumber, a carpenter, a municipal public works employee and a Bergen County parks department
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 | Gov. Corzine signs Patricia's Law
03/27/2008
A bill named for a missing Bogota woman has given law enforcement officials specific instructions to follow when missing persons cases arise. With Gov. Jon Corzine’s signature, the state enacted Patricia’s Law, which requires authorities to immediatel
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 | FOCAS volunteers maintain their focus
03/19/2008
Crystal, china, jewelry, household items – it sounds like a visit to one of the local malls. But instead of an overcrowded and overpriced shopping plaza, these are just some of the items offered at the upcoming flea market sponsored by FOCAS (Friends of
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 | Creative minds use helping hands
03/12/2008
Hackensack University Medical Center and Bergen County Community Action Partnership (CAP) have long benefited from the efforts of a group of local knitters. For the past 17 years, the “Knitwits” of Ridgefield Park have been knitting and crocheting bla
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| | Hackensack University Medical Center prevails
03/06/2008
In the more than three months since Pascack Valley Hospital (PVH) closed its doors, local residents and officials alike have kept their fingers crossed that acute-care services, namely an emergency room, would return to Westwood. By mid-afternoon last Wed
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| | Air quality study deemed inconclusive
02/29/2008
Fumes from taxiing jets are responsible for air pollution, but a study released last month revealed that the air quality around busy Teterboro Airport isn’t much worse than it is throughout Bergen County’s other urban neighborhoods.
Paid for by the P
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| | To locals, power change in Cuba means very little
02/29/2008
Benito Rivero, the man who some call the “unofficial Cuban ambassador to Hackensack,” slyly smiled when asked about the recent change at the top in his native land. Whether it’s Fidel Castro in charge in Cuba or his brother Raul, for Rivero, the mor
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| | Booker honors history as he makes it
02/20/2008
Newark Mayor Cory Booker makes an impression when he walks into a room. As the chief executive of New Jersey’s largest city and as a young African-American politician with the potential for higher office, people tend to notice him. But when Booker, 38,
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 | Life lessons learned through martial arts
02/20/2008
A word of advice: Lie on your back and start kicking as if you’re pedaling a bicycle.
It’s a simple move, perhaps many have repeated the motion as a strength training or cardio exercise. But to Sensei Melissa Bopp, the maneuver, though sometimes awkw
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| | Results set stage for super struggle
02/12/2008
The results of the New Jersey Democratic presidential primary on Feb. 5 were not exactly what U.S. Rep. Steve Rothman (D-9th district) had hoped for. Garden State voters, participating in one of the 22 Democratic state primaries that comprised Super Tuesd
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 | Obama rides momentum into Bergen
02/05/2008
High school classmates Abi Johnson, 14, and Catherine Schneiderman, 15, were the first two people waiting in line outside the Izod Center in East Rutherford the day before the closely contested Feb. 5 New Jersey Democratic presidential primary. Wearing ma
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 | Junior Nets shoot hoops, show heart
02/05/2008
Kaitlyn Willard has the face of a prom queen yet she has no problem or objection to rolling with the boys. The teen-aged heartthrob from Havertown, Pa., was in Hackensack last Saturday strutting her stuff and showing everyone that she can hold her own.
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 | Hillary hopes to appeal to Hispanics
01/29/2008
Democratic presidential candidate U.S. Sen. Hillary Clinton didn’t speak a word of Spanish when she spoke to a packed crowd of Latino supporters inside the ballroom at the Schuetzen Park catering hall in North Bergen on Jan. 23. But she still got her me
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 | Already best friends, dogs become healers
01/29/2008
Before she left the pediatric ward at Hackensack University Medical Center, Cassie gave youngster Kimberly a kiss on the cheek. The Paterson resident, a patient at HUMC’s Joseph Sanzari Children’s Hospital, giggled as any 2-year-old girl would and fon
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 | Hillary: 'I'm not somebody who is just showing up'
01/29/2008
In an exclusive interview with Hackensack Chronicle after her Jan. 23 campaign rally in North Bergen, Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton made her case regarding why she should be her party’s nominee in November. With the Feb. 5 New Jersey
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| | Standing on the shoulders of giants: Locals lifted by Giant win
01/24/2008
There are many factors that led to the New York Giants’ 23-20 overtime win over the Green Bay Packers in the NFC Championship Game last Sunday. Skill. Will. Luck. But ask Robert Egan what’s luck got to do with it, and he’ll set you straight: absolut
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 | Corzine takes toll road to BCA
01/16/2008
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 | Detour jams traffic on 17
01/16/2008
As many local motorists already know, the New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT) has begun work on the Essex Street crossing over Route 17, and the 73-year-old bridge is no more.
Preliminary construction deadlines originally penned the demolitio
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| | Support for Obama grows
01/16/2008
Hackensack native Matthew Rozsa definitely knows what side he’s on in the highly contentious Democratic Presidential primary battle to be decided early next month in New Jersey.
“We are at a crucial point in the history of this nation, and we need an
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| | Dumplings gives orphans taste of Chinese culture
01/02/2008
East Chinese Restaurant in Hackensack offers six dumplings for $4.25. They come in different varieties — vegetable, pork, fried or steamed.
To an outsider, dumplings are known as the small, delicate and savory pastries popularized by Chinese restaurant
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 | Vandals fell tree in Borg's Woods
12/05/2007
Less than a month after school children and volunteers wandered through Borg’s Woods, ridding the county park of garbage and other unsightly debris, vandals wreaked havoc within the landscape’s wooded environment. In addition to dumping trash on the g
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| Flip Side |
| | A long trip with some adventures
03/05/2008
We just returned from a long trip, first to visit our son in California for a few days, then boarding a cruise ship in Los Angeles for 16 days down the coast of Mexico, stopping at Cabo San Lucas; Acapulco; Puerto Quetzal, Guatemala; Puntarenas, Costa Ric
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| | Holidays are only for the strong
01/16/2008
We are slowly getting back to normal after our annual Christmas trek to three of our kids’ houses. We had learned our lesson in past years and packed light, each with just a duffel and a warm coat. The rest of the car was filled with presents.
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| | The Stages of New Year’s Eve
01/03/2008
I can’t remember what my resolutions were last year but they couldn’t have been earth-shaking if I don’t recall them.
So I’ve given up resolutions. They always bring on depression when you know you’re not going to lose 15 pounds or take a speed
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| Health |
| | Hospital launches Korean program
01/03/2008
Korean-Americans comprise five percent of the population of Bergen County and are one of the fastest growing ethnic groups in the state, according to Kyung Hee Choi, director of Holy Name Hospital’s new Korean Medical Program.
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| Joy of Life |
| | Irish it up for me!
03/27/2008
"The Irish are among a select few remaining on the earth in whom an alternative, soul-filled approach to ordinary living is still alive," author Thomas Moore.
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| | The little choices give life meaning
03/19/2008
It starts small, little choices in small moments. Nevertheless, when we are young, questions like "What is your favorite color?" seem important and require consideration.
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| | Winning over an old dog
03/12/2008
The room was dark and I was worried about getting to work. After a spell of warm weather put me in the mood for spring, this snow was a bummer.
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| | First words are just the tip of the iceberg
03/05/2008
From the family room I heard "OH MY! I can't believe it! He missed it." I was visiting my parents with my 9-month-old son, Owen. Everyone was in the other room and again I heard, "OH MAN! He missed it again!"
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| | The new magician in town
02/29/2008
Next to my computer there is a picture of an 8 year old me wearing a black magician’s cape. In those days my dad took me to magic classes where I learned to pull a foam rabbit out of a box rigged for optical illusions.
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| | The guilty pleasure of morbid curiosity
02/20/2008
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| | Two sayings that keep me moving
02/12/2008
There are two pieces of advice that have helped me tremendously whenever it came time to pick a new direction in my life. The first one is this: Simply having the desire to do something means you have the ability to achieve that goal. All you have to do i
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| | It's not all bad; REALLY!
02/05/2008
People don’t hold back their opinions when they find out that I am a journalist. Many tell me they consider reading newspapers to be a negative experience.
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| | A ritual with chips
01/29/2008
As I arrived home I noticed a satellite TV company van in front of my neighbor’s house.
Stepping out of my Jeep I heard the start of the Giants game blaring from his garage. I almost forgot-it was the night of the big game!
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| | A big mouth is a sign of a big heart
01/16/2008
My wife, Sarah, grew up in Boulder, Colo. Watching TV caricatures of New Yorkers, she worried that people on the East Coast might be mean as she packed her bags to head this way for college.
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| | Holiday leftovers: a bridge in time
01/16/2008
I prefer to write this column only when I am inspired. Inspiration is that special ingredient that gives it zest. But I have to admit, last week, I was stuck.
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| | The one who yells ‘Yeeha!’ and jumps
01/03/2008
“Man, you really brought me to life,” said an old, skinny man whose wide eyes and white wiry eyebrows contrasted his dark face.
He was talking to my friend Phil who had come to the man’s daycare facility with guitar in hand to put on a holiday show
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| Opinion |
| | This time, there’s no excuse
04/09/2008
As two high-profile Democratic candidates lock horns and grab daily headlines, the 2008 presidential campaign has garnered more interest than that of previous elections. A record number of ballots have been cast during primary season, and voter registrati
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| | Life during wartime
03/27/2008
March 19 marked the 5-year anniversary of the war in Iraq. At the start of the war, President George W. Bush told the American people that he had “no ambition in Iraq except to remove a threat and restore control of that country to its own people.”
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| | Our fascination with fame and infamy
03/19/2008
No longer one man’s opinion, it’s now fact that America loves a good scandal.
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| | Creeping past file sharing laws
03/12/2008
The Swedish government has indicted four young men involved with the operation of The Pirate Bay, the world's largest online directory of bit torrents - a technology that facilitates file sharing. Thepiratebay.org is in the top 150 most visited Web sites
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| | Seduced by conversation
03/05/2008
By now, we have all seen them - the signs posted ominously on major highways across northern New Jersey warning drivers that Saturday March 1 brought impending doom to those who dared to talk on their cell phones or send text messages while driving. That
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| | Millionaire governor doesn’t get it
02/29/2008
New Jersey’s millionaire governor has been traveling the state to “listen to the people” and their response to his proposed toll hike plan for the Garden State Parkway, Atlantic City Expressway and the New Jersey Turnpike.
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| | Corruption: Who is the victim?
02/20/2008
In a case of political déjà vu, this week was another nightmare for New Jersey Democrats. Former state Sen. Joseph Coniglio, once the pride of Paramus, was indicted on nine counts of mail fraud and extortion.
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| | A month of celebrations
02/05/2008
February is Black History Month, an important time of year to celebrate the culture and contributions of African-Americans. But we would be remiss if we didn’t remind our readers that there are some other celebrations going on this month, as well.
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| | February 5: Election Day
01/29/2008
For the first time since Walter Mondale and Gary Hart squared off in the 1984 Democratic primary, New Jersey is a key state in the race for the White House. The candidates recognize the importance of winning here, and for the past month or so they have
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| | Eternal flame
01/16/2008
Around this time of year a decade ago, perhaps even 15 years past, a television commercial used to broadcast for 30 seconds or so. It was hardly an advertisement for a product or service; instead, the airtime was used more so for a public service announce
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| | Respecting OPRA
01/16/2008
As we start 2008, there has been a recurring problem with Bergen municipalities failing to release public documents after OPRA (Open Public Records Act) requests have been filed. Luckily, Hackensack and South Hackensack haven’t been one of those offende
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| | Driving is no holiday
01/03/2008
Our newspapers for weeks have preached about the pleasures of the December holidays. Reminders to help local merchants during the shopping season were followed by best wishes to our readers who celebrate Hanukkah, Christmas and Kwanzaa.
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| | Yes, Virginia...
01/03/2008
It was a short letter, barely more than three dozen words; it was written by a young girl and published 110 years ago.
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| | About the season, not the stress
01/03/2008
There are a hundred reasons to get stressed this holiday season. The obvious ones are: having to navigate through ungodly traffic, worrying about finding suitable gifts, having to race around to multiple family parties, and feeling the need to stuff all s
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| | Uneven turf
01/03/2008
Ryan Grant passed on a chance to play high school football in the competitive, but not-so-glorious Rockland County (N.Y.) circuit. He ended up playing with legendary coach Tony Karcich at St. Joseph Regional in Montvale, a nationally known program with co
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| Pet of the Week |
| | ‘Smile because Mickey loves you’
04/30/2008
Mickey, a young male American Bulldog mix, is available for adoption at the Bergen County Animal Shelter. Mickey loves human attention and is looking for an owner with an active lifestyle. He has a high energy level and loves giving kisses to everyone.
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| South Hackensack |
| | Concerns might ease with deflector
05/15/2008
If installed, a new debris deflector at the bridge located at the intersection of Garfield’s Marsellus Place and River Drive would ease flooding concerns, particularly those raised by residents, businesses and commuters passing through South Hackensack.
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| | School budget is defeated
04/23/2008
The South Hackensack governing body is expected to find ways to trim the 2008-09 Board of Education spending plan, which township voters rejected last week during the school district elections.
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